Which Audi A1 is better: diesel or petrol?
Which Audi A1 is better: diesel or petrol?
By Farzana Chaumoo
We compare the Audi A1 engine range in terms of fuel consumption, acceleration and emissions.
TFSI engine
The Audi TFSI engines offer outstanding efficiency and improved performance whilst at the same time retaining their dynamism. For example, the 1.4 TFSI 110 kW, with Audi cylinder on demand technology, in the Audi A1 and Audi A1 Sportback enables the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds in the Audi A1 or in 7.9 seconds in the A1 Sportback and reach a top speed of 215 km/h.
- A1/A1 Sportback 1.4 TFSI (92 kW/200 Nm)
- A1/A1 Sportback 1.4 TFSI (110 kW/250 Nm) with Audi cylinder on demand technology
- A1/A1 Sportback 1.8 TFSI (141 kW/250 Nm)
- S1/S1 Sportback 2.0 TFSI (170 kW/370 Nm)
TDI engine
Audi TDI engines: high torque output over the entire engine speed range – with constant power build-up. They are renowned for being fuel-efficient and for reducing emissions. The 1.4 TDI ultra, for example, has a power output of 66 kW, a top speed of 182 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.4 seconds in the Audi A1.
- A1/A1 Sportback 1.4 TDI ultra (66 kW/230 Nm)
- A1/A1 Sportback 1.6 TDI (85 kW/250 Nm)
Fuel Consumption
Petrol
| Urban (l/100 km) | Extra-urban (l/100 km) | Combined (l/100 km) | |
| A1 1.4 TFSI (92 kW) | 6.4 | 4.1 | 4.9 |
| A1 Sportback 1.4 TFSI (92 kW) | 6.6 | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| A1 1.4 TFSI (110 kW) | 5.9 | 4.0 | 4.7 |
| A1 Sportback 1.4 TFSI (110 kW) | 5.9 | 4.0 | 4.7 |
| A1 1.8 TFSI (141 kW) | 7.1 | 4.7 | 5.6 |
| A1 Sportback 1.8 TFSI (141 kW) | 7.1 | 4.7 | 5.6 |
| S1 2.0 TFSI (170 kW) | 9.1 | 5.8 | 7.0 |
| S1 Sportback 2.0 TFSI (170 kW) | 9.2 | 5.9 | 7.1 |
Diesel
| Urban (l/100 km) | Extra-urban (l/100 km) | Combined (l/100 km) | |
| A1 1.4 TDI ultra (66 kW) | 3.9 | 3.1 | 3.4 |
| A1 Sportback 1.4 TDI ultra (66 kW) | 3.9 | 3.1 | 3.4 |
| A1 1.6 TDI (85 kW) | 4.3 | 3.1 | 3.5 |
| A1 Sportback 1.6 TDI (85 kW) | 4.3 | 3.1 | 3.5 |
CO2 Emissions
Petrol
| Urban (g/km) | Extra-urban (g/km) | Combined (g/km) | |
| A1 1.4 TFSI (92 kW) | 150 | 95 | 115 |
| A1 Sportback 1.4 TFSI (92 kW) | 153 | 97 | 118 |
| A1 1.4 TFSI (110 kW) | 136 | 93 | 109 |
| A1 Sportback 1.4 TFSI (110 kW) | 136 | 93 | 109 |
| A1 1.8 TFSI (141 kW) | 165 | 109 | 129 |
| A1 Sportback 1.8 TFSI (141 kW) | 165 | 109 | 129 |
| S1 2.0 TFSI (170 kW) | 210 | 134 | 162 |
| S1 Sportback 2.0 TFSI (170 kW) | 214 | 137 | 166 |
Diesel
| Urban (g/km) | Extra-urban (g/km) | Combined (g/km) | |
| A1 1.4 TDI ultra (66 kW) | 102 | 81 | 89 |
| A1 Sportback 1.4 TDI ultra (66 kW) | 104 | 83 | 91 |
| A1 1.6 TDI (85 kW) | 112 | 80 | 92 |
| A1 Sportback 1.6 TDI (85 kW) | 112 | 80 | 92 |
Acceleration
Petrol
| 0–100 km/h | |
| A1 1.4 TFSI (92 kW) | 8.8 sec |
| A1 Sportback 1.4 TFSI (92 kW) | 8.9 sec |
| A1 1.4 TFSI (110 kW) | 7.8 sec |
| A1 Sportback 1.4 TFSI (110 kW) | 7.9 sec |
| A1 1.8 TFSI (141 kW) | 6.8 sec |
| A1 Sportback 1.8 TFSI (141 kW) | 6.9 sec |
| S1 2.0 TFSI (170 kW) | 5.8 sec |
| S1 Sportback 2.0 TFSI (170 kW) | 5.9 sec |
Diesel
| 0–100 km/h | |
| A1 1.4 TDI ultra (66 kW) | 11.4 sec |
| A1 Sportback 1.4 TDI ultra (66 kW) | 11.6 sec |
| A1 1.6 TDI (85 kW) | 9.4 sec |
| A1 Sportback 1.6 TDI (85 kW) | 9.5 sec |
Verdict
All these engines are incredibly efficient and it comes down to your personal preference. Personally, I'd pick from the petrol engine range because of the additional power output and its acceleration. The service intervals for petrol engines are usually also further apart and generally cheaper. While the diesel claims good figures all around, a petrol engine is still more than acceptable.