Motoring | Test Drives
The A1 is Audi's answer to the Mini
We've seen this before, haven't we? A teeny-tiny Audi based on the VW Polo. It didn't work. Three-and-a-half decades later, Audi tries again with its A1
- By Dejan Jovanovic, wheels magazine
- Published: 00:00 June 3, 2011
- Image Credit: Stefan Lindeque/ANM
- The new Audi A1 looks great and has the best interior this side of Dh150K.
This is nothing new for Audi. In the Seventies Ingolstadt and Wolfsburg tag-teamed to offer the VW Polo and the Audi 50. They were exactly the same cars, only one was small and fittingly affordable, and the one with the four roundels was small and unfittingly unaffordable. You can guess which was a success — yes, the one that's now 36-years old and in its fifth generation.
So Audi thought to have another bash at it and launch a car that's yet again based on the Polo, yet again very small, and, of course, still not very affordable.
A polo in a polo neck shirt
Even though it's really a Volkswagen, Audi doesn't care about stealing sales from Wolfsburg. Audi is gunning for Munich, specifically Mini. The Mini captured an essential image in buyers' minds. It's a lifestyle choice, not just a car. It also happens to be quite a good car, but really, when you buy a Mini you're saying, "I'm young, I've got money, I like skiing holidays and my inner child is having the time of his life. Oh, and I'm happy to pay a high price for image."
If you're considering an Audi A1, you should also be happy to pay a premium, because the base 122bhp 1.4-litre front-wheel drive model costs 90 grand. Although that's not cheap by any standards, it's Dh25K cheaper than the Mini, which gives you the same horsepower from its 1.6-litre engine.
So it's expensive, the A1, but what do you get for your money? Well it looks fantastic, in that Audi industrial-design sort of way. Like the Q5 is a Q7 Xeroxed at 75 per cent, so the A1 is a smaller A3, which is a smaller Q5 and so on.
It looks similar to most other Audis apart from signature aluminium spines running along the roof, and wicked S line accessories. The wheels are 18in titanium-look five-spokes for example, and they wouldn't be out of place on something with an RS prefix. In true Mini-rival fashion, your customisation options are also seemingly limitless, although in truth they stop short of ridiculous chequered flag motifs and such kitschiness that you-know-who does. No, these are grown-up options, and no, you can't stick it to your neighbour's Mini with a giant German flag painted on your A1's roof either.
Instead, Audi offers beautiful interior upholstery — there simply isn't a car anywhere near this size with such an amazing cabin — in a multitude of colours and patterns, a cheery exterior colour palette (which actually includes shades other than just numerous greys), several different air vent finishes, and 12, yes 12, wheel styles.
Underneath though, it's got a VW engine, VW gearbox, and a VW front-wheel drive platform. Which is fine, because the chassis exhibits prodigious grip (obviously the 225/35 tyres pitch in here) and, unlike the Mini, understeer rears its ugly head only at the extreme end of the A1's limits. There is huge traction coming out of corners, something that can't be said about most front-drivers.
The TFSI engine isn't worthy of as much praise though. It's mated to a seven-speed transmission, but I have no doubt the turbocharged 1.4 would make for a better powertrain with a six-speed manual, and would be a lot more fun than it is here.
The ride is stiff and the tyres haven't got a profile, but there isn't as much connectivity as in a Mini, or even an Alfa Mito, which skips like a bunny but at least keeps you in the loop. On the straights the Audi bump-steers and tramlines on these big wheels, following the outside camber of the road. Also, the artificially assisted steering could be more cooperative.
You'd think a tiny Volkswagen engine turbocharged for efficiency rather than performance would reap you glorious benefits at the petrol pumps. Not really, at least not when it's caned as it was on the first two days of our test. It returned an average of close to 14 litres-per-100km. But on the third day I cut the A1 some slack and measured average daily commuting consumption, and it dropped to a tenner.
Sure, TFSI is great technology, but to keep 1,200kg (a good result from Audi actually) whizzing about town, you need a decent amount of twist. You get 200Nm of torque available between 1,500rpm and 4,000rpm, which is 40Nm more than what the Mini offers. In my opinion, a torquey diesel would be a better match with an entry-level A1, although obviously that's not going to happen.
Verdict
So it looks great and has the best interior this side of Dh150K, but that's because our tester costs Dh140K. Should you buy the Audi A1 over a Dh115K Mini Cooper then?
Well they're both overpriced so you need to be ludicrously self-conscious to buy either. Although small, efficient cars are purchases you need, this definitely isn't a need. It's a want. You want a Mini, you want an Audi A1. So go right ahead.
Me? I'll take neither. I'm happy with my pot belly, receding hairline, and wardrobe ambition of a hobo. I'll take a 70-grand Honda Jazz and spend the change on... oh I don't know... a Polo?
First try
To rival the flood of superminis coming from Italy and France, in 1974 Audi launched the Typ 86: Audi 50 to you and me. It looked identical to the Volkswagen Polo apart from the chrome roundel on the grille, and it was powered by a 1.1-litre engine mated to a four-speed manual front-wheel drive transmission. The world had to wait until 1980 for Audi to invent quattro.
Rivals
Mini Cooper
Audi's true and only rival here really, because, well, BMW vs Audi is like Ali vs Frazier. The Mini uses a Peugeot 1.6-litre engine that's surprisingly punchy with 122bhp and only 160Nm of torque spread out evenly. It's more dynamic though, but just as rough in its ride quality, and expensive at Dh115K. Build quality doesn't come close though...
Alfa Romeo Mito
Full of personality, Italian style and a fantastic interior, the Alfa is also blessed with a superb 1.4-litre MultiAir engine (coming in two months) rocketing it straight into hot hatch territory. The suspension is a bit jittery, although the car handles corners with aplomb. It's expensive at Dh125K, and residual values are horrendous.
Specs
Model A1
Engine 1.4-litre four-cyl turbo
Transmission Seven-speed auto, FWD
Max power 122bhp @ 5,000rpm
Max torque 200Nm @ 1,500rpm
Top speed 203kph
0-100kph 8.9sec
Price Dh139,400
Plus Great looking car with the best interior in class
Minus Ride quality, price
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