Used Audi A1 2018-present reliability
Category: Small car
Decently practical and brimming with tech, the Audi A1 is a fine used buy. It's not as cheap as its closest rivals, though.
What should I look for in a used Audi A1 hatchback?
A lot of examples will still be within the official approved used dealer network and should, therefore, still look like new. However, you can get some rather large alloy wheels on an Audi A1 that could be kerbed quite easily, so check the condition of the alloys and tyres because repairing them can be expensive.
Check for any parking damage to the bumpers because not all models have parking sensors to help you out.
The interior does use some scratchy plastics on the doors, so watch out for any damage to the handle, particularly from people who wear rings.
What are the most common problems with a used Audi A1 hatchback?
This generation of A1 hasn't thrown up any major issues yet, with no recalls to its name at the time of writing. However, some owners have found the S tronic automatic gearbox to be a tad jerky when pulling away from a junction or merging onto a roundabout. In our experience, this is common to the vast majority of Audi models that use this gearbox.
Is a used Audi A1 hatchback reliable?
The latest A1 finished in ninth place out of 26 cars in the small car class of our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, with an overall score of 97.5%. That's a good result and placed it above the Dacia Sandero, Ford Fiesta and Toyota Yaris, but below the Mini hatch and VW Polo.
As a brand, Audi finished in 22nd place out of 31 manufacturers, with a poor overall score of 90.6%. This placed it below Mini, Suzuki and Toyota, but above Ford, Fiat and Nissan.
Used Audi A1 reliability: the owners' view
In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, 2018-present Audi A1 owners have painted a somewhat mixed picture regarding the reliability of the car, though general satisfaction appears high.
Some owners reported minor electrical faults and faulty sensors that often triggered warning lights on the dashboard. One reader noted an issue requiring a new parking sensor unit, describing the part as costly. Another mentioned a recurring fault with the windscreen wipers that their dealer struggled to permanently fix.
Conversely, many others reported that their A1 has been extremely reliable, noting no significant issues or expensive repairs.
When it comes to dealer service, owners' experiences also varied. Some praised their local dealership for being quick to diagnose issues and for their professional manner. However, a noticeable number of owners voiced dissatisfaction with the cost of main dealer servicing and the time taken to get appointments for repairs, with one reader specifically calling their dealership experience "poor" and opting for an independent specialist instead.
