More information, a brief history and our verdict on the Audi A1

The high-tech Audi A1 is the smallest car in the popular and premium German brand’s range. It is an upmarket supermini-sized five-door hatchback, which offers a classy alternative to more mainstream models such as the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Renault Clio and Peugeot 208. 

The firm refers to it as the Audi A1 Sportback, as it is only available in five-door guise. There was previously a three-door Audi A1, but it’s no longer part of the line-up as those looking to buy or lease a new car generally prefer five doors. 

Audi launched the original A1 in 2010, and it was a real breakthrough model. It shared underpinnings with the Volkswagen Polo, but was completely bespoke in terms of design and dynamics. Sales quickly started to grow, particularly when the first A1 Sportback arrived in 2012. 

The original Audi A1 was facelifted in 2015, which introduced even more tech, and it was replaced by the current A1 Sportback in 2018. For a while, Audi also sold the A1 Citycarver, which had a raised ride height to give it more of a crossover appearance, but the range today remains focused on the core Sportback model. 

It’s a very authentic Audi, with crisp, precise styling and a modern appearance. The interior is extremely high-quality and lots of the technology has been handed down from Audi’s larger and more expensive cars. Those looking to buy or lease a new Audi A1 Sportback will be in for a treat. 

It’s a practical car, too. The rear doors mean easy access to the back seat, and the boot is a useful 335 litres – that’s one of the largest in the supermini sector. Add in the Audi A1’s grown-up feel from behind the wheel, plus easygoing performance from its turbocharged engines, and it’s easy to see why people are prepared to pay extra for it. 

Audi A1 models, trims, specs, engine sizes and more

The Audi A1 range of models to buy or lease is broad, meaning there’s something for everyone. Reflecting car buyer preferences, Audi has concentrated the engine range on petrol motors and all of them are turbocharged (that’s what the ‘TFSI’ acronym refers to). 

Instead of highlighting engine size in the model name, Audi has adopted a range of numbers to define its engines. The higher the number, the more power it produces. The numbers don’t directly refer to engine power, however, but tell you where each sits in the Audi hierarchy. 

• Audi A1 25 TFSI petrol: The A1 25 TFSI uses a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo engine that produces 95PS. It can accelerate from 0-62mph in 11.0 seconds, and averages up to 51.4mpg. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard. 

• Audi A1 30 TFSI petrol: The 30 TFSI uses the same 1.0-litre engine, with power lifted to 110PS. This cuts the 0-62mph acceleration time to 10.5 seconds. Because the 30 TFSI has more pulling power, it’s actually better on fuel, as it doesn’t have to be worked so hard. It averages up to 53.3mpg. 

• Audi A1 35 TFSI S tronic petrol: The 35 TFSI uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo engine and produces 150PS. It is notably faster, accelerating from 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds. A seven-speed S tronic automatic gearbox is standard, but fuel economy is still reasonable, with an average of around 46mpg. 

• Audi A1 40 TFSI S tronic petrol: The exciting 40 TFSI boasts a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine that produces 200PS. Zero to 62mph takes just 6.5 seconds. Given this, we think fuel economy of just over 40mpg is still reasonable, particularly as it also uses a seven-speed S tronic automatic gearbox instead of a manual. 

The engine line-up for second-hand Audi A1s is broader still, and includes the choice of a 1.6-litre turbodiesel for those seeking better fuel economy on the motorway. The well-proven 1.2- and 1.4-litre turbo petrol engines are pleasant and efficient, too. 

Audi A1 features as standard & optional extras

Audi is a high-tech brand and the entry-level Audi A1 Sportback references this with its trim name: Technik. Its standard features reflect this too, with LED headlights and the Audi MMI Radio Plus system both included. The latter has an 8.8-inch touchscreen and the Audi smartphone interface for hooking up with your mobile device. 

For those looking to buy or lease a sportier-looking A1 Sportback, Sport trim is next up. It has larger alloy wheels than the Technik, along with a racier look at the front end. It also comes with front sports seats, rear parking sensors and cruise control. 

S line ups the sportiness even more. A popular trim line, standard equipment includes distinctive S line body styling, larger alloy wheels and unique interior trim with even more hip-hugging sports seats. 

Black Edition builds on S line by including many popular optional extras as standard. It has a black roof and windscreen pillars, plus matching black door mirrors. The interior colour scheme is moodier as well, completing the ‘black pack’ makeover. 

The Audi A1’s exterior dimensions are:

• Length: 4,029mm
• Width: 1,740mm
• Height: 1,409mm
• Ground clearance: 136mm