Audi A1 Attraction 2011 Review

Launched in Germany in June of last year, Audi's premium sub-compact offering has MINI's Cooper and Alfa Romeo's MiTo, amongst other luxo small car stalwarts squarely in its sights.

The four-ringed marque's latest attempt at compressing its core values into a pint-sized automotive parcel combines clever packaging with quality materials and spritely performance in what's a fabulous example of the breed. Best yet, the mould-breaking sculpture of A1 finally brings unisex appeal to a market segment traditionally characterised as feminine by the likes of ute-driving Aussie blokes.

The A1 also takes personalisation to new levels, with a wide range of colours on offer, each available with contrasting roof arches, and up to 800 combinations of adhesive films that wrap around the roof and mirrors. And for those wanting a classier or sportier flavour, Audi offers an S-line package and Competition Aerodynamic pack, too.

Undercutting its nearest German rival by $1660, the A1 offers a lot of bang for your buck -- assuming you can resist getting 'tick happy' on the options sheet.  Starting at $29,990, the A1 Attraction (tested) arrives with a perky 1.4-litre TFSI petrol engine and six-speed manual gearbox which can be upgraded to Audi's deft seven-speed dual-clutch automatic for a further $2350. Topping the range, the A1 Ambition is available from $32,650 (manual) and $35,000 (DSG).

A1's rorty turbocharged engine is supremely flexible and delivers a lot of its whack between 1500 and 4000 revs, where all of its 200 newtons are delivered. Developing a generous 90kW, the baby Audi hustles through its long-ish gear ratios with assertive ease reaching 100km/h in just 8.9 seconds. Beware though; the gearshift's action is a little slipshod, especially when finding first whilst rolling.

Derived from the same energetic chassis as Volkswagen's Polo, the A1's lively character is almost as tenacious in grip as a Polo GTI or even MINI Cooper S, which considering its application is sufficiently nimble. The ride is quiet and liberally compliant, even on the optional 17-inch rubber fitted to our test car, while steering is both dexterous and brilliantly weighted.

Considering the level of enthusiasm we enjoyed during our week together (drive it, you too will have a hard time not getting carried away) it still achieved a respectable combined fuel consumption of 6.2L/100km. It's about a litre more than Audi's claims, but in the scheme of things -- and with a little help from the idle stop-start system -- is still impressive.

Inside, the cabin is appreciably well screwed together; a mix of textures and tones highlighting the sculpture of a space far more sanguine than that of its many black-on-black rivals.

Access to the rear is constrained as expected, with the back seat best suited to occasional short trips especially if you're above average height.  Getting little kids in and out, too, can be a pain; reaching for the seatbelts is a gymnastic venture. But then again, the A1 is more a lifestyle choice than kid-friendly commuter.

Up front, the story is reversed with more than enough room for proper sized adults. The feature list is also abundant, even if our test vehicle was optioned with a couple of extras including the $1800 media package (sat nav, Bluetooth and multi-function steering wheel).

Safety gear sees all four seats fitted with a head restraint and three-point belt, while the usual three-letter acronyms (ESP, ABS, ASR, EDL, etc) are employed to watch over A1's every move. Six airbags and excellent forward visibility bring further peace of mind, even if the same can't be said of rearward lateral vision which is hindered by the combination of small wing mirrors and thick C pillars. In wet weather, there's a fair bit of wiper chatter, too, which we found annoying.

Up back, the A1's cargo space is on the small side but the rear seats do flip forward to accommodate bigger loads. As the tail lamps are mounted on the hatch itself, it's nice to see an extra pair of lamps are included inside the boot to save your car's backside when the hatch is opened.

Holding the road like a much bigger car, Audi's A1 is a terrific little hatch that smacks of quality inside and out. The handling is sorted; the performance keen, and whether you're buying it to commute in -- or simply be seen in – it's likely to bring a smile to your face every time you climb behind the wheel.

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