I immediately grabbed the keys to this micro machine in hopes that the figures on paper would translate into some hot hatch performance on the road.
Updated looks
Being a premium, small hatchback, the A1 competes with the likes of the Mini Cooper and indeed, its mechanical twin, the Volkswagen Polo GTI; therefore, it needs to be attractive.
The new model is longer and lower than before and in terms of its design details, there are sharp LED headlights, the trademark hexagonal grille as well as three vents at the end of the bonnet, paying homage to the original Audi Quattro from the 80s. The side profile is typical of the segment, compact with short overhangs while the two-tone paint job particularly visible as the roof, rear spoiler and A-pillar on my test unit was finished in black. The rear LED lights and aggressively shaped faux diffuser round off an impressive small car design.
Premium interior
The interior is where I was most impressed with the A1. The fit and finish, as well as the general layout and design, look similar to larger, more expensive Audi models. A caveat is most certainly the fact that my test vehicle was around R590 000 with options. Included in a well-specified car are the digitised instrument cluster, an 8.8-inch infotainment system, ambient lighting, a flat-bottomed sport steering wheel and contrasting interior surface colours.
This means that the R100 000-plus worth of extras make the A1 around the same price as a lightly specified Golf GTI. Many of the extras, such as the MMI Navigation Plus( R24 500) and the Parking aid plus(R10 500) for example, are unnecessary while the Bang and Olufsen sound system(R9 500) and the Technology Package(R9 9000) are the only two interior options worth ticking, in my opinion.
Driving 40 TFSI
Audi has a new and rather confusing badging convention, meaning that you’ll see its new products with numbers at the back, which denote a certain power output range. In this case, the 40 TFSI means 147kW and 320 N.m from a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine mated with a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox powering the front wheels. Performance is sprightly, with 100 km/h coming up in a claimed 6.5 seconds, however, much like its Polo GTI sibling, it struggles to put its power down on anything other than an immaculately grippy piece of tarmac, even when using the launch control system.
The S-Line badge on the side of the vehicle means that there’s a Sport suspension, offering a harder ride quality in exchange for improved handling. In terms of engagement and ultimate hot hatch thrills, the A1 doesn’t inspire your inner hooligan; however, it is a predictable and easy car to extract performance from.
Verdict
The latest A1 is a big step forward in terms of technology, refinement and quality versus the car that it replaces. With the Mini Cooper now feeling its age and the Polo GTI appealing to a slightly different demographic, the A1 is well poised to take some market share in the premium small hatchback segment, just beware of the options list and consider the smaller 1.0 and 1.5-litre engines within the range.
