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• Audi A1 feels grown up, mature inside
• Spacious and refined for a small car
• Fewer practical touches than equivalent SEAT or Skoda

Audi is one of the best when it comes to interior design and the Audi A1 Sportback leaves the rest of the competition floundering, even the MINI Clubman. Attention to detail is far more superior to that of rivals: from the soft touch plastics to the driver focused cabin, the Audi is a classy affair. The MINI Clubman is the only car that comes close and the MINI has a marmite (love it or hate it) interior with its big dials and in-your-face design.

The A1 Sportback has a grown-up feel about it. It is well-built and oozes quality.

Don’t seek out the big wheels because they compromise the ride. On the plus side the A1 Sportback is way more refined than the MINI Clubman. For such a compact car road, tyre and wind roar is minimal. Up front the seats are very comfortable and two adults can sit in relative comfort in the rear as long as they are not six-foot plus. The rear seats are fine for children though, and if they are young you could possibly squeeze three on the rear seat.