Hardy contender

Audi is out to capture the small urban car market with the new A1. Adrian Ion takes the motor for a city spin

November 2010 - From the Print Edition

The next big thing from Audi is the smallest car in their range - the A1. The German giant is now following the route of other premium car manufacturers who have cashed in from exploiting the need for cheeky city cars, by manoeuvring into territory still dominated by BMW’s Mini Cooper.
Launched this year, the A1 maintains Audi’s design features throughout the range – which is one of the most common criticisms that reviewers have made.
The car looks smart and and the front has a well-balanced and aggressive look, but it is not original, which may not score too many points in the style-book of fashionistas looking for a car to match this season’s colours.
But fortunately the A1 is more than an accessory car for youngsters - this is a proper Audi, as the drive will prove.
The first thing that impresses me when I drive an Audi is that feeling of a solid body that surrounds me made of nothing but excellent quality materials. In this department Audi has no rival. The A1 is as well-built as its larger brothers. But due to this hardy Teutonic finishing, it is not cheap.
The engine choice is formed of two petrol and one diesel. The 1.2 TSI achieves 85 hp with 160Nm or torque and the 1.4 TSI has 120bhp and 200Nm. The diesel option is a 1.6-litre common-rail injection TDI unit with 104 hp and 250Nm and this was also the option from the test cars.
Fuel efficiency is remarkable and all models in the range come with start/stop and regenerative braking technology as standard.
The A1 has the option of a three-door version, but five-door and cabriolet models are coming later - together with the desirable S1.
The tested 1.6 diesel is a smooth-running engine, surprisingly quiet and rattle free, with enough power to spice up the journey. Handling is crisp and, I was saying, Audis have this feeling of a perfect construction that is felt from one end of the vehicle to the other.
However visibility is not the strongest point, as the windows are quite small and rear vision is scarce, due to the oversized C pillars. This is why parking control sensors are a must when ticking the specs button.
In terms of space, if passengers are not too picky or challenged by gravity, four could fit inside the A1. But this is still firmly in the mini range, so claustrophobics should avoid longer journeys on the back seat. The boot is decently large, at 270 litres, that can expand after the seats fold down to 920 litres of space to fill. This beats the Mini at both interior and boot space.
The extra features that can be ordered for the A1 are extensive and expensive, but give the opportunity to build up the car on a budget or to personal taste.
Ride quality is the biggest issue for a car that will be driven mostly in the city, and the A1 is surprisingly agile and comfortable, but works best with the automatic transmission, which is another must.