Author: HAILEY PHILANDER

The littlest Audi yet has certainly made a big splash in the local automotive paddling pool but what's it really like living with the A1? We spent some time with the 90kW 1.4 TSI version (with S-tronic thrown in for sports) and all we can say is, if you’re driving an A1 you have to be prepared to deal with the attention it generates.

Of course it could have had something to do with the test car being finished in brilliant white paintwork with metallic-like accents and the more aggro styling enhancements of the sporty-looking S Line trim.

UNLIKELY TO OFFEND

Audi brings a kind of elegance to the premium small hatchback segment and while its conservative approach won’t have anyone mistaking this as a creation from Ingolstadt it’s exterior design may have been a great area in which to inject some excitement. Alas, the A1’s nose is much like any of its other LED-adorned siblings and the Q-inspired upright rear is particularly nondescrip, but one definite benefit is that this safe styling is unlikely to offend too many prospective buyers.

Be that as it may, the A1 still makes a play for itself. It may be the smallest and “cheapest” Audi yet, but it certainly feels solidly built, has what appears to be high-quality materials throughout the cabin and is as sophisticated as its bigger siblings.

FAMILY TIES

Plainly, A1 is definitely less utilitarian than the VW Polo on which it is based. The interior is probably one of the best interpretations of the current Audi cabin (perhaps because it’s more compact but the lashings of A8 switchgear lend that something special?) and the surfaces are clean and uncluttered.

I’m not particularly big, so the cabin felt perfectly comfortable to me. And while I had imagined that taller drivers and passengers at the rear may feel a little closed-in and risk losing all feeling in their legs, by all accounts the experience was positive. One big plus in the A1’s book is its roomy and useable boot (270 litres) and rear seat backs that fold forward when more space is required, providing 920 litres of total load space.

After the pre-launch hype and hoopla, I was a little disappointed when I first drove the A1 and while the 90kW version may have remedied things somewhat, the little Audi still felt a somewhat underdone in the end.

Perhaps it was because it wasn’t quite on the same athletic level as its key rivals and, given this, the sportier chassis on the S Line-equipped test unit felt inordinately rigid and the ride unnecessarily harsh and clattering on less-than-perfect roads.

It did make a good show of hunkering down and tackling the bends when required, but didn’t seem all too convincing at the task. Also the familiar Audi bugbear of rather lifeless steering is ever-present, and the limp-wristed feedback takes away some of the edginess perhaps suggested by the car’s styling. The S-Line addition is substantial outlay, though. It costs about R37 000 but adds special 17” alloys, sports suspension and aluminium trim in the cabin.

What redeemed the front-wheel drive A1 for me was the punchy 90kW version of VWAG’s fab 1.4 TSI mated to Audi’s interpretation of the seven-speed S-tronic dual clutch transmission. Of course, the 136kW limited edition launched in April, 2011 and the even more powerful S1 will get the pocket rocket fans going, but given its size, this version of the TSI sure imbues the One with some mild hatch tendencies.

I may not have found the A1 to be that engaging, but that’s not to say the experience wasn’t fun. As a city to suburb runabout, the A1 is nimble and entertaining enough; just don’t expect the fireworks the poor marketing department’s fed to fans – local and abroad. Need something “milder”? Take a look at the 63kW 1.2 TSI or the very convincing 77-kW 1.6 TDI models.

STANDARD START/STOP

On the car driven, one of the more useful features was its use of standard start/stop technology that allows the A1’s engine to shut down when the brakes are engaged and gleefully yap back to life when brake pressure is released, and brake energy regeneration to top up the battery.

There are steering wheel-mounted paddles, for when you need to feel more control when manoeuvring through the gears, but the smooth-shifting S-tronic also gives the impression it doesn’t mind being left to do its own thing.

Audi’s marketers would like A1 followers to perceive their A1 as funky and young, but drive it and it’ll probably feel more like any other Audi before it - classic and understated. Which isn’t a bad thing if you’re looking for a classy, understated car in that segment, but if you are looking for something sporty, the retro chic Mini elder statesman may be more your thing.  

The A1 doesn’t quite have the measure on the Mini Cooper S and as far as fresh and funky small cars go, Citroen’s DS3 makes a far more compelling statement. Even Alfa’s Mito range (and if you want some fire beneath your buns, single out the sassy QV) is worth a peek. Compared with all of these, the A1 is nice, but lacks that certain je ne sais quoi which all the rest seem to have in some form or another. The one thing the rest don’t have, however, is a diesel engine…

Not that Audi fans will be too perturbed by the A1’s apparent lack of imagination… The little car plays a crucial role in Audi’s march to the top luxury automaker spot, and by the looks of it, the German brand will make it. The A1’s contribution? Big-car luxury with a smaller price tag, decent build quality and a handsome step up into the Audi family.