Road Test: Audi A1 with smallest 1.0 TFSI

Audi A1 1.0-litre turbo driven in South Africa 2015

Audi’s affable A1 receives an equally petite 1.0 TFSI 3-cylinder engine in a bid to introduce premium quality and status in the most affordable combination. Now we admit, an uneven 3-cylinder Audi A1 lump does not seem wonderfully appetizing but we suspect that many of the car’s targeted cliental won’t be any wiser to the under-bonnet happenings and at least there’s no demeaning badge to expose its muscle atrophy.

Audi’s first stab into the 3-cylinder market is sadly not that revolutionary but it does replace the 1.2 TFSI 4-cylinder, thereby avoiding a price and power overlap. It may offer greater output than the lump it replaces but 70kW and 160Nm still errs on the side of average rather than spectacular. Consumption of 7.0l/100km in mixed conditions won’t yield Le Mans levels of endurance and is questionably better than what one would achieve from Audi’s own 1.4-litre lump.

But the real criticism lies in the refinement because unbalanced three-cylinders are notoriously vocal and Audi has not been able to massage that rorty noise into anything other than a burbling 3-cylinder. You may tolerate it in an Opel Adam but in an Audi, it can’t help but conflict with Audi’s renowned smoothness. You do get terrific carbon cleanliness (the first Audi to dip below 100g/km) and performance is ample.

Other problems stem from the engine; the Audi A1 requires one to stir the gears, shifting a few seconds after the gear indicator suggests.  We’d probably get rid of the third pedal and for another R17 000 opt for the S tronic gearbox which with more gears could match if not better the five-speed manual’s consumption.

Outside the Audi A1 still pushes its customisable accessories with our model strutting around with contrasting roof pillars and comically sporty 17-inch low profile tyres. We never came close to testing the car’s limits of adhesion but that doesn’t imply it was dull to drive. Quite the opposite.  Changes to the new model require one to inspect the bumpers and grille through a magnifying glass but mitigating these subtle tweaks is a bodystyle that’s still modern and athletic.

Our particular Audi A1 demonstrated just how misguided the relationship between standard items and optional equipment can be. Manual climate controls leave a bitter taste for a car costing this much but somehow that R25 000 optional navigation system was deemed more important. We had no USB but did have a panoramic roof.

Interior space is still snug but not unbearably so and the Audi A1 has grown by 2cm and is now slightly longer and taller than the Mini Cooper. Boot space at 270-litres is another area where the Audi A1 excels.

Our Audi A1 TFSI was priced at R340 000 – R80 a result from optional equipment – but by deleting a few superfluous options, one could buy the more practical Sportback in S tronic. Perhaps even get the smoother and better performing 1.4 TFSI engine. The Audi A1 still remains our pick in the segment but be we’re not convinced it gains much from this particular engine.

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