Audi A1 Sportback – 2023
By Ian Strachan.
Audi’s striking-looking A1 Sportback is proof that a small car can be engaging and exciting. It is a pleasure to drive, and in a sector in which the driving experience is often compromised by size and practicality, this car is a reminder that good things can come in small packages.
I test drove the A1 Sportback S Line 30, powered by a 110 bhp 1.5 petrol engine. It comes in at £28,195 on the road, which might sound a lot for its size, but you get a premium badge and a high-specification with every comfort and extra you’d expect to find on a much bigger car. If you want a prestige small car which delivers on comfort, performance and driveability while still offering good residual prices, this A1 is for you.
Despite being pitched into the fiercely competitive compact small hatchback sector, Audi has stuck to its principles with this car. The result is a sporty, adequately-powered offering every bit as enjoyable to drive as its bigger brothers.
The engine in the A1 Sportback is gutsy and responsive. My test car came with a six-speed manual gearbox which was fun to use on twisting country lanes.
The A1 has a distinctive sculpted exterior design which is unmistakably Audi from the front, with the famous four-rings grille and big headlamps. My test car came in striking Python Yellow with a metallic black roof (£575 extra). No losing this vehicle in a car park!
Internally, the A1 feels roomy for its size, particularly in the front where driver and passenger don’t feel squashed together as in many smaller cars. Headroom is good, but legroom in the rear is a bit of a squeeze for long-legged passengers. In a car this size there has to be a compromise somewhere, and the lack or rear legroom is made up for with a larger than expected boot with an adjustable boot floor. Interior design is functional and unmistakably Audi – with the use of good quality trim materials. The seats are solid and supportive.
The 1.5 petrol unit has a 0-60 time of just over 10 seconds. But don’t be put off. This feels a sprightly power plant with enjoyably responsive pull throughout the gears. And it does return a fairly frugal 50.4 miles to the gallon in mixed driving.
Standard equipment includes air conditioning, folding door mirrors, a six-speaker 3D sound system with DAB radio, Bluetooth and smartphone interface, satellite navigation with an 8.8 inch colour display screen, cruise control with speed limiter, lane departure warning, hill hold assist, 17-inch alloy wheels, light and rain sensors and a headlight washer system for its LED lights.
You also get an S Line roof spoiler, sports bumpers, steering-wheel mounted controls, parking aids, and a camera with distance sensor.
The A1 Sportback is a great introduction for people new to the Audi range, and is good enough to get you hooked on Audi’s technology through progress.
