Audi A1
Audi's smallest car is a direct rival for the MINI and Citroen DS3. The A1 is available as a three-door hatchback and a more practical five-door Sportback. The A1 is very stylish, and is based on the same platform as the Volkswagen Polo. The A1 range features three economical turbocharged engines, and the interior is incredibly well built, feeling like a smaller version of Audi's larger cars. The suspension is very firm on top of the range cars, while a lot of desirable equipment is an optional extra.
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Pros:
- Luxurious interior
- Wide range of strong engines
- Looks good
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Cons:
- MINI better to drive
- Top-spec models have a stiff ride
- High price tag
Audi is aiming the A1 directly at the ever popular MINI. But while the MINI offers sporty handling and a compact design, the A1 offers big-car luxury in a pint-sized package and is currently the cheapest way into Audi ownership. Unlike the MINI, the driving experience is centred more around comfort than excitement, but a range of peppy engines and well-weighted driving controls ensures that the A1 is one of the most capable cruisers in this class.
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Pros:
- Slightly more room in back than three-door
- Top-quality interior
- Efficient engines
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Cons:
- Rear tight for adults
- Uncomfortable suspension on S line
- Expensive to buy
The five-door Audi A1 Sportback is a more practical version of the three-door Audi A1 supermini. It costs around £500 more than the three-door, and it's slightly taller and wider, so has more head and shoulder room in the back. However, boot space is the same as the three-door's at 270 litres, which is a lot better than rival MINI. The Sportback uses the same range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines as the standard A1, all of which come with stop-start as standard.
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