Once upon a time, the Audi A3 was, for a while, the smallest, most economical offering you could buy from the Ingolstadt motoring firm. It was a car that rekindled the compact Audi flame and introduced it to a much broader audience. 2010 rolled around and seeing as the A3 had filled out and grown somewhat, they filled the gap in the compact hatch market with the first generation Audi A1.
The A1 could be considered a return to the supermini format first seen in the Audi 50 of 1974, a car that went on to become the Volkswagen Polo - and we all know how that turned out. The first A1 became a rather popular car, selling over 13 700 examples locally, right up until the end of last year when the second generation broke ground here in South Africa.
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It is a little larger than its predecessor but it's packed to the hilt with all the mod-cons you can wave a stick at. Fully kitted, the new Audi A1 is a rather pricey affair which, for a small car, make us wonder if it's worth what they're charging.
Styling
In true supermini fashion, the A1 has its wheels planted in all four corners. It's a design that was first used with success in the original Mini, promoting sharp handling and generous interior space.
The new Audi A1 is a little longer but is still the same width as before, measuring in at 1.74 meters. The main takeaway is how the new A1 sits low and squat.
Gone are the soft, gentle curves of the first generation and in their place, sharp and purposeful sheet metal pulled and creased in all the right paces. It still retains its compact proportions but the designers were rather sneaky in their execution thereof - they've cribbed a few styling cues from the legendary Ur-Quattro - the original hyper hatch that set the rally world ablaze.
A forward sloping C-pillar and pronounced arches make the A1 look purposeful and in S Line trim, like our test model, the large gaping air-dams and grey detailing certainly made it look like it was set for a rally special stage.
The Drive
With the increase in price and size, I'm pleased to report that the Audi A1 drives like a much larger car than the body suggests. Our test model was fitted with a 6-speed S Tronic (DSG) gearbox which we found rather agreeable on the open road but struggled with it in town. The first 20% of throttle input would see the little A1 lurch forward, irrespective of which drive mode was selected. This took longer than we would have liked to get used to and is undoubtedly something that will be rectified with a software update.
Town driving aside, the A1 presented with big-car manners in all but parking manoeuvres where it was an absolute dream to slot in.
Performance
Our test model was the top-of-the-range 40 TFSI S Line version and while there are smaller, more subtle alternatives, the 30 TSFI and 35 TFSI. As per the Audi naming convention, the 30 offers between 81 and 96 kW (85 kW in the A1 30 TFSI), the 35 between 110 and 120 kW (110 kW in the A1 35 TFSI) while the 40 produces 147 kW.
The 2.0-litre EA888 engine employs turbocharging technology to give you that 147 kW and 320 Nm which Audi claims is good for a 0 - 100 km/h sprint time of 6.5-seconds while it goes onto a top speed of 235 km/h.
It certainly is a quick little machine and if this is available in the 40 TFSI S Line, we can't wait to see what the high-performance S1 will offer.
Space and Comfort
The A1 is a compact car, it's in the supermini name but the overall design of the A1, with those aforementioned wheels in the corners, promotes a considerable amount of interior space. Rear seat passengers will feel the pinch a little, but on the shorter drives, this shouldn't prove too much of a concern.
Luggage space in the new A1 has also been increased. It's up by 65 litres over the old model and presents 335 litres with the seats in their upright position and a sizeable 1090 litres with the seats folded down.
Safety
Safety is not a major concern in the Audi A1 and as standard, you will get 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control (ESC), Auto lights and wipers. It's scored a five-star Euro NCAP rating with a score of 95% for adult occupants.
3-point, inertia-reel seatbelts and ISOFIX mountings are also standard, so if you're a young parent, the A1 will do just fine.
Fuel Consumption
Having 147 kW is a constant temptation and when the car you're driving weighs little more than a ton, you're always tempted to give it a squirt when you come out of the corner. This is a trap, as this sort of behaviour will cost you. Audi claims a combined fuel consumption figure of 6.0 l/100km but the real world will see you using a fair deal more. It won't cross the 10 l/100km mark though unless you're driving like a total hooligan.
Price
The one downside to the A1 is the rather staggering price tag. Starting at R359 900, the Audi A1 is a pricey alternative in the supermini segment. Our test car started with a base price of R488 000 and once they had finished with the obligatory options list (which is a must these days) the cash register had rung up R607 000. That's right, R600 000 for an Audi A1.
The Verdict
My time with the Audi A1 was rather enjoyable. It grabbed sufficient attention in its Turbo Blue paintwork and with the optional 18-inch wheels and when I pressed the loud pedal, fun things happened. But in the back of my mind was that ever-looming issue of the price.
It seems that the A1 has shifted from an economical entry into the brand to a boutique offering for the well-heeled. It remains a solid package but is now more likely to appeal to the style-conscious consumer.
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