Should you buy one?

Unless you need significantly more interior space, the Audi A1 delivers a reasonable amount of technology and style for your money. The interior looks good, is easy to use, and feels just about special enough to be in. It should tick all those premium car boxes for someone trading down from a larger model.

It’s not that much of a compromise next to an A3 or A4. The Audi A1 Sportback has grown up in its second incarnation, with a mature feel and some highly impressive tech. The bodyshell does have a more mainstream look than the cuter, more compact original, but it also results in a larger cabin and boot – it’s a supermini that can cover more bases than its predecessor, including family duties.

It’s easy to spend even more than the A1 Sportback’s already high base price, but our choice would be a three-cylinder 30 TFSI with a manual transmission and some nice options rather than a more powerful model with a lower spec. If you’re still not convinced, the more enjoyable MINI Hatch could be for you, or you could save some money and opt for the Volkswagen Polo. 

What we like

It feels like a mature and economical, grown-up product from a carmaker that really knows its onions producing premium cars. Yes, it really is a VW Polo in a posher dress, but there’s no shame in that given the excellence of the base product.

What we don’t like

It’s no great shakes to drive, with dull handling and lifeless steering. It’s also noisy at speed, which takes the shine off somewhat.

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