Road test: Audi A1 1.2 TFSI
Audi’s A1, a cousin of the Volkswagen Polo, Skoda Fabia and Seat Ibiza, is the new entry-level model of the German carmaker’s ever-expanding range. A premium supermini, the A1 should be a big hit with the young, urban consumers it is aimed at. Its formula of premium quality condensed into a small package will doubtless find favour with metropolitan consumers looking for a practical and stylish status symbol. It’s a funky little package, with sporty styling and lots of scope for customisation, which will only increase its desirability among its target market.
The less powerful of the two petrol engines on offer in the A1, the 1.2 TFSI is an engagingly flexible engine, considering it only generates 84bhp and peak torque of 118lb-ft at 1,500-3,500rpm. These outputs mean that it’s not exactly brisk: the 0-62mph benchmark is achieved in a relatively sedate 11.7 seconds and the top speed is just 112mph. However, despite our initial misgivings over its performance, we found that in town it’s possible to make decent enough progress from a standing start: any thoughts of sluggishness were also dispelled during a cross-city journey that involved bursts of acceleration to change lanes and numerous restarts at green lights. Motorway cruising was also relatively relaxing, with the 1.2 TFSI engine not requiring too many revs to keep it moving along at a decent pace. It also has just enough poke for overtaking, as long as it’s well-planned. This unit is arguably the pick of the range in the A1, as it offers the best balance for urban use, while also being able to hold its own when called upon for longer journeys.
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