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Audi A1 road test report

Audi A1

Audi has spent the last decade filling every available niche in the car market – plus some that previously didn’t exist – and now it’s focused on the smaller end with the new A1. A cousin of the Volkswagen Polo, Skoda Fabia and Seat Ibiza – all good cars in their own ways – the latest Audi is the entry level to the four-ringed marque. Based on the company’s sales success in the last few years, and the popularity of its products among car buyers, the A1 is likely to be a hit. The A1’s formula of premium quality, condensed into a small package for the urban market, will no doubt find favour with metropolitan consumers, as it should prove to be a practical and stylish status symbol.

Road Test Reports Says 4 star rating
A front-facing image of the Audi A1

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CRAIG THOMAS SAYS

Performance Performance - 4 stars

The A1 comes with a choice of three engines: 1.2 and 1.4 TFSI petrol-powered units and a 1.6 TDI diesel. All, in their own ways, are a good match for the car. First, the oilburning 1.6 TDI is available in the UK with one power rating (a lower-rated 88bhp version won’t be on sale here), so it offers 103bhp at 4,400rpm and 184lb-ft of torque at 1,500-2,500rpm. It's sufficiently torquey for most uses, but did feel a little rattly at start up and when accelerating hard. We felt that the two petrol engines were more suitable for the A1, especially as it's primarily a machine for the urban environment, which usually involves shorter journeys. The 1.2 TFSI is a surprisingly flexible engine, considering it only generates 84bhp and delivers its peak torque of 118lb-ft at 1,500-3,500rpm, allowing it cover the 0-62mph sprint in 11.7 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 112mph. The more powerful 1.4 TFSI produces 120bhp and peak torque of 147lb-ft at 1,500-4,000rpm, which means it can hit 62mph from a standing start in 8.9 seconds before maxing out at 126mph. This is also the only engine in the range that can be mated to the seven-speed, dual-clutch S tronic gearbox, which offers smooth shifts once underway.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 3 stars

The A1 has been a designed to be a sophisticated supermini - which it is – but it’s not a class leader in terms of its on-road manners. It handles perfectly well: the steering is weightier than many other cars in the class (including the Volkswagen Polo, Skoda Fabia and Seat Ibiza with which it shares much of its underpinnings) but isn’t as sharp or accurate as the Ford Fiesta or the Mini, which the A1 will be pitched against in the style stakes. There’s also plenty of grip and it remains flat and composed in the corners. However, the A1 suffers from the overly firm ride that has blighted a number of recent Audis. In an attempt to enhance the sporting credentials of its cars, the German manufacturer has thrown all its driving dynamics eggs in the basket of chassis stiffness, to the detriment of ride quality. The A1 is similarly afflicted with a ride that errs on the side of firmness, which won’t be helped by customers being able to opt for 17- and even 18-inch wheels: stick to 16-inchers, we reckon.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 5 stars

This is the category in which the A1 justifiably takes the plaudits. For a car in this class, the A1 is very sophisticated, having all the refinement we’ve come to expect from a car with four rings on the grille, but in a smaller package. Everything is well put together and built to the highest standards, from the body panels on the exterior to the smallest buttons and switches on the inside. Audi has actually been very canny in the way that it has constructed the cabin to a budget. In common with most other cars, the upper surfaces are swathed in soft-touch plastics, with the harder, more brittle materials used further down: however, the bottom of the central console was covered in a nylon material that was very tactile but which should also be hard-wearing. As Audis have becoming increasingly popular, so the company has improved its performance in customer satisfaction surveys, where reliability is an important contributory factor in attaining a good score.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

The A1 is yet to be put through its safety paces by Euro NCAP’s crash testing regime, but recent Audis have scored highly, so we expect this new model to acquit itself equally well. The safety equipment levels are high, with a full range of kit available as standard. This includes a new ESP (electronic stability programme) system with an electronic differential (EDL), ABS anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) and anti-slip regulation (ASR); six airbags (driver, passenger, front side and head); Isofix child seat anchor points; and three-point seatbelts. If you opt for higher-spec S line versions, there are also optional xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, which are another useful safety feature. For security, there’s remote central locking, immobiliser and Thatcham Category 1 alarm.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 4 stars

Despite its compact size, the A1 is well packaged and provides ample space throughout the cabin. The front is spacious and easy to access (all A1s have just the three doors – for now, at least), with comfortable front seats (if you opt for Sport trim, you get sports seats with more lateral support as standard). The driving position is also excellent, with plenty of adjustability in the seat and the steering column to ensure that almost anyone can find the right set-up. The rear is surprisingly spacious for a car of its size: with an average-sized driver, there’s enough kneeroom in the back for grown-ups, although the sloping roofline does mean headroom is compromised. The three trim levels – SE, Sport and S line – all offer good equipment levels and, as you might expect from Audi, there is a long list of optional extras to add practicality (and quite a few extra pounds to the price).

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 4 stars

As a premium supermini, the A1 isn’t going to be cheap to buy. However, it’s not extravagantly priced either, starting at £13,145 (on the road) for the base 1.2 TFSI SE model, rising to the fairly giddy heights of £18,280 for the range-topping 1.4 TFSI S line with the S tronic automatic transmission. Running costs should be pretty good though, as all versions are fitted with Auto Start/Stop that cuts the engine when static in traffic and then restarts when a gear is engaged. This means that fuel consumption ranges from the mid-fifties for the petrol engines to an impressive 70.6mpg for the diesel. CO2 emissions are also very respectable - 105g/km for the 1.6 TDI (although Audi hopes it will be below 100g/km by the time it goes on sale in November 2010) to just 119g/km for the larger petrol unit – so vehicle excise duty will range from £20 to £30. Residuals should also hold up well, due to the premium nature of the A1 and the appeal it will have to second-hand buyers. Servicing costs will also be kept low, thanks to a new five-year/50,000-mile service plan that costs just £250.

Submitted: 24/11/2010 09:36:11

TOM STEWART SAYS

Performance Performance - 4 stars

The A1 is initially be available with an 86PS 1.2 TFSI engine with 5-speed manual, a 105PS 1.6 TDI with 5-sp manual or a 122PS 1.4 TFSI manual with either a 6-sp manual or a 7-sp ‘S tronic’ dual clutch transmission. All have fuel saving start/stop technology and the claimed performance figures are: 0.62 in 11.7 secs and 112mph max (1.2), 10.5 secs and 118mph (1.6), and 8.9 secs and 126mph for the 1.4 with either transmission. I drove the 6-sp 1.4 first and it’s a nippy little thing. Although it has 17 more horsepower, its 200Nm of torque doesn’t have quite the low-down thrust of the punchy, 250Nm 1.6 TDI, but both engines feel suitably relaxed at speed on the motorway.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 3 stars

As standard the A1 rolls on 15-inch alloys, but both the 1.4 and 1.6 I test drove were equipped with optional, 17-inchers with lower profile tyres. These provide lots of grip and a decently responsive steering, but the A1 isn’t quite as eager through the bends as it might have been. On a recently-surfaced, smooth road the ride quality is absolutely fine, but such roads are increasingly rare in the UK and on lesser surfaces the A1’s ride varies between merely okay to one notch short of harsh. Furthermore, on those lesser surfaces, (eg. a concrete motorway or a backwater A-road) a significant level of road and tyre noise finds its way into the cabin.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 5 stars

Audi is keen to stress that despite its diminutive size and relative affordability, like all other Audis the A1 is a true premium sector product. Judging by the fit, finish and the quality and design of the A1’s cabin this isn’t something I’d dispute. Available in SE, Sport or S line spec levels, the two Sport versions I drove were very nicely kitted out with high quality materials, while the instrumentation, knobs, buttons and switches etc. are all to a premium standard. Furthermore, CAP predicts that, over 3yrs/30k miles, the A1 will have best-in-class (55%) residual values along with the lowest depreciation. As a brand, Audi ranked a creditable 9th out of 27 manufacturers in the 2010 JD Power satisfaction study.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

The A1 comes as standard with two front airbags, side airbags in the backrests of the front seats, two curtain head airbags, belt tensioners and belt force limiters plus Audi’s integral headrest system. There’s also ESP (inc. ABS, EBD, ASR and EDL), Isofix child seat anchor points in the rear and seatbelt buckle sensors on all seats. The cars I drove were also fitted with optional light and rain sensors, heated door mirrors and Xenon headlights with heated washer jets. The A1 hasn’t been crash-tested by Euro NCAP yet, but the 2009 VW Polo (on which the A1 is based) achieved the maximum 5-star rating. Security is handled by a Thatcham category 1 alarm and immobiliser with remote central locking.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 3 stars

Available for now as a 3-door (a 5-dr version should follow in due course) the A1 has adequately spacious and comfortable accommodation for front seat passengers. With plenty of wheel and seat adjustment it’s not hard to find an ideal driving position, but larger adults in the rear could find themselves a bit pushed for headroom, while the upright seating position isn’t particularly relaxing. There’s not a great deal of oddments stowage space inside – the A1’s door pockets are quite small for example – and the boot is quite shallow. With the 60/40 split/fold seats up there’s a 270-litre capacity, extending to 920 litres with seats down.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 4 stars

A1 pricing starts at £13,420 OTR for the 1.2 SE, rising to £18,665 for the S tronic, S line 1.4. All models are well equipped as standard, but start ticking the options boxes on a top spec version, (eg. a £540 media Package, a £1,225 Technology package and more) and the OTR price could rise to rise to £24k and counting. Combined fuel consumption and CO2 emissions go from 53.3mpg and 122g/km (1.4 TFSI manual) to 70.3mpg and 105g/km (1.6 TDI), so no road tax for the first year on any A1. (A fairly careful 2-hour drive in a TDI on a variety of roads (no jams) yielded a real world 53mpg.) There are more affordable superminis available, although the A1’s low depreciation should compensate for its premium price tag. However, what this baby Audi might be lacking is the impeccable style and tangible caché of rivals like the MINI and Fiat 500.

Submitted: 22/10/2010 13:54:46

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