Since the first A1 was released back in 2010 the manufacturer has managed to shift the sizeable sum of over half a million of this supermini. To hit a target like this when you’re wading in the same waters as MINI is quite the achievement. Earlier this year Audi gave the car a refresh, and I got my hands on one for a week. My test route was mainly Dublin city, but the machine also brought us beyond, in the direction of Wicklow and Wexford.
Changes
The "refresh" in the Audi A1 isn’t a massive one, the car received a slight facelift. It now dons new bumpers, and it being an Audi meant that the lights had to be paid special attention too. The big changes to this machine was with the engines. The A1 I drove housed the manufacturer’s first 3-cylinder engine – the 1.0 TFSI. This efficient little engine endeared me to the car straight away, and the icing on the cake was Audi’s S-Tronic automatic transmission. This seven-speed dual clutch transmission offered smooth transitions between gears, and all at the right time.
Performance
The new 1.0litre petrol unit offers 95bhp, and when you consider the size of the car it’s not too shabby. The other nice touch is that it will set you back just €180 a year in road tax. The car maker also tells us that the A1 returns a combined fuel economy of 4.2l/100km – my travels returned an average of 5.6l/100km.
Recently I’ve driven the MINI Hatch and the Mazda2, and I have to say that these two along with the A1 and the Ford Fiesta actually make this a pretty exciting segment to be in. These four cars offer a lot of quality at completely different price points, and they’re all a pleasure to drive around towns and cities. I’d even say the same about the Volkswagen Polo. It’s not just cities though, they were all able for outside the bustling streets of the urban landscape too.
The A1 brought me through Wicklow and Wexford without any struggle. Audi has also done a good job in keeping the decibels from the road noise low – all superminis suffer from this in my experience, so don’t be expecting the A1 to be silent.
The car connects well with the road and while the steering can sometimes feel a bit heavy, it still handles corners and turns eagerly. It would be as much fun as the MINI in the driving department.
Inside
The interior of the A1 is of very high quality. Typical of Audi, everything is laid out and placed in easy reach of the driver. The seating in the car I was driving was comfortable, and it certainly didn’t leave me wanting for more. The MINI Hatch interior however is more exciting and it offers a little more pizazz than that of the Audi.
What is remarkable is how spacious it feels in the front cabin. The rear can be a nightmare to get into if you have a three-door version, and if you have kids who require baby seats it can be a bit of a challenge getting the seats in. Once the kids are in they won’t be giving out about the space though. Of course, with this being a supermini, I wouldn’t at all describe it as being a family car – it’s more like a very nice second car for those who have families.
Outside
The grille to the front of the A1 is a little wider than before, and as I’ve already mentioned, the lights and bumpers have had an update. Audi didn’t really have to change much to the exterior, and they have a history of not being overly dramatic when it comes to changing the styling of their cars – which is a good thing. Like the newer MINIs, they have stayed true to the first edition. Although MINI makes a very attractive looking car, I like the way that Audi doesn’t have any ties to a retro look. The MINI is super-stylish in its own way, but I would think that the A1 has the edge in a less quirky kind of way – however, both of these high-end manufacturers would want to keep a keen eye on Mazda who are really upping their game in style with their KODO design.
Stats & Prices
According to Audi, this 1.0TFSI petrol engine offers maximum torque of 160Nm at between 1,500 and 3,500rpm. The top speed is reported to be 186km/h and on paper we’re told that it will get you from 0-100km/h in 10.9 seconds.
Other engines available from Audi include; 1.4TFSI (with 125hp or 150hp), 2.0TFSI (with 231hp) (S1), 1.4TDI (with 90hp), and 1.6TDI (with 116hp). Personally I would opt for a petrol version because this car is ideal for city driving and to opt for a diesel you would need to be doing sufficient motorway miles. For those of you with a bit of extra cash to spend and who want more power, the 231hp 2.0TFSI engine in the S1 is worth a look, it will give you 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds.
Prices for the 1.0litre engine start from €21,450. With the SE trim the on the road price is €23,050. The cost goes up to €36,970 for the S1 with the 2.0TFSI engine mentioned above. Diesel prices start from €23,390 (1.4TDI 90hp). There are plenty of optional extras to choose from, but some of them can be pricey.
Summation
Once upon a time MINI would have been one of the most sought-after of the more luxurious superminis, Audi are making solid in-roads here and the A1 is refreshed and ready to battle. I would think that the Mazda2 could start taking some of their customers too, especially with the GT version.
