2012 Audi A1 Sportback Launch Review
AUDI A1 SPORTBACK REVIEW
Vehicle type: Premium Light Five-Door Hatch
Variants Reviewed | |||
Model | Power/Torque | 0-100km/h | Fuel Use |
1.2 TFSI | 63kW/160Nm | 11.9s | 5.1l/100km |
1.6 TDI | 66kW/230Nm | 11.6s | 3.8l/100km |
1.4 TFSI | 90kW/200Nm | 9.0s | 5.4l/100km |
1.4 TFSI S tronic | 90kW/200Nm | 8.9s | 5.3l/100km |
1.4 TFSI Sport | 136kW/250Nm | 7.0s | 5.9l/100km |
OVERVIEW
It’s an Audi A1, and it’s a five-door hatch, so, of course, it’s a ‘Sportback’. It’s also a fun drive. It arrives to join the A1 three-door but brings a new lower price-point to the range.
For Audi, a five-door A1 was always essential to maximise sales - Australian buyers prefer the extra doors.
That said, the three-door hasn’t been lagging; its sales to date eclipsing the Mini Cooper, arguably its main competitor.
But the A1 Sportback stands alone as the only five-door premium light option on the market (closest being the MINI Clubman and its odd doors).
Audi however is twisting the knife on MINI by offering the A1 Sportback at no extra cost over the three-door - whereas Clubmans command a $3300 premium over Cooper models.
For both the three-door and Sportback models, the current A1 engine line-up remains, including a 90kW 1.4 TSFI, 66kW 1.6 TDI, and the 136kW 1.4 TSFI twin-charged Sport.
But a new engine now joins the range: the advent of the five-door ushers in a (manual-only) 1.2 litre TFSI petrol engine.
With the new engine, you can now get into an Audi A1 - both three and five-door models - for $26,500 (plus on-roads), a saving of nearly $3500 on the previous price of entry.
Externally, just a slightly more upright rear window, and extra doors, are the most obvious distinguishing features of the A1 Sportback.
TMR was on hand for the newest little Audi’s Australian launch. We put it through its paces on the roads out of Hobart, followed by hot laps on the nearby Baskerville Raceway.
Interior
The A1 Sportback interior is familiar A1 fare. Interior quality and design is typically Audi excellence, but with circular themes bringing more funk to the A1 than you’ll find in larger Audis.
Sportback models continue with the same Attraction, Ambition, and Sport spec levels as the three-door, with an extensive array of personalisation options.
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