Audi A1 1.2 TFSI SE 3dr Car Review - January 2012

The A1 is powered by a 1.2l TFSI petrol engine, producing 86 mph at 4800 rpm. It has a torque of 118 lb-ft between 1500rpm and 3500 rpm. The engine has a stop/start feature, which keeps fuel consumption minimal. Transmission is manual via a 5-spd gearbox. The car reaches 62 mph in 11.7 seconds and has a top speed of 112 mph.

The car handles well on the road. It has sufficient grip and takes to corners quite well. The steering is firm and makes you feel under control. The seats are well placed, firm and adjustable. You can lower or raise the driver’s seat to a level of your comfort. The height and reach of the steering wheel is also adjustable.

It picks up speed fast and actually feels like a much bigger car on an open road.

The A1 is a classy small car, with a well-formed layout and luxuriously polished finishing. It is made in Hatchback style, with 3 doors and 4 seats in a 2 by 2 layout.

The offering of equipment is just enough in the A1. Basically, all the vital equipment is standard. Instruments and controls are easy to use and conveniently located. There is a pop up screen which disappears into the dashboard when the car is not in use, luxurious switches and all the standard gear in the central console. Everything in the interior is high quality and well-designed.

Standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric door and front window mirrors, airbags (driver, passenger and front side), immobilizer, alarm, CD player, MP3 and iPod connectivity. This is not a lot if you are used to Audis higher up in the range, but it is the cheapest Audi so something had to give.

The situation is not hopeless though. Additional fittings available as a cost option will add a touch of flair to the A1. They include £330 climate control, £510 metallic paint,£235 cruise control, £305 rear parking sensors, £300 Bluetooth and £1175 Sat Nav.

There is plenty of space in the cabin. However, the sloping roof restricts headroom in the rear forcing adults to sit at the front or slump in the backseat. Legroom is more than adequate though and if the designers had altered the roof design just a bit to make it more accommodating, we would have nothing to complain about in the A1.

Boot space is sufficient for a car in this class. It is far more spacious than its closest rival, the MINI. You have 270 litres with the seats up and an amazing 920 litres with the seats down. You will have to limit your passengers to one adult in the front and children in the rear and luggage. With the MINI, you can have all-adult passengers but little or no luggage. It’s a trade off.

Safety has always been one of Audi’s selling points and it is no different with the A1. It has a rating of 5 in the Euro NCAP test and is built on Audi’s strong anti-theft modalities. Standard stability control, balanced by 16-inch wheels keep it stable on the road. It is fitted with an electronic rear differential which restores balance if you take sharp corners too quickly.

The Audi A1 is moderately priced, given the quality of the car. It also has the best resale value among mini cars and is therefore a great bargain to have. There are very low running costs attached. The car is very fuel efficient, has low CO2 emissions at 118g/km and returns a combined 55.4 mpg; thanks to the frugal, start-stop engine system.

A low insurance group 9 and road tax band C, the equivalent of £30, keep your annual car expenses minimal. Service intervals every 9000-19000 miles and a 3 year service warranty or 60000 mileage warranty will keep you covered should any mechanical problems arise.