Audi A1 Sportback 2012 Review

Not so much:
>> Price clash with A3?
>> Standards omissions like keyless (proximity) entry/go

OVERVIEW
>> Compact call to climbers
According to Audi, the A1 has not sliced far into A3 sales. Rather, the new hatch has attracted more customers; several of them conquests since its release around 18 months ago in three-door form.

Audi stands to do better with the latest addition to the A1 range; now available as a Sportback five-door and at a cheaper entry price. The small car options attract what local spokespersons call "the climbers" and while that term might sound disparaging it's actually also used to describe customer movement, for instance between A5 and A6 models, and potential onwards purchase of Audi's larger, most expensive options.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
>> Five stuff same as for three
Audi has lowered the entry price of its Australian model range by more than $3000 to $26,500 (MRLP) with the launch of the five-door A1 Sportback.

A 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine now leads the way for the A1 line-up, which previously started with the 1.4-litre three-door A1 at $29,900.

The A1 Sportback 1.4-litre is next line, at $29,900 with a six-speed manual transmission or $32,250 if equipped with an S-tronic seven-speed dual-clutch auto. An upgraded 'Ambition' spec is available for the mid-range Sportback, for $3550.

Matching the petrol A1 Sportback 1.4 model on price is a 1.6-litre turbodiesel option (with manual or auto), while the range-topping A1 1.4 Sport spec with s-tronic starts at $42,500.

Upgrade packages such as Audi's Teknik suite including xenon headlights with LED running lights, rear park assist and auto climate control ($2000) or 'Competition' kits for the exterior and/or interior. The 'Legends' interior pack, for example, includes retro-oriented trim treatments for $1100.

Standards include Bluetooth telephony, cruise control, driver info system and leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel. The Ambition spec includes, among other things, paddle shifts.

At either level (especially at the Ambition spec) keyless entry (proximity activated) should be standard but costs another $600.

MECHANICAL
>> Tiddler takes the stage
The 1.4 and 1.6 models were covered in our launch review, so the big story here is the 'smallest' model.

The direct-injection, turbocharged 1.2-litre unit doesn't stack up to its competitors in terms of performance output, with 63kW/160Nm compared to the similarly equipped Volkswagen Polo's 77kW/175Nm, and comes with a five-speed manual only instead of the little VW's six-speed. However, the ratios work well enough with the plucky engine, which is rated as using 5.1L/100 on the combined cycle.

All Sportback models come with a fuel-saving idle-stop function as standard. Most efficient in the range is the 66kW/230Nm diesel, rated at 3.8L/100km.

The Attraction spec models come with 15-inch alloys as standard but can be ordered with 10-spoke alloys for $1400, or a choice among three wheel designs ranging from 16 to 17-inch and up to $3450. The Ambition-specified models are offered an additional choice of 18-inch alloys for $3000.

The A1 in both three and five-door form is made in Belgium.

PACKAGING
>> Five adds to the three-door's win
No surprise the five-door derivatives of Audi's smallest model aren't much different to the three-door versions released 18 months ago to great effect, but they do offer more flexibility with the bonus of three rear seats.

Personalisation of the A1 Sportback comes by way of a choice among 12 tints and three roof dome finishes designed to add visual impact by contrasting with the body paint. The dark-toned version looks neat against a black-painted Sportback but we suggest customers choose carefully if opting for the contrasting air vent covers, which distract (depending on colour) from the otherwise smart appearance and layout of the dashboard. Again, Audi's interior treatment is top-notch, right down to its cheapest offerings.

It's a subjective call but to my eyes the A1's appearance is better in five-door than three-door form.

COMPETITORS
>> Lucrative business
Audi Australia referred to the MINI Coupe and Clubman models, and Alfa Romeo MiTo as comparable luxury small car competitors. But the Small Car; circa $40K segment is also filled by other interesting, efficient and well-equipped options including BMW 1 Series, Lexus CT200H and Volvo C30.

To the likes of Audi that means healthy competition but also, the "segment is where we gain our customers; where we achieve our loyalty," said Audi Australia MD, Mr Uwe Hagen. As mentioned, the brand has also made many conquests in the segment; moving customers out of competitors' brands to its own. "We know this from trade-ins and brands of the cars we get them from."

Now with five doors and five seats the A1 stands to attract even more customers, and with its wide-spread pricing schedule it could even take customers from some of the more common (but relatively expensive) Japanese options including new Prius C.

ON THE ROAD
>> ... and tiny Tassie track
The A1 Sportback range was released at Tasmania's Baskerville circuit, day after the launch of Audi's updated A4 range. A racetrack isn't wholly indicative of a model's capabilities and we were each officially allowed just a few (maximum three) laps to try each model.

Baskerville might be short, but it's interesting; incorporating a couple hills, lots of twists and turns, and a reasonable straight to test legs: In short, a decent arena to test the smallest Sportback's mettle. The quick on-track experience was intended as an extension on Audi's local launch of the three-door models which included more time on the road.

On this occasion we started with the range-topping Sport model in order to quickly enjoy a track that any enthusiastic local motorist should have on their must-drive list. The 1.4-litre is quick off the line with strong power from low-to-mid rev range meaning speed can be delivered to accommodate a variety of conditions, such as those presented at Baskerville.

Best way to enjoy the fun on offer was to use the S tronic seven-speed in manual mode with its super smooth operation and response. A lap leaving the auto to its own devices was equally fuss-free.

The hatch has decent grip, most especially up front, and steering is light but tight. Punting as hard as we could, the tyres (either Bridgestone Potenza or Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric) for the 18-inch alloys were noise-free and braking remained consistent for our laps. We say 'our laps' because some of the other cars were returned with smoking brakes; even on one occasion the 1.2 model.

Then we drove the manual version of the 1.4 and it too was a lot of fun. It was option-less but even without various bells and whistles the A1's cabin is a neat place to be, and the six-speed is fluid and the shifter well-positioned. Rearward vision is helped by the hatch's squarish windscreen.

Following the manual model was a 1.4 with S tronic and Ambition spec. The 10-spoke 16-inch alloys look nice and while they're smaller they still do a good job of appearing to fill up the wheelarches. The sports suspension felt as though it helped the Sportback's agility but that (and whether the larger wheels were noisier) was difficult to assess during the short laptime. Stay tuned for our seven-day road tests but in the meantime, we found whether manual or auto, the 1.4 petrol models offer good all 'round performance that is designed for urban use but impressed for its efforts on a track.

The diesel was next, fitted with 17-inch wheels, and also decent fun. There might've been a bit of lag off the line but we had the foot down for the rest of the lap time so weren't bothered by it thereafter. In this case a road test is a worthier determinant of its value, where we'll uncover how close we can get to the 3.8L/100km rating, surely its best argument, in real world driving.

Probably most interesting was the 1.2 which we wrangled for the 30-odd-km trip from Baskerville to Hobart airport. The engine is a plucky unit and the five-speed might be deemed out-of-date but it works well with available revs. Road time was confined to 30km, and not much incorporating highway speeds, so again stay tuned for our seven-day tests of the new 1.2 A1 model.

Obviously the entry model wasn't the best on track but was only slightly caught out by the hill that Turn One becomes if you run clockwise around Baskerville like we did. And even the littlest A1 was brought back with smoking brakes by one driver... Real racer Nathan Petty was on hand and commented he hadn't expected the occurrence, suggesting the cars' stability control had overreacted.

No such problem for us. It wasn't a case of 'not trying hard enough' rather, managing available power against conditions, and every A1 Sportback proved entertaining, comfortable and well-sorted.

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