Audi A1 review

If you want a small car with a properly posh badge, your options are actually quite limited. In fact, you could argue that the Audi A1 is in a class of two.

There is, of course, the Mini hatchback, which is seen by many as similarly premium and is roughly the same size. But otherwise you have to go bigger and more expensive (think Mercedes A Class) or accept a less glamorous badge (a Volkswagen Polo, for example).

The Audi A1 is available with a broad choice of engines, all of them petrols, with power outputs ranging from sensible to very spicy indeed. At the bottom of the range you’ll find a couple of three-cylinder engines, while at the top is a 2.0-litre with near hot hatch levels of performance.

There is a wide range of trims available, from the relatively spartan Technik all the way up to Vorsprung, which gets pretty much every option box ticked. Sadly for those who value extra traction in slippery conditions, the traction-enhancing Audi quattro four-wheel drive is not offered on any version of the A1. 

So, is the worth considering as an alternative to the Mini (built by German rival BMW)? And is it really upmarket enough to justify its price premium over big-selling mainstream rivals, including the Polo as well as the Peugeot 208 and Ford Fiesta?

Read on through this Audi A1 review to find the answers to those questions, as well as our verdict on which version makes the most sense. After that, head over to our New Car Buying pages and check out the latest Audi A1 deals. You could save a packet on this car, or any other make and model you are looking to buy, without any awkward haggling.