Used Audi A1 2018-present review

If you’ve ever been to a fancy restaurant then you’ll know that just because a meal is small doesn’t mean that it'll be inexpensive. The same can be said for small cars like the Audi A1, because they come with the premium feel and badge of a much larger, plusher car and also the same expensive big car tech.

Even though this A1 is a small car, you can find some rather large and powerful engines in it. The top of the tree is a 197bhp 2.0-litre found in the 40 TFSI that’s paired exclusively to a six-speed automatic. But there are far more sensible options available such as the 148bhp 1.5-litre in the 35 TFSI, the 114bhp 1.0-litre in the 30 TFSI or the base engine 94bhp 1.0-litre 25 TFSI.

However, it is the tech that really sets the A1 apart from its rivals because even the entry-level SE model (later models were renamed Technik) has super bright LED headlights, along with the fancy sweeping indicators in the LED rear tail lights you see in bigger Audis. There’s also a simplified 10.25in digital cockpit, 15in alloy wheels, a DAB radio, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking and an 8.8in touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Sport models have slightly larger 16in alloys, rear parking sensors, cruise control and sports seats in the front that also include manual lumbar support. S Line comes in four different flavours, but the standard version has 17in alloys, sports suspension and some sportier exterior styling. S Line Contrast edition and S Line Style edition are mostly styling packages, but the S Line Competition is the only way to get the most powerful 40 TFSI engine and adaptive dampers - the latter should be able to take the sting out of lumps and bumps on a really rough road when comfort mode is selected.

As long as you stick with the standard suspension set up called dynamic and don’t go for larger alloy wheels, the A1 is one of the smoothest riding small cars available. S Line models have sports suspension as standard, and when combined with larger 18in wheels, some might find it to be unforgivably unforgiving at low speeds and on bumpy B-roads. The pay-off is that it keeps the body roll tightly in check during tight turns.

Aside from the differences in suspension, every A1 has predictable steering that allows you to accurately place the car on the road, and it weights up in a consistent manner as you wind on more lock. Examples with the manual gearbox have a crisp biting point to the clutch, but the gearshift action is rather long and, whisper this, not as slick as it is the cheaper Ford Fiesta.

Where the older A1 really feel short of the competition was for interior space because while those up front were well catered for, the boot was small and rear passenger accommodation was tight at best. This current car is based on the Volkswagen Polo and Seat Ibiza, both of which are some of the roomiest small cars around, so it’s no surprise to find that the A1 is a vast improvement on what went before.

Your choice was increased further in 2020 with the launch of the A1 Citycarver, a car that takes all that's good about the standard car and adds SUV-aping exterior body cladding and a raised ride height.

If you're interested in buying an Audi A1, or any of the other small cars mentioned here, please check out our used car buying site here.

Prices for an Audi A1 start at around £14,000 for an early 25 TFSI SE version. Between £16,000 and £20,000 should net you the 25 or 30 TFSI cars from 2019/2020; a little more for the 35 and 40 TFSI cars. Spend between £20,000 and £22,000 on the same from 2021 and into 2022.

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All petrol models offer respectable fuel economy figures and should prove to be relatively inexpensive to run. The most economical version is the 1.0-litre 115bhp 30 TFSI with a WLTP combined figure of 52.3mpg. The less powerful 94bhp 25 TFSI can’t quite match that because of its five-speed gearbox at 50.4mpg. The bigger 1.5-litre 35 TFSI sups fuel at a rate of 46.3mpg, will the warm-hatch 197bhp 2.0-litre 40 TFSI gets 40.4mpg.

All A1s will have to pay road tax based on the current flat rate system. To find out more about the current road tax costs, click here for further information. Present costs are £155 a year.

No example of this generation of Audi A1 is yet quite old enough to qualify for fixed-price servicing, but there was an offer of either three or five year fixed price servicing packages offered when the A1 was new to its first owner. It’s transferable to the next owner, so contact your local Audi dealer to find out if your car has one.

Most people will find that their needs will be more than catered for with the 115bhp 1.0-litre 30 TFSI petrol because of its flexibility and low running costs.

If you can do without the sportier looks of some of the S Line models, then the Sport trim has all the equipment you really need. Look in any advert you read for a mention of the technology pack because that will mean your car has the larger infotainment system and Audi’s excellent Virtual Cockpit system fitted to it.

Our favourite Audi A1: 30 TFSI Sport

If you like your small cars to feel premium then how about the five-door version of the Mini hatch? It won’t feel as agile as the A1, nor quite as comfortable at low speeds. However, it’s still relatively good fun to drive and has an easier to use infotainment system than the touchscreen affair in the Audi.

Audi probably won’t be too happy with this, but you can actually get pretty much all the qualities of the A1 in a slightly cheaper form with the Volkswagen Polo. True, it does without the fancy LED lights and digital speedo and rev counter (unless you find a Polo packed with options), but it’ll still be very comfortable to drive and because it uses the same engines, just as efficient.

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If you're interested in buying an Audi A1, or any of the other small cars mentioned here, please check out our used car buying site here.