The A1 is Like a Five-Star Hotel

“The impression is3-door versionnot that different.”

That was my first impression upon seeing Audi's latest model, the A1 Sportback.

The A1, which debuted last year, is the youngest sibling in the Audi family, measuring under 4 meters in length. While it shares key components with the Volkswagen Polo, the A1 has been re-engineered with Audi's distinct taste, not only in its interior and exterior but also in its driving dynamics, possessing a quality befitting a premium compact car. This is not to say the Polo is cheap; it has no practical shortcomings whatsoever. If used as a daily driver, the Polo would still rank in my "Top 3 Most Wanted Cars." PoloBut the A1 undeniably exudes a presence a class above the Polo. While the Polo is designed with a cleaner aesthetic, the A1's artistic design subtly comes through. In terms of the interior, the Polo's impression of "Oh, they've used good materials" transforms in the A1 to "Wait, aren't these exceptionally high-quality materials?" It might be the difference between a four-star and a five-star hotel. The difference between four and five stars is actually quite small, yet within that small gap lies a decisive difference in luxury. Driving the Polo and the A1 back-to-back always brings this to mind.

The A1 is like a five-star hotel.



The five-door Sportback version has now been added to the A1 lineup. While models like theA5andA7also offer Sportback variants, the closest to the A1 is the A3 Sportback. However, the A3 Sportback prioritizes utility to such an extent that it feels more like a sporty wagon in terms of design. Therefore, when I heard about the A1 Sportback, I imagined a similar relationship, but this prediction turned out to be completely wrong.

Rich Premium Options

The A1 and A1 Sportback share the same wheelbase and even the same overall length. The only differences in the body are the addition of two doors for the Sportback, making it a five-door, and a roofline that extends further back. However, the roofline design doesn't feel forced, and the visual balance remains excellent. This might be why the image isn't drastically different from the three-door version.

The powertrain is also identical to the three-door version: a 1.4-liter TFSI engine producing 122ps, paired with a 7-speed S tronic transmission. True to its nature as a latest model adopting a downsizing concept, it offers brisk acceleration from low speeds, with torque readily available when you press the pedal. Even when lightly accelerating in urban driving, the car shifts up rapidly, utilizing only around 2,000 rpm, as if determined not to waste a drop of fuel. Yet, this doesn't result in sluggish acceleration; it responds nimbly as the driver intends. Incidentally, the A1 Sportback is equipped with an idle stop system and achieves a fuel economy of 17.8 km/L (JC08 mode). Thanks to this, it qualifies for eco-car tax reductions, offering a discount of 97,000 yen on acquisition and weight taxes. This is another welcome point.



Stepping into the cabin, you might be slightly overwhelmed by its luxurious ambiance. To reiterate, the A1 Sportback is a compact car under 4 meters in length, smaller even than the Toyota Aqua in Japan. However, while the interior space is compact, the sense of luxury in the interior, quite frankly, doesn't pale in comparison even to theA8. For instance, the optional leather seats offer a level of quality rarely seen in imported cars in the 2 million yen price range. Furthermore, the color schemes aren't limited to a monotonous all-black interior; various contrasting colors are available as standard or optional, adding to the enjoyment of selection. Of course, adding options increases the price, but the richness of these optional features is the true mark of a premium car.

Speaking of options, the sport suspension fitted to the test car was also impressive. It doesn't feel harsh even at low speeds, yet it possesses a robustness that holds up even when driven hard. Even when encountering undulations on the highway, it maintains a flat posture, ensuring road holding while driving forward like an arrow. The high rigidity of the body and suspension also contributes significantly to the driver's sense of security. Whether the tuning of the sport suspension differs from the three-door A1 or if the suspension setup for the entire A1 line has been revised remains unconfirmed. Regardless, the high-speed stability typically experienced only in German cars from the D-segment upwards can be felt in this A1 Sportback.

The 5-door conversion is also excellently executed

The usability of the five-door version is also excellent. Firstly, the front doors are more compact, making them easier to open and close, and naturally, access to the rear seats is significantly improved. Regarding the rear seat space, which is a key feature of the A1 Sportback, the previous issue where heads nearly touched the ceiling in the three-door version has been resolved, leaving about 3 cm of clearance. The revised roofline has clearly had a positive effect.

However, to be precise, the seatback seems to be slightly more upright than in the three-door A1. This makes me feel that despite the limited headroom, the three-door A1 might actually offer a more relaxed seating position. I wondered, "Did they perhaps try to secure more luggage space than the three-door version?" Upon checking the specifications, both the A1 and A1 Sportback have the same 270-liter capacity. Therefore, one might suspect that the reason for the more upright rear seatback in the A1 Sportback was to push the rear seats slightly further back, expanding rear knee room while maintaining the same luggage capacity as the three-door version. However, since it's a five-door model, prioritizing rear seat comfort would seem more logical. If one needs to carry a lot of luggage, the rear seats can always be folded down.



While we hope for further improvements in rear seat comfort, the A1 Sportback has been refined into a compact car that satisfies those who live vibrantly in urban environments. It boasts high-speed cruising performance befitting a German car raised on the Autobahn, interior and exterior quality that justifies its premium car status despite its compact size, and incorporates the latest environmental technologies centered around the downsizing concept. While Audi's term "Urban Egoist" doesn't quite resonate and might evoke unpleasant associations, living with a car like this could perhaps bring a few more smiles to one's face.

Audi A1 Sportback | Audi A1 Sportback
Body Dimensions | Length 3,970 x Width 1,745 x Height 1,440mm
Wheelbase | 2,465mm
Tread Front/Rear | 1,465/1,460mm
Weight | 1,220kg
Engine | 1.4-liter 4-cylinder direct-injection turbo engine
Maximum Output | 90kW (122ps) / 5,000rpm
Maximum Torque | 200Nm / 1,500-4,000rpm
Fuel Economy | 17.8km/L (JC08 mode)
CO2 Emissions | 122g/km
Transmission | 7-speed S tronic
Price | 2.93 million yen