2012 Audi A1 2.0 TDI review

• New 2.0-litre diesel Audi A1 driven
• Priced from £17,945
• On sale now

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This is the Audi A1 2.0 TDI, which has a 141bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine.

It’s the largest engine currently available in the Audi A1, yet it averages an impressive 68.9mpg and emits just 108g/km of CO2.

The new engine can be paired with Sport and S line trims, and is also available for the special-edition Black Edition model.

Prices start at £17,945 for the 2.0 TDI Sport, which represents a considerable £1625 premium over the equivalent 103bhp 1.6-litre diesel.

Audi A1: What’s it like to drive? Highly entertaining. The fact is, an Audi A4 feels quick off the mark when fitted with this 2.0-litre engine, so sticking it in the much smaller and lighter A1 brings obvious results.

There’s plenty of punch in reserve for overtaking, and it suffers from little turbo lag at low speeds.

The thing is, though, the 1.6-litre diesel provides decent performance and is even cheaper to run, while the lively 1.4-litre turbo petrol undercuts the 2.0-litre diesel by £2275 and feels more surefooted in corners.

The 2.0-litre diesel model’s extra torque is to blame, causing the front wheels to break traction earlier.

Some engine rattle finds its way into the cabin at low speeds, too.

Whichever engine you opt for, it’s important to spec the right trim. The stiff ride on our S line test car became tiresome on urban roads; we’d go for the slightly more comfortable Sport trim, instead.

Audi A1: What’s it like inside? Much like all A1s, which means you get superb build quality and attractive interior materials.

The dashboard is well laid out, too, while the front seats are firm yet supportive.

Rear leg- and headroom are both tight. The 270-litre boot is relatively generous, though, and easily accessible thanks to a wide opening.

Audi A1: Should I buy one? This new 2.0-litre diesel model is fast and efficient, but the 1.6-litre diesel makes more sense if you do a lot of miles and are looking to keep your motoring costs down. Not only does it average 74.3mpg, but it dips under the 100g/km CO2 mark, so is exempt from road tax and the London Congestion Charge.

Alternatively, if you don’t do high mileage, the 1.4 turbo petrol remains the pick of the range; it’s significantly cheaper to buy, as well as more agile and enjoyable to drive.

Rivals:
Alfa Romeo Mito 1.6 JTDm-2
Mini Cooper SD

What Car? says…


Rory White