Driving report Audi A1 Sportback top 35 TFSI: Small, agile and expensive

Audi A1 Sportback driving report: There’s room in the smaller cabin – but it could probably be cheaper.

Citycarver, allstreet, Sportback – Audi is doing a lot to add top names to its small car. FOCUS online tested the Audi A1 as a Sportback.

The Audi The A1 is a small car that immediately catches the eye. In the driving report we want to take a closer look at the driving behavior, cost, competition, advantages and disadvantages, consumption, special equipment, the best engine and trunk.

Note: The video above shows the Audi A1 Citycarver with 115 hp and a test run from November 2020. In the second generation, the Citycarver was renamed to all-road.

Driving behavior

The Audi A1 impresses with its fast and sporty driving behavior – as befits a quality small car. Precise steering and a taut chassis ensure direct and safe handling in the city and on the highway. From 150 km / h it gets a little noisy in the interior, but even at speeds above 200 km / h it always feels safe. No, it’s not a racing car, but according to the digital speedometer on the test car it quickly reached 215 km / h. And thanks to its compact dimensions, the A1 can be easily maneuvered into tight parking spaces.

Cockpit

In the interior, Audi boasts a large and colorful selection. There are decorative pieces in yellow, mint and silver, which ensures that black loses its dominance in the interior. It is surprising if the appearance of the material, which is usually a standard premium for Audi, deserves this name – at least there is a little compromise in the choice of materials.

Special equipment

The Audi A1 offers a wide range of optional equipment that increases driving comfort and safety. These include, for example, a navigation system, a rear camera, a panoramic glass roof and a high-quality audio system. But as I said: The price quickly leaves the small car segment. Infotainment Plus alone costs an additional 2200 euros.

Space is available

Front space is generous, and there is more than enough room even for people over 1.90 meters tall.

However, rear legroom is severely restricted when the giant is sitting behind the wheel or in the passenger seat. One advantage is that the A1 is only available as a five-door model, which also makes the rear seats more accessible.

trunk

With a volume of 270 liters, the trunk of the Audi A1 offers enough space for everyday life. Audi even talks about 335 liters, ADAC only says 250 liters as a minimum. But enough is enough. And when the rear seat is folded down, the load volume can be extended to 920 litres. This means that the A1 offers enough storage space for shopping or a weekend trip.

Motorization, use and performance

The buyer will search freely for the diesel engine offered there are only petrol engines available. The entry-level model is the 25 TFSI (95 HP). Above these are versions 30 (116 hp), 35 (150 hp on the test car) and 40 TFSI (207 hp). Anyone who appreciates sporty driving performance will be more than satisfied with 150 hp: the A1 sprints to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and has a top speed of 222 km/h. But even with 116 hp, there is enough motorization in this segment. Anyone who wants to buy the top version with 207 hp is looking for a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Audi A1 usage varies depending on engine and equipment. On average, an A1 with 150 hp consumes around 5.7 liters per 100 km. But if you want to use as little as possible, you can bring the A1 closer to the 4.0 liter mark.

Cost

The Audi A1 is available in various trim levels, but is always expensive. The attached price summary from the 2023 model year starts at 28,350 euros for the Audi A1 Sportback advanced 35 TFSI with 150 HP and S tronic and ends at 39,355 euros for the test car. If you consider the current base price of only 29,400 euros, the test car is already over the 40,000 euro mark. A lot of money for a small car. With dimensions of 4.03 meters long, 1.74 meters wide and 1.41 meters high, the price per centimeter (yes, just kidding) is already very high. By the way, the dimensions are almost exactly related to the VW Polo, only the A1 is a little flat.

Conclusion

The Audi A1 impresses with its dynamic design, high-quality craftsmanship and dynamic driving character. All in all, the Audi A1 is a good choice for customers looking for a high-quality small car with a sporty character. However, you have to be able to afford it, but that is no different from competitors from Munich or Stuttgart.

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