We use cookies on whatcar.com to improve your browsing experience and to provide you with relevant content and advertising, by continuing to use our site you agree to this. Please see our privacy policy for more details. Continue

For The Audi A1 Sportback has a high-quality interior, a range of good engines and is great to drive and own.

Against As you progress up the trim hierarchy, you get firmer suspension, bigger wheels and a firmer ride. List prices aren’t cheap and other five-door superminis are roomier in the back.

Audi A1 Sportback
55 5stars

The Audi A1 Sportback is the classiest of superminis and proves you don't have to scrimp on quality when buying a small car. More useable than the three-door, but still not a match for the best five-door superminis on practicality

What Car? readers say

5

Continue to full review »

What Car? buying help and car info

Order a brochure, find your nearest dealer or book a test drive

Read in full

The full Audi A1 review


There are 11 Audi A1 versions available

Sportback 1.2 TFSI 86 SE 5dr £14,260
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Sportback 1.6 TDI 105 SE 5dr £15,320
What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Sportback 1.2 TFSI 86 Sport 5dr £16,100
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Sportback 1.4 TFSI 122 Sport 5dr £16,510
What Car? says:5 stars out of 5
Sportback 1.6 TDI 105 Sport 5dr £17,160
What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Sportback 1.2 TFSI 86 S line 5dr £17,645
What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Sportback 1.4 TFSI 122 S line 5dr £18,055
What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Sportback 1.6 TDI 105 S line 5dr £18,705
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Sportback 2.0 TDI 143 Sport 5dr £18,785
What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Sportback 2.0 TDI 143 S line 5dr £20,330
What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Sportback 1.4 TFSI 185 S line S tronic 5dr £21,560
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5

Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

A 138bhp four-cylinder 1.4-litre engine that can close off two of its cylinders when cruising to save fuel is due in the Audi A1 Sportback in the summer. It has the power, economy and emissions similar to the 2.0-litre diesel (due to arrive at the same time), but will be cheaper.

Until then, four engines are available – three turbocharged petrols with 85bhp, 120bhp or 182bhp, and a 1.6 diesel with 104bhp. The mid-range petrol is our favourite, providing the best blend of power economy for an affordable price. However, we suspect it could well be ousted once the clever 138bhp engine becomes available.

We'd advise opting for Sport trim – you get all the goodies you'd want with a suspension set-up that's not too firm.

Audi's five-year servicing plan looks good value and the other option we'd recommend would be the contrasting roof paint job. It makes the A1 Sportback look smart and it should help resale values when it's time to sell the car on.

Reader test team says:

Audi A1 Sportback 1.4 TFSI 122 Sport 5dr

I listened to the good advice given about which model to buy. The 1.4 TFSI is the engine to have and Sport is the trim level if you want to balance…

Chris Ward

5 out of 5 stars
Post a reader review for your car View all reader reviews

A1 rivals

Share on Facebook

Audi A1 Sportback

Read the definitive Audi A1 Sportback review from the expert What Car? team. Check specs, prices and compare with similar cars.

Share