It feels like ancient history when premium superminis were considered just a small niche of the segment but since then, almost all of the key players of the industry have at least one representative at their own segment now.

Audi’s baby has been subjected to a light facelift recently, after more than 500,000 cars sold since its launch in 2010. The refresh typically means subtle cosmetic changes to lights, front and rear bumpers and the grille but the A1 is still far from looking outdated and sales prove that people still like it, a lot actually. Cars fitted with the xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights look much fresher though than the ones that don’t have them, like the car we had for review.

Maybe it’s the whole familiarity surrounding the small Audi and its non-flashy yet elegant styling that makes so many people like it. In a segment where almost all of its rivals play the retro card, the A1 just looks like a smaller Audi and that apparently works.

More Efficient Than Ever
 

Our A1 Sport test car was fitted with the 114hp 1.6TDI diesel unit and the optional seven-speed S Tronic double-clutch gearbox, a combination which allows the A1 to return 76.3mpg UK (3.7 l/100km) and 97g/km of CO2 emissions. If you stick with the five-speed manual though, the numbers are even better, with 80.7mpg UK (3.5l/100km) and just 92g/km. 0-62mph (0-100km/h) comes in 9.4 seconds with a top speed of 124mph (200km/h).

Along with the facelift, Audi also introduced the new, three-cylinder 94hp 1.0 TFSI petrol engine that  replaces the old 1.2 TFSI and is set to make its appearance in the Polo and the other superminis of the Group in the near future. If you want a petrol A1 and zero road-tax to pay, this is your only option. Audi has also equipped the A1 range with a new electric power steering as well as the optional adaptive dampers which work through the now standard Audi Drive Select.

Inside Story
 

The cabin remains one of the most well-built places to sit in the class, with soft-touch plastics and nice switchgear firmly put together, delivering the quality you learned to expect from an Audi. You can even brag that your new supermini has the same climate controls with the original R8, if you have to. The only thing that might leave you wanting more is the quality of the infotainment screen and software, which is not right there with the latest generation of similar systems.

On The Road

The 1.6TDI engine has been updated in order to make 10hp more, with torque remaining put at 184lb-ft (250Nm) at 1500-3200rpm, and is a refined unit with smooth delivery and minimal diesel clatter once warmed up. The seven-speed S Tronic works flawlessly as always and helps the engine bring the best out of it. Apart from snappy gearchanges, the S Tronic now has a coasting function for better efficiency, once you select the Efficiency setting through the Audi Drive Select.

As a result, the A1 1.6 TDI never feels underpowered, with the torque always present and ready to allow you swift overtakes and quick getaways from traffic. The A1 remains a very agile supermini which is good news, whether you are driving it in the city or on a B-road. As long as you are not looking for Mini-levels of fun, the small Audi offers plenty of grip and stability to safely cover ground quickly. It doesn’t have a sense of humor like the Mini does, offering instead a more serene driving experience, no matter what the mode you select on the Audi Drive Select.

Mature But Crashy

I guess most of the A1’s potential buyers won’t mind said lack of fun,as much as they will mind the jolting ride which shakes the passengers every time the road surface is everything but smooth in a not so serene way. Cracks and potholes always make their presence felt and the chassis shows it could do better with softer springs. The new steering is very nicely judged on terms of weight but again, it doesn’t provide any real feedback.

On the motorway, the A1 travels with the maturity of a vehicle from one segment above, helped by the nice soundproofing of the cabin and the long gearing of the sixth and seventh cog. Fuel economy is just great, with the trip showing an average of 54.3mpg, during a mix of city, motorway and B-road driving.

While you will never buy the A1 for its practicality, if you do need some more of it, you better choose for its five-door Sportback version. The three-door we had, could carry up to four adults, with the passengers at the back feeling a bit cramped after a while. Luggage space is adequate for one week’s worth of groceries, offering 270lt of space, 59 more than the equivalent three-door Mini.

Bottom Line

Prices for a manual Audi A1 1.6TDI start at £17,405 but if you want the extra comfort of the seven-speed S Tronic gearbox, this rises to £18,945. Our test car with just a few options on it, like cruise control, rear parking sensors and the satellite navigation system costs £21,060. If you absolutely have to buy a diesel A1, we recommend staying with the manual, just to keep the price under the £20k mark. But if you don’t necessarily need a diesel but still want to have a very efficient car, you would want to go for the petrol 1.0TFSI model which remains tax-free (CO2 of 99g/km) and starts from just £14,355.

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