Road Test : Audi A1 1.4 TFSI

Review by Jay Williams - 27/May/2011

Audi has been missing in the compact car market - until the launch of its supermini A1 at the end of last year. 

Intended to compete with rivals like the MINI Cooper and Alfa Romeo Mito, the Audi A1 is designed to appeal to a younger audience.

It's no secret that the Audi A1 shares its underpinning with its less expensive cousin the Volkswagen Polo, and the car has been labeled by some as nothing more than a premium version of its German understudy. 

On paper, I might agree, but as soon as you step into the A1 you soon realise that any notion that this is a Polo is soon dismissed as Audi's refinement and premium interior shine through.

But has the premium brand done enough to capture its intended audience? Let's find out!

Drive: 4/5

The Audi A1 is a very pleasant car to drive, you instantly feel the high level of refinement in the build quality the moment you jump into the drivers seat.

Audi engineers have done a great job balancing sporty handling with day-to-day comfort. The A1's suspension is tight enough to keep the car flat and stable when pushing through corners at speed, while soaking up bumps and imperfections on neglected roads. The stability control system is equally impressive at keeping the car solidly planted through corners.

The stability control system makes use of an electronic differential which distributes torque to different wheels during cornering to give maximum grip and drive out of sharp corners. It also helps reduce the tendency for the car to understeer on tighter bends.

The steering is also well-weighted and direct, although because the suspension is firm and the car we test drove had the optional 17" alloys there is some kickback through corrugated corners.

Overall the Audi A1 feels very solid and well weighted on the road, it fills the driver with confidence that you would normally get when driving a larger car, this can be credited to Audi's high levels of refinement.

Engine: 3/5

Sitting under the bonnet of the supermini Audi A1 is a 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder In-line turbocharged petrol engine that produces 90kW of power and a healthy 200Nm of torque.

Now, these figures might not sound like much, but for a hatch that's not trying to be a 'hot hatch' it does quite well, the 1.4-litre engine has enough low down torque to get you moving at around 1500rpm.

As you move further into the rev range between 3500rpm and 5500rpm the little A1 really comes to life, providing the driver with a turbocharged rush that brings a smile to your face. The turbocharged engine and sports suspension are a perfect match for the A1 and proves to be a fun car to drive.

The 1.4-litre 4-cylinder In-line turbocharged petrol engine is available with a six speed manual or a seven speed dual clutch DSG transmission which Audi call the S-tronic.

The model we test drove featured the S-tronic transmission which is very smooth and shifts through gears very quickly, there is also the option of selecting gears manually which isn't really necessary as the transmission does a pretty good job in selecting the right gear for you.

The 1.4-litre engine also features start/stop technology, which means the engine switches off when the car comes to a complete stop, this is handy when trying to save on fuel.

We found the start/stop very useful during city driving, but when positioned on a hill the technology felt a little jerky, when you take your foot off the brake the engine immediately springs to life pushing the car forward before you have a chance to react, you can turn it off with the push of a button if you wish to do so, but under normal conditions it's fine.

Audi say that the A1 sips 5.3-litres per 100km, we managed around 5.9-litres per 100km which isn't too bad considering that we weren't really driving in the most frugal fashion.

Exterior: 3/5

The brand hasn't done anything ground breaking in terms of its design, is very much cut from Audi's DNA with its familiar wide grille, signature daytime running lights and wrap-around headlights.

However, the A1 does offer customers a wide range of choice when it comes to personalisation, with a raft of colours to choose from, each available with contrasting roof arches, and a choice of decal wraps. There is also a S-line package for a sporty look and a Competition Aerodynamic pack for an elegant look.

The profile's defining visuals include the roof arch that can be specified in a number of contrasting colours, as well as the large wheel arches and tapering C-pillar. Short overhangs, the prominent bonnet and the smooth slope of the rear hatch, frame the body's compact shape.

My only negative about the A1's design is rearward visibility, the side mirrors look stylish but aren't very functional and the rear window is hard to see out of because of its sharp slop. Besides that, the A1 is a very stylish and trendy looking car that won't look out dated in a few years.

Interior: 3/5

Audi have done a great job in offering a stylish, elegant and functional package. Featuring jet engine-style air vents with chrome highlights, a leather multi-function steering wheel (optional), sporty seats (two-tone seat coverings and leather optional) and a 16.5cm Multi-Media Interface (MMI) system.

Audi offer customers the same level of personalisation inside the A1, if customers order the style package they can expect two-tone seat coverings and a raft of bright-coloured fabric throughout the cabin. Without the style package, the interior looks bland but elegant.

The dashboard is covered in soft-touch material and houses the jet engine-inspired air vents. The centre of the dash incorporates a fold-out 16.5cm colour-LCD monitor that shows various vehicle settings. The centre stack houses aluminium dials to operate the climate control, as well as the MMI controller, radio, SD-card and CD-player.

The satellite controls on the multi-function steering wheel work a treat and the MMI system in the A1 is pretty easy to operate. The on-board computer display, located between the speedometer and rev-counter, displays the average fuel consumption, trip computer, radio station, etc.

Interior space is generous up front, while the rear is slightly cramped especially for anyone over six foot tall, but this has to be expected from a two-door hatch. 

The luggage area can accommodate 270-litres, or 920-litres with the rear seats folded flat and there is also an abundance of storage around the cabin for smaller personal items. Access to the rear seats is made easy, thanks to a conventional quick-release system that springs the front seats forwards, however this may prove challenging for older bodies climbing in and out of the back seat.

The Audi A1 is not as good value as its sub-$30,000 price tag may suggest, when you take into consideration that the media and style package, which includes Bluetooth, iPod integration (standard on most new cars) and colour fabric highlights, costs $2500 on the cheapest Attraction model and $1800 on the more expensive Ambition. It doesn't take long before you are inching closer to the $40K mark.

Overall: 3/5

Audi offer a very tempting package in the A1, it's refined, stylish and compact but it comes at a premium price once you start ticking the options box.

There are two trim levels available the Attraction and Ambition. The entry level Attraction comes standard with remote central locking, electric windows and mirrors, cruise control, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers and a quality audio system with an SD card reader. 

While the Ambition adds sports seats, a height adjustable front passenger seat, trip computer, higher quality interior trim, 16-inch alloys, fog lights and chromed exhaust pipes.

Both models come with six airbags, pre-tensioner seatbelts, Anti-lock Brakes, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist and a Five-star crash rating.

In all, the Audi A1 is a stylish and fun car to drive, the only question you have to ask yourself is it worth the money? We say yes it is.