Audi A1 Sportback Sport 1.6 TDl car review

Car review: JOHN GRIFFITHS

What is it?

One of the new, 5-door, “Sportback” versions of the A1, Audi’s first venture into the small hatchback market and which made its debut as a 3-door in late 2010. Audi executives predict the Audi A1 Sportback 5-door models, just going on sale in the UK, will outsell the 3-door model two-to-one, particularly to business users.

It’s easy to see why: the 3-door’s good looks are not much compromised, with the 5-door retaining a distinctly sporting stance. But there is more rear shoulder and head room, allowing three, not two, to squeeze into the back and for whom three headrests are now provided. (Boot space, however, remains unchanged.)

• Audi predicts the 5-door Sportback will outsell the 3-door model 2:1, especially to businesses

And only overgrown boy racers might regret that gone are the tedious front- seat tilting and sliding, and the yoga-like contortions needed, for rear seat access to the 3-door. (How much longer, by the way, before the EU Safetycrats finally get round to ruling that 3-door hatches, in an accident, are a hazard?) For an extra £560 and just a minor weight penalty over the 3-door, for most business users the extra practicality of the Sportback is likely to prove, as the saying goes, a no-brainer…

Just don’t compare the A1 with other similar-sized rivals in the marketplace, insists Audi – because it doesn’t have any, except the MINI Clubman. Why? Because they are the only aspirational, ‘premium’ models with distinct ‘lifestyle’ connotations in the sector, according to Audi’s new UK director, Martin Sander.

It don’t come cheap

Some might consider that merely overblown marketing hype. But such thinking is certainly reflected in Audi’s pricing. BCM’s test car had a base price of £16,880 – but with options it topped out at £22,360. The most basic model in the range, the 1.2 litre 85bhp petrol Sportback SE, lists at £13,980 on the road and comes with alloys, retractable 6.5 inch display screen, air-conditioning and single CD player.

Start adding business user-oriented optional equipment, however, and the gross outlay can move swiftly towards the £20k threshold. A few examples: the “technology package” with its 40-gigabyte hard disc-driven 3D satellite mapping, voice control and surround-sound costs £1,375; the “mobile phone preparation” pack, which effectively turns the car into a mobile wif-fi ‘hot-spot’, runs to £720, and even rear parking sensors are a hefty £305. Top-of-range, S line specification cars include leather upholstery for their starting price range of £17,365 (85bhp TFSI) to £21,270(184bhp TSI).