Audi A1The phalanx of Audi launches continues unabated, but this one is in most ways more important than most. For a start it’s the smallest Audi on the fleet, or as Audi put it: “True premium meets compact size for the very first time”. What we have here is an attempt, with Audi’s reputation for Germanic quality, to muscle in on the increasingly popular small hatchback segment. Notable differences to the mass of competition out there include a 4- rather than 5-seat interior, start-stop technology, and a sub-130g/km emission level for all models in the range.The A1 – which is a handy name to have – is a 3-door hatch, though Audi tell me there will be a 5-door model in a couple of years time. With body length equal to a Fiesta it’s not going to be the most spacious of vehicles, and indeed trying to get comfortable in the rear seat behind someone setting their driving seat where I normally would prompted me to think I wouldn’t want the journey to be a long one. It’s not just a leg room issue, for head room is also tight for a six-foot bod. Getting into that rear seat is actually easier than most however, because front seat sliding and tipping works well.Boot volume is 270/920 litres, both of which figures are inferior to the Fiesta. Folding the rear seats is as easy as it gets, but although both seat backs and the seat cushion all fold (not a universal benefit these days) there’s still a big step up on the boot floor once it’s done.Engines are 1.2 and 1.4 petrol plus 1.6 turbodiesel. On our launch test the small petrol one wasn’t available but there was ample scope for testing the other two, and like all Volkswagen group engines these are impressive; they’re also well suited to the car. The 1.4TFSi petrol engine (no they don’t know what those letters stand for either) is powerful enough to give you a mild dose of the hot hatches, but it’s also remarkably refined; indeed with both this and the diesel engine the greater noise was from the tyres.Talking of hot hatches, both our test cars were fitted with the Sport suspension pack, so the flat cornering, almost without a trace of lean, was to be expected. So too was the ride quality, which was firm, though interestingly the extra weight of the diesel engine seemed to soften up the front end a bit.Interior décor is typical Audi, which is to say shed-loads of build quality evident as soon as you get in. You really do feel you’re in a bigger car than this, and there’s the usual Audi feel of comforting solidity. Somewhat unexpectedly however, the look of the facia took me back a few decades with its circular air vents that were akin to those in my old Lotus Cortina, which is actually nothing to be ashamed of as they worked really well! More surprisingly however, I was again reminded of the old motor when I looked in the A1’s boot, for nestling under the floor was the battery, apparently put there for reasons of weight distribution (in the old Lotus it was merely that there wasn’t room under the bonnet).The A1 is easy to drive in almost all respects, though the rear window and rear side ones are all on the small side so parking needs care. Gearbox is a 5-speeder on the diesel and small petrol engine, and 6 with the 1.4. Optional with the 1.4 is a 7-speed DSG, which boasts official consumptions superior to the manual cars, though out in the real world it will as ever depend on how you drive. Many prospective buyers will do what Audi drivers are famous for – i.e. spec their car up to the ultimate degree. Even those who don’t will get a fair amount of equipment: standard are ESP, alarm, alloys, central locking, air con, and electric mirrors/front windows.Expected annual sales for the A1 here in the UK are 18,000, and the two thousand cars that were available for the 2010 year following launch in October were sold out almost immediately. The A1 looks like a brilliant first attempt for this hugely popular manufacturer, but you’d have to say that there are loads of manufacturers out there who have been doing it for a lot longer, and are therefore more used to it. That won’t mean anything to the thousands of Audi buyers, for it’s the build quality and enviable reputation that for them will be the primary attractions. Size: 3.95m x 1.74mEngines: Petrol: 1.2 & 1.4 litres – 86 & 122PS)Diesel: 1.6 litres – 105PSGearbox: 5/6-speed FWDBest Consumption: Diesel – 70.6mpgPrice at Dec ’10: from £13,420Full details of the A1 are available on the manufacturer’s website: www.audi.co.ukPeter Cracknell - Dec 2010
Audi A1
The phalanx of Audi launches continues unabated, but
this one is in most ways more important than most. For
a start it’s the smallest Audi on the fleet, or as Audi put
it: “True premium meets compact size for the very first
time”. What we have here is an attempt, with Audi’s
reputation for Germanic quality, to muscle in on the
increasingly popular small hatchback segment. Notable
differences to the mass of competition out there include
a 4- rather than 5-seat interior, start-stop technology,
and a sub-130g/km emission level for all models in the
range.
The A1 – which is a
handy name to have – is
a 3-door hatch, though
Audi tell me there will be
a 5-door model in a
couple of years time.
With body length equal to
a Fiesta it’s not going to
be the most spacious of
vehicles, and indeed
trying to get comfortable
in the rear seat behind
someone setting their
driving seat where I
normally would prompted
me to think I wouldn’t
want the journey to be a
long one. It’s not just a
leg room issue, for head room is also tight for a six-foot
bod. Getting into that rear seat is actually easier than
most however, because front seat sliding and tipping
works well.
Boot volume is 270/920 litres, both of which figures are
inferior to the Fiesta. Folding the rear seats is as easy
as it gets, but although both seat backs and the seat
cushion all fold (not a universal benefit these days)
there’s still a big step up on the boot floor once it’s
done.
Engines are 1.2 and 1.4 petrol plus 1.6 turbodiesel. On
our launch test the small petrol one wasn’t available but
there was ample scope for testing the other two, and
like all Volkswagen group engines these are impressive;
they’re also well suited to the car. The 1.4TFSi petrol
engine (no they don’t know what those letters stand for
either) is powerful enough to give you a mild dose of the
hot hatches, but it’s also remarkably refined; indeed
with both this and the diesel engine the greater noise
was from the tyres.
Talking of hot hatches, both our test cars were fitted
with the Sport suspension pack, so the flat cornering,
almost without a trace of lean, was to be expected. So
too was the ride quality, which was firm, though
interestingly the extra weight of the diesel engine
seemed to soften up the front end a bit.
Interior décor is typical Audi, which is to say shed-loads
of build quality evident as soon as you get in. You really
do feel you’re in a bigger car than this, and there’s the
usual Audi feel of comforting solidity. Somewhat
unexpectedly however, the look of the facia took me
back a few decades with its circular air vents that were
akin to those in my old Lotus Cortina, which is actually
nothing to be ashamed of as they worked really well!
More surprisingly however, I was again reminded of the
old motor when I looked in the A1’s boot, for nestling
under the floor was the battery, apparently put there for
reasons of weight distribution (in the old Lotus it was
merely that there wasn’t room under the bonnet).
The A1 is easy to drive in almost all respects, though the
rear window and rear side ones are all on the small side
so parking needs care. Gearbox is a 5-speeder on the
diesel and small petrol engine, and 6 with the 1.4.
Optional with the 1.4 is a
7-speed DSG, which
boasts official
consumptions superior to
the manual cars, though
out in the real world it will
as ever depend on how
you drive. Many
prospective buyers will do
what Audi drivers are
famous for – i.e. spec their
car up to the ultimate
degree. Even those who
don’t will get a fair amount
of equipment: standard are
ESP, alarm, alloys, central
locking, air con, and
electric mirrors/front
windows.
Expected annual sales for the A1 here in the UK are
18,000, and the two thousand cars that were available for
the 2010 year following launch in October were sold out
almost immediately. The A1 looks like a brilliant first
attempt for this hugely popular manufacturer, but you’d
have to say that there are loads of manufacturers out
there who have been doing it for a lot longer, and are
therefore more used to it. That won’t mean anything to
the thousands of Audi buyers, for it’s the build quality and
enviable reputation that for them will be the primary
attractions.
Size:
3.95m x 1.74m
Engines:
Petrol: 1.2 & 1.4 litres – 86 & 122PS)
Diesel: 1.6 litres – 105PS
Gearbox:
5/6-speed FWD
Best Consumption:
Diesel – 70.6mpg
Price at Dec ’10:
from £13,420
Full details of the A1 are available on the manufacturer’s
website: www.audi.co.uk
Peter Cracknell - Dec 2010
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