Audi A1 Sportback 2018 review: is it as sporty as it looks?

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Audi’s all-new A1 Sportback is on sale now. The new car, which comes in a number of different versions, is designed to rival BMW’s Mini and the DS 3 from Citroen subsidiary DS.

Unveiled in the summer, the A1 has been given a complete design overhaul. This brings its styling more in line with Audi’s most recent models, such as the new Q2 compact SUV and R8 supercar.

The new car’s styling is much sportier than the previous A1, with the trio of air vents beneath the bonnet resembling the S1 Quattro rally car from the 1980s. The wheel arches are also wider than the old car, which is akin to Audi’s performance focused RS-models.

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The interior has also been given a hi-tech upgrade. Digital dashboards, which replace the conventional analogue dials behind the steering wheel, now come as standard, as does lane-keep assistance and autonomous emergency braking.

We’ve been behind the wheel of the new A1 to see whether it drives as well as it looks.

The Week test drives the Audi A1 Sportback

Audi says it wants to distinguish itself as a sports brand that stands out from its premium German rivals – BMW and Mercedes – and that’s not hard to see when you first set your eyes upon the new A1.

The hatchback’s design is far more aggressive than that of its predecessor, especially when specced with gloss black grille and badges. The optional white wheels, meanwhile, hark back to the company’s rally machines of yesteryear.

Step inside and the A1’s athletic aesthetic is toned down, although that’s not to say it isn’t a pleasant place to be. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is covered in buttons. This will make drivers feel as if they’re in a more expensive machine, as will the digital dashboard and optional touchscreen in the centre console.

The cabin quality is fine for models carrying sub-£20,000 price tags, but those who opt for range-topping S Line cars may be disappointed by the texture of the interior plastics.

Still, there’s plenty of space in the front and just enough headroom in the back for passengers over six foot. Fitting three people on the rear bench could be a bit of a squeeze, though.

On the road, the new A1 packs enough punch to get drivers up to motorway speeds quickly no matter what the engine configuration. We’ve heard some gripes from critics about road noise, but we found that this wasn’t an issue during a one hour cruise along our test route’s bumpy roads.

The ride, however, may feel a little stiff for some people in both comfort and dynamic driving modes. The harder suspension is never unbearable, however, but bumps and road imperfections can send small jolts through the cabin.

Nevertheless, Audi seems to have successfully transformed the A1 from a stylish city car into a sporty hatchback. The new car is responsive to driver inputs on twisty roads and is kitted out with all the interior tech buyers could ask for at a price point below £20,000.

The car’s firm ride could prove divisive, as could its rally-inspired styling, but buyers looking for a city car with supercar looks can’t go wrong with the new A1.

Price and release date

Audi has already opened orders for the new A1 Sportback. Deliveries are expected to begin early next year, says Auto Express.

Entry-level SE models start at £18,450, the magazine says, and this figure rises to £23,180 for top of the range S Line models. The more expensive model has more aggressive styling, sports suspension and larger wheels.

Engines and performance

Four petrol engine options will be available when the car launches. This will consist of a trio of three-cylinder motors and a one four-cylinder unit.

Base-level A1s, badged 25 TFSI and 30 TFSI, are powered by 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engines plucked from Audi’s parent company Volkswagen, says Autocar. These come with power outputs of 94bhp and 114bh. Torque comes in at 129lb-ft and 148lb-ft respectively.

Sportier A1 35 TFSI models will have a 1.5-litre TFSI three-cylinder turbo engine producing 148bhp and 184lb-ft of torque. Range-topping 40 TFSI cars, meanwhile, will be powered by four-cylinder turbo motors with 197bhp and 236lb-ft of torque.

Front-wheel drive comes as standard in the new A1, says CarBuyer, as does a six-speed manual gearbox. Seven-speed automatics are available as optional extras on all models expect the 40 TFSI, which will have a six-speed auto as standard.