Audi A1 review

You’ll pay a hefty price premium to own an Audi A1 rather than its Volkswagen Polo cousin, and cheaper versions of the Mini 5dr are avalable. Better news is that the A1 holds on to its value much more tightly than its rivals. In fact, it has the slowest predicted depreciation in the class.

The 108bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine is pretty thrifty on fuel and delivers better real-world economy than you can expect from the Mini 5dr Cooper (visit our True MPG site to learn more about how economical it really is). If you’re a company car user, the A1’s relatively low CO2 emissions will net you cheaper monthly tax payments than the Mini, too. However, if you can live without the Audi badge, you can get your tax even lower by going for the cheaper and even more economical Peugeot 208 Puretech 100.

S line versions are all about sportiness, with bigger wheels, more aggressive looks (and stiffer suspension), and are also available in a range of style editions that give you a choice of exterior looks.

Black Edition is more about adding extra style than having more substance and isn’t worth the extra over S Line

Contrary to what you might think, the word ‘Audi’ isn’t the panacea for reliability. In our What Car? Reliability Survey, the brand finished joint 18th out of 30 manufacturers – well below Mini and also Skoda, Hyundai and Kia. The A1 itself was 12th out of 17 small cars in the same reliability survey.

So, what cover does Audi give you if things go wrong? The answer is the exact same package as Volkswagen – an unlimited-mileage warranty for the first two years, followed by a third year in which the mileage is capped at 60,000 miles.