Call this an Audi compact rather than an Audi lite. The much-publicised new A1 may be one of the smallest Audis yet produced, but there’s nothing lite or watered-down about its build quality.
The cabin finishes are the same upmarket fare found in larger and more expensive Audis, except there’s a lot less legroom and the styling is more playful.
Audi’s three-door hatch has funky looks to attract the same young-at-heart buyers who might otherwise consider a Mini Cooper or Citroën DS3. It’s cute-aggro in a Fiat-500-with-fangs sort of way, with cool detailing such as LED daytime running lights that form a continuous, unbroken strip.
In standard trim the A1 is not as visually extravagant as rivals such as the Mini Cooper or Citroën DS3, but if you dip into the options there’s a toybox full of customisations available to glam up your ride.
Either choose a ready-made S line or Competition package, or mix-and-match from items such as a roof spoiler, contrasting-colour roof arch with optional matching mirrors, and different coloured air vent sleeves (even available in Wasabi green if that’s your style). You can even choose an ‘80s style quattro rally sticker kit if attention-grabbing’s your thing.
There are also various wheel and tyre options and, at the risk of sounding geriatric and lacking a sense of adventure, here I must have a quick bitch about the low-profile tyres that some motor companies (not just Audi) insist on fitting to their test cars.
Our A1 was delivered with optional 225/35 18” tyres and the reasoning behind such race-spec rubber on a modestly-powered hatch is lost on me.
Yes, this boring old codger acknowledges the cosmetic appeal of uber-sized wheels and how nicely they fill the arches, not to mention the half a second you might shave off your Kyalami lap-times, but the novelty wears off after the car’s thumped over its second speedhump.
The Lamborghini-spec rubber makes the ride jarringly firm, making you wince and count your fillings over every bump and pothole, and I’d really like to experience what this A1 feels like on factory-spec 215/45 16” footwear. I suspect this would offer a better ride/handling compromise because, thanks to its compact size and sports suspension, the A1’s an inherently sweet handler.
It’s a nimble little thing that zooms through corners very swiftly, with limited body roll. Standard ABS brakes and stability control lend a hand should a driver run out of talent, as does a limited-slip differential that limits understeer.
The 90kW output of the 1.4 turbo petrol engine, though not nearly powerful enough to warrant the extreme footwear, is adequately perky. Boy racers with money to spend are no doubt salivating in wait for the 136kW turbocharged/supercharged A1 due here in April, but for those on a R270 500 budget, the A1T FSi Ambition STronic on test here - the current flagship of the six-model range - commutes and cruises with respectable pace.
The car feels subjectively quicker than the 10.2 second 0-100km/h time it achieved with our test equipment, and has a pleasantly responsive and free-revving nature once you get past a dash of turbo lag on initial pulloff. Top speed’s a more than useful 203km/h, and it cruises along with minimal intrusive wind noise.
This A1 has a fuel-saving start/stop system which cuts the engine when you come to a stop and instantly re-starts it when you press the throttle.
It’s very quick-acting and generally unobtrusive, but unfortunately not very good at saving fuel. Our test car averaged a rather high 8.5 litres/100km on the combined urban/freeway cycle - substantially thirstier than Audi’s 5.2 litre claim.
If you’ve finished customising your A1 and still have budget left over, go for the STronic dual-clutch transmission that costs an extra R17 500 over the six-speed manual. It’s a really terrific gearbox, convenient and quick-reacting.
Like the Cooper and DS3, the A1 isn’t over-endowed with boot or rear passenger space and should be considered a two-person car. The spec level is high and includes most of the expected gadgets. Of the dozens of options available I really liked the feature which allows you to play your cellphone’s music through the car’s speakers via Bluetooth.
VERDICT:
Apart from its harsh ride (which will probably improve with standard rubber) and higher-than-promised thirst, I couldn’t help developing a fondness for Audi’s new toddler.
It’s immaculately finished in Audi’s usual high-class style, it’s funkily styled without being over-the-top, and it has an agile, free-spirited character. -Star Motoring