Audi A1 - TopCarNews

Audi A1 (2018 – present) | Expert Rating [hide]

Summary

The Audi A1 is a small five-door hatchback, available in regular (A1 Sportback) or crossover (A1 Citycarver) body styles. The current A1 is the second generation, which was launched in the UK in late 2018.

Unlike the original A1, there is no three-door version of the current model and there are no diesel-engined versions. As yet, there are also no higher-performance S1 or RS 1 models.

Generally, the Audi A1 Sportback has received positive reviews from the UK motoring media. However, its current overall Expert Rating of 65% (as of January 2022) trails well behind its major rival, the Mini hatch. The A1 has been particularly praised for its comfort and technology, but isn’t as enjoyable to drive as the Mini.

The A1 Citycarver also scores poorly compared to the regular A1 Sportback models, particularly because of its high price, which drags down the Expert Rating score for the overall range.

Audi A1 highlights

More comfortable than most superminis
Loads of advanced tech from more expensive Audis
Great residual values

Audi A1 lowlights

Can’t match a Mini for driving dynamics
Citycarver model not worth the money
No electrified models available

Key specifications

Body style: Five-door hatchEngines: petrol
Price: From £19,635 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2018Last updated: Autumn 2019
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Audi A1 Sportback S line

Audi A1 Citycarver

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert

“Some of the interior quality is disappointing, but otherwise the A1 Sportback is an excellent supermini – albeit for a high price.”
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Auto Express

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The Audi A1 is a luxurious and sporty-looking small hatch that gives the Mini a run for its money.”
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual 30 TFSI CitycarverScore: 7 / 10“The Citycarver costs £1,400 more than an A1 Sport, which comes with a similar level of kit. It’s on this basis that it’s difficult to recommend the Citycarver over the standard car, even if it’s clear the tech offering is the best in this class.”
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Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“As the most affordable and attainable car Audi makes, the A1 is a very appealing prospect. That’s helped in no small part by sharp looks, decent practicality, nimble handling, punchy engines and impressive economy. This is a good small car that fashion-conscious buyers will be very happy with.”
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Autocar

Model reviewed: CitycarverScore: 6 / 10“From an objective point of view, there is little real-world benefit of the body cladding, while the absence of quattro four-wheel drive makes the extra ride height a little redundant. So, really, you’re paying about £2000 more for not much added ability.”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7 / 10“Luxury supermini lacks the polish to justify its high price”
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Model reviewed: 30 TFSI SportScore: 7 / 10“If you want a small car that’s big on desirability, personality and verve, the A1 may not do much for you.”
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Car

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The second-generation A1 offers some solid improvements over the outgoing car, especially in terms of space and technology. Its growth spurt and the lack of a three-door variant makes this a more mature, more conventional and less fun-looking car.”
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Car Keys

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic 40 TFSI S line CompetitionScore: 8 / 10“The Audi A1 S line Competition is certainly an interesting supermini. However, the price is a sore point, and if you’re not set on having the most powerful A1, the 150hp 35 TSI version will feel more than plentiful in just about every scenario.”
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual 30 TFSI CitycarverScore: 8 / 10“While the Audi A1 Citycarver isn’t a model that will suit all buyers, it’s a great addition to the A1 line-up, and offers SUV-obsessed buyers an interesting alternative to a both the regular A1 and other crossovers.”
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Model reviewed: A1 Sportback rangeScore: 8 / 10“Despite it being at the higher end of the supermini spectrum and the interior finish not as up to scratch as we’d hope, the Audi A1 is a very capable car. It is well-behaved and doesn’t do anything out of the ordinary, while also having sharp looks that are likely to prove popular amongst the masses.”
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Carbuyer

Score: 8 / 10“Sporty looking A1 offers the full Audi experience distilled into a supermini package.”
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Model reviewed: A1 Citycarver rangeScore: 7.6 / 10“Improved ride comfort and rugged looks mean the Audi A1 Citycarver isn’t without appeal”
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Carwow

Model reviewed: A1 Citycarver“The Audi A1 Citycarver is a bit of an oddball – part sensible hatchback, part high-riding SUV – but it’s packed with all the high-tech creature comforts you’d expect from Audi.”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The Audi A1 Sportback is a posh small car that is comfortable and practical. It’s easy to drive and has a good range of petrol engines but there aren’t any super-economical diesel units.”
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Company Car Today

Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol manual Citycarver“The Audi A1 Citycarver looks good, but has to appeal enough to overcome the increased cost of that increased style.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic 40 S line Competition“If you want a premium brand city car there’s not a lot of choice, that doesn’t mean half-measures for the smallest Audi, it’s a great, fun little car and with the 200hp 2.0-litre engine, it’s quick too.”
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual 30 TFSI S line“The epitome of sensible: good running costs, decent quality, understated looks and a comfortable driving experience. The new Audi A1 is just lacking in a little individual character to make you love rather than respect it.”
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Daily Mirror

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual CitycarverScore: 6 / 10“If you really want to go down the crossover route you might as well go the whole way and buy a well-equipped Volkswagen T-Cross or even T-Roc for similar money.”
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Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol automatic 30 TFSI S lineScore: 8 / 10“For a car that’s based on the same platform as other Volkswagen Group vehicles, this is one of the best to drive, but of course it should be, because you’re paying a price premium. “
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Heycar

Model reviewed: A1 CitycarverScore: 7 / 10“Audi hasn’t strayed too far from its A1 Sportback model to create the Citycarver. This is generally a positive move as the Citycarver’s opposition is also supermini-based in the shapes of the Ford Fiesta Active, BMW X1 and Renault Captur, although those latter two are more dedicated in their styling to distinguish them from their parentage.”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7 / 10“The second-gen Audi A1 Sportback dares to be a little funkier than its predecessor, placing it ideally between the sobriety of the Volkswagen Polo and the style-led Mini. It makes the A1 a very appealing small hatch as you get much of the looks and all of the quality of larger Audis in a city-busting car.”
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Honest John

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual 30 TFSI Citycarver“It could be argued that most Audi A1 Citycarver buyers will choose it on looks and style alone, and we’d agree when they say it’s one of the smartest small cars on sale today. But as a value proposition, there are much better ways to spend £22,000.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview“The new Audi A1 is longer, wide and lower than before. It’s more angular in its design – a nod to the iconic ur-Quattro rally car from the 1980s, says Audi. We say it looks like a shrunken Q2 with some extra creases added.”
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Model reviewed: A1 CitycarverScore: 6 / 10“The beefed-up A1 Citycarver has an extra 50mm of ground clearance and black wheel arch surrounds to give it a ‘more muscular’ look than the standard car, says Audi. It also has a bespoke front grille, intended to mimic those used on Audi’s Q SUVs.”
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Motoring Research

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“Overall, this latest Audi A1 is bigger, better and more refined than its predecessor, and it remains one of the most desirable cars in its class.”
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Motors.co.uk

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The interior is perhaps not as you might expect, with disappointing quality in places. While the top of the dash is soft-touch and feels classy, the plastics on the doors and centre console are disappointingly poor, and not what you expect from a car which sits at the top of its class in terms of price.”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7.8 / 10“Smart, high-tech hatch is desirable but not exciting”
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Model reviewed: A1 Citycarver review“Rugged Audi A1 Citycarver aims to rival Ford Fiesta Active”
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The Sun

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual 30 TFSI S line“The build quality of the Audi A1 is as good as any other in the range, and there is a wealth of engine choice.”
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The Telegraph

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manualScore: 8 / 10“More expressive styling marks the new Audi A1 out, but its recipe for Mini rivalry is virtually unchanged. There’s more space, even more personalisation options and a range of perky petrol engines to choose from.”
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Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7 / 10“Second-generation A1 is the cheapest way into Audi ownership. Rivals have it licked on driving manners, though.”
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Model reviewed: CitycarverScore: 6 / 10“Apparently only five per cent of people who walk into an Audi showroom to buy an A1 will leave with an A1 Neighbourhoodsnipper.”
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What Car?

Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10“The Audi A1 is great to drive, comfortable and available with lots of big car options. However, if you can live without a posh badge, the Peugeot 208 and VW Polo offer slightly more for less.”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The Audi A1 is a fine car – it’s great to drive, comfortable to sit in and is available with lots of big car options. However, if you can live without a posh badge, the Peugeot 208 and VW Polo offer slightly more for less.”
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Which?

Model reviewed: A1 Citycarver“The Audi A1 Citycarver’s upmarket image is somewhat tarnished by a low-rent cabin, while some of the benefits of the crossover spec – such as better visibility and ease of getting into the car – are offset by downsides like more pronounced body roll and thirstier fuel consumption.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview“The Audi A1 Sportback picks up where the old model left off, in offering a desirable, hi-tech premium package. However, the interior quality isn’t far enough removed from cheaper rivals, and a limited engine range may put off buyers seduced by the value offered by a more mainstream model.”
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Safety rating

Overall rating: 5 stars
Date tested: September 2019

95%

ADULT OCCUPANT

85%

CHILD OCCUPANT

73%

VULNERABLE ROAD USERS

80%

SAFETY ASSIST

Read full Euro NCAP review

Eco rating

No eco rating

The Audi A1 has not yet been lab tested by Green NCAP. This is a new initiative, launched in 2018 as a sister organisation to Euro NCAP. As yet, very few new cars have been tested for environmental impact by Green NCAP, and the testing programme was halted in early 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic.

If the A1 is put through the Green NCAP lab testing programme, we will publish the results here.

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