Should You Buy an AUDI A1? (Test Drive & Review 1.0TFSI MK2)

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Today I'm in this Audi A1 Sportback... Let's see what it's like.

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[grenvillephillips]

Sounds a bit like my old German girlfriend. She was expensive to maintain and didn't provide any extras whatsoever. Admittedly, she was well-built and her boot was huge.

[robc]

I feel like I’m the only person who doesn’t understand how we are saving the planet by doing away with small engined smaller cars and pushing huge 2t battery powered rockets with vegetarian interiors 🤷🏼‍♂️

[toinessboss]

As a Audi A1 2022 owner i must say that this is a very nice car.
I bought it second hand for 16.000 euro's. It had loads of extra's attached to it.

My climate regulation is now also digital and comes with temperature indiciations so u can set it to your optimal temperature. Adjustable by 0, 5 Celsius each tick.
I did also get parking sensors, although it is not visible on the infotainment screen (like the previous Audi version from 2010) what area of the car is bumping into something.
Other than that, the cheap plastic mentioned here got replaced by more luxurious feeling versions that are colloured alongside the rest of the interior.
Another nice addition is the arm rest above the handbreak that also hold more space to put small stuff inside. (Keys, chewing gum etc.).

It does feel a wee bit slow in the early revs but holds up quite nice once the turbo kicks in.
Fuel wise its a super nice car to maintain, i can easily cruise around 750km's. If i drive 80-100 km roads only that can extend to 780-800 km's per full tank.


For the high price u pay for relatively no extra's i would not get this car new but a second hand option is highly recommandable

[John_Wood_]

As a german car hating person, i;ve always liked the shape of the 4 door a1. As a designer i think it has great proportions. However, it is still an audi.

[richiebtime]

Didn't know you could get the 2 litre TDi in the mk 1. That would be a seriously impressive mix of economy and speed. Although being an Audi, I'd imagine it understeered like a drug crazed deer on an ice.

[backy]

The area you are in looks stunning, Matt. An early autumn morning shoot with the e46 m3 as the supporting act to a showcase of the High Peak area would be epic!

[chrisbarton]

Loved the comment about successful beauty salon - so funny. Keep up the great work

[ttall]

My first car was a Ford Fiesta, 1982 model, I think it was a 1.1 litre. Foot to the floor all the time, brilliant fun. Some times less is more. Thanks for another great video and I would certainly consider one of these for my daughter who is just about to start driving. Kids are so lucky these days :)

[amcr]

Thanks for the very interesting review of the Audi A1.
I ordered mine in October of 2018 when there were only two models available, the SE which is effectively the Technic and the Sport. I chose the Sport as Cruise Control and Electric Folding Mirrors were included.
Strangely enough I have found the safety equipment not to be up to the job. Lane Departure is a positive danger on B or poorly marked roads. Only useful on motorways. Tyre Pressure Monitoring is far too sensitive and can be set off due to potholes in the road while Main Beam Assist is too slow in its activation.
The Digital Dashboard is first class with all the information you need and is fully digital, not like the Polo or Skoda equivalents which are digital with an analogue speedometer display. Driving with the sun in front causes the display to brighten considerably. Fabulous!
The scratchy hard plastics don't bother me. Easy to clean if required.
Compared with the MINI, I've had three MINIs - Mk1 2 & 3 going back to 2003 but to me MINI has now lost the plot. Before I bought the A1 I 'Designed my own MINI', a 5 door Cooper. Exciting colours? Two grey and a silver which looks grey in a certain light. Which younger generation are they appealing to, the deceased? Don't forget the greed in now charging for solid colours. I wanted a Spare Wheel & Tyre. No longer available - use Runflats. Why pay extra for a poorer ride? I also wanted Electric Folding Mirrors. That'll be an extra £1600. I know the pack includes other options but realistically if you cannot park a MINI without the self-park option, you really should give up driving. Yes, MINI is nippy with great handling and fun to drive. The Electrically Heated Windscreen option is fabulous at clearing the screen in summer and frost in winter. The wing mirrors are a good size too but the dipping rear view mirror is poor while the auto one doesn't work well in poor lighting and rain. The Mk3 gearbox is too easy to shift into reverse instead of 1st and of course the perennial problem of adding low profile tyres just ruins the ride.
The A1 just feels like a grown up car. The Audi A1 is more fuel efficient while surprisingly quick during overtaking, quieter and at the end of three years will be worth more than the MINI.

[hermanmunster]

Love it, but I would defo go for the 4 pot 1.5, as I wouldn't want to be revving the bollocks off it everywhere I go.
I love the interior too, and can forgive the little bits of scratchy plastic. The interior space is great, although I wish it was available in a 3 door.
But all in all, it is typically German, and conservatively styled, which is right up my street. It is not trying to be something that it is not. So I would fefinitely have one.

[CathodeRayNipplez]

It's very... well... 'sensible' shall we say. A way of getting from A to B that beats walking but no more exciting than the local bus.
May feel quality but Audi's plummeting reliability survey ranking over the last five years is a bit of a worry.
Here in Au used Audi's are attractive as they depreciate faster than a Mugabe Zimbabwe dollar.

[ebra]

I thought the 25 & 35 badges referred to the average price to the nearest thousand.

[johnrowell]

I have the 1.5 L 2020 model and I would suggest it's the engine to go for - it's quick and you can get nearly 50mpg on the motorway. I'm loving it, although price wise they are expensive. I would also suggest the automatic is worth a try - the changes are very smooth - it's only a little jerky at very low speeds on rough paths.

[williamfence]

If you need that engine and a VAG product save your money and get the Polo. Looks better IMO.

[grantvickers]

This is a fantastic car. Got the 30TFSI Sport model. All these fannies that complain about looks and equipment are talking crap. The world is full of people who talk through their arse.

[bazzaclarky]

Never driven the mk2, but drove a few of the mk1's and I absolutely love them! Brilliant little car, and the earlier ones seem to be fantastic value for money these days!

[parvinkukar]

Great cars, like you say premium small car. Was in a bmw dealership yesterday and overheard a customer conversation with service advisor saying he was quoted one price over the phone and a different price online and a different price when bringing in the car to the dealership for a routine service and could not understand why he had 3 different prices. Service advisor did not give him a adequate answer. Feel they just make it up as they go with regards to pricing just like those guys that turn up at your door to give you a quote on paving your drive way. Great vid!

[Formulozza]

Hi Matt, just to explain the servicing costs at main dealers, all the manufacturers I have worked for have incentivised dealers to offer significantly reduced rates for cars that are out of warranty to keep their business in the network. That's why older cars tend to have such competitive pricing for maintenance work and the newer stuff doesn't given it's likely to stay in the network anyway given the manufacturer's warranty. Great review as always though!

[johntheaccountant]

Totally agree with you about the handbrake.
In the old days you would buy a new cable for £12 and change it yourself.
For an Audi A6 you are looking at £600 plus for the kit, reprogramming the computer for it to talk to the other ECUs.

[ifyouarefeelingsinister]

I got a courtesy Audi A1 last year and I genuinely thought I was in an A3 until I went to open the boot. They seem much bigger in and out than the previous gen