THE Audi A1 Sport is priced hard up against the Mini Cooper S Chilli but Audi claims its hatch is faster and more fuel efficient. Let the battle begin.
“Sport” says it all — a higher-performance model that uses all the strengths of the seven-month-old A1 with the oomph nicked from parent company Volkswagen.
But it’s too crude and not entirely accurate to say that the A1 Sport is just a more luxurious and expensive version of the VW Polo. Yes, they share a platform and the basic drivetrain. But they drive very differently.
VALUE: Compare the $27,790 three-door Polo GTI with the three-door A1 Sport at $42,500 and you’d feel dudded at the traffic lights. But they’re not the same car. Buy the VW and you don’t get the Audi’s level of equipment, finish and styling, though the options list is extensive and expensive. Even the colour-contrasting roof arch — the design highlight — is an extra $720. LED daytime lights, rear park sensors, 17-inch alloys, Bluetooth with voice control and climate control airconditioning are standard. Satnav adds $3600.
DESIGN: Built like a bubble and with extremely short overhangs, the A1 is blunt, efficient and perfectly packaged for cities. It seats four — though it gets a bit tight in the back — and has great luggage space thanks to its flexible seating.
TECHNOLOGY: The Polo’s turbocharged and supercharged 1.4-litre small-squirt four gets an extra 4kW in the Audi (now 136kW) and its weight is down to 1190kg (Polo is 1189kg).
The engine is sublime. In the Audi, it feels quieter and less frenetic, possibly due to extra sound deadening, but certainly has more than enough go. Only the seven-speed S-tronic twin clutch auto is available, with paddle shifters optional. Better yet is the compliant ride. It’s vastly better than the harsh Mini. The latter will probably hang on longer in fast corners but the truth is my days of fanging are over and many motorists want comfort.
SAFETY: It’s an Audi and everything is top-shelf occupant protection and active safety: six airbags, all the electronic aids and lap-sash belts for everyone.
Brakes are brilliant but the rear discs are tiny — seemingly the size of a foil meat pie tray — and don’t radiate confidence. In fact, they’re over-engineered and pull the car up really well.
DRIVING: Audi laid out a track at an airport for a fang and that showed the Sport has off-the-mark sparkle and great cornering. Given that most of us live in cities, of more interest is how the car handles poor road surfaces and dodgy motorists. The trick here is to make a car that is compact for negotiating narrow roads and squeezing into parking spots, yet has great visibility and yet feels effortless to drive.
As the Audi A1 Sport targets the novice premium buyer, it has to deliver all this with comfort, quietness and a sense that the car has better than premium-class quality. The A1 delivers on all counts.
It is surprisingly quick off the mark, hitting 100km/h in 6.9 seconds compared with the Cooper S’s 7.2, but it’s the agile chassis that makes it a delight to drive.
I drove the Skoda Fabia RS in its homeland recently and noted it shares the Polo GTI innards. Yet the Fabia didn’t have the Polo’s skittish manners through corners. It felt more connected with the bitumen.
The A1 Sport is better again.
VERDICT: I prefer to fang the Cooper S but prefer the comfort and quality of the Audi. I’m a simple person so the Audi’s dashboard is more logical to comprehend. Audi has improved on the Polo GTI’s cues. Is the A1 Sport a better car? Not necessarily. It attracts a different buyer, one seeking a premium hatch who is unlikely to consider a Polo.
specs
Audi A1 1.4 Sport
PRICE from $42,500
WARRANTY 3 years/unlimited km, roadside assist
RESALE 68 per cent (est)
SERVICE INTERVAL 12 months/15,000km
SAFETY 5-star Euro NCAP
ENGINE 1.4-litre, 4-cyl turbo petrol, 136kW/250Nm
TRANSMISSION 7-speed DSG auto, front-wheel drive
BODY 3-door hatch
THIRST 5.9L/100km, 98 RON, 139g/km CO2
“Angry baby Audi for those who like to blend power with luxury”
—– OTHERS TO CONSIDER —–
VW Polo GTI
price $27,790
ENGINE 1.4-litre, 4-cyl petrol, turbo and supercharged, 132kW/250Nm
TRANS 7-speed DSG auto, front-wheel drive
BODY 3-door hatch
THIRST 6.1L/100km, 95 RON, CO2 142g/km
“A budget-priced fireball . . . Love it”
Clio Renault Sport 200
price$36,490
ENGINE 2.0-litre, 4-cyl, petrol, 147kW/215Nm
TRANS 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
BODY 3-door hatch
THIRST 8.2L/100km, 98 RON, CO2 195g/km
“Look ma, no turbo — and it doesn’t need one”
Mini Cooper S
price$43,555
ENGINE 1.6-litre, 4-cyl, petrol turbo, 135kW/240Nm
TRANS 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
BODY 3-door hatch
THIRST 6.3L/100km, 95 RON, C02 146g/km
“Unmistakable design. Fascinating interior. Firm but unyielding handling”
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