Audi A1 Sportback: Emotional Distance

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Audi A1 Sportback: Emotional Distance
Audi A1 Sportback: Emotional Distance

Video: Audi A1 Sportback: Emotional Distance

Video: Audi A1 Sportback: Emotional Distance
Video: САМАЯ МАЛЕНЬКАЯ и ЗЛАЯ AUDI. ГОНКА за 600к РУБЛЕЙ. 2024, March
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The Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI has an output of 2'0 hp. But ultimately, the small car can not inspire.

Everything used to be much better, of course: There was an Audi S1, a crisp car with around 230 hp, but above all with all-wheel drive and manual transmission. All of this pressed into a rather feminine-looking small car structure.

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Gone, the famous modular transverse matrix, for example, no longer allows all-wheel drive or only with great effort. The most powerful A1 - now always with the addition of “Sportback” - still has 200 hp and always has a six-speed dual clutch transmission on board. We thought: Better than nothing - bring it on.

Sharp edges instead of curves

First thought on first contact: Human, A1, you have changed. Although domesticated on the engine and transmission side, the look is more like there are more horsepower than ever under the hood. Where previously pleasant curves dominated, chief designer Marc Lichte created sharp edges and a grill that is really large for such a car, combined with a front apron that is very dynamic.

In addition, the strongest A1 looks evil from its LED headlights (1000 euros). The wide sloping C-pillar and the ventilation slots between the radiator and the bonnet are supposed to be reminiscent of the Sport Quattro models. The air inlets are just fake. You could almost forget that technically this is ultimately just a kind of noble Polo GTI, since the Volkswagen is of course a child from the same construction kit and is powered by the identical engine.

Fine interior

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The difference of almost 4,000 euros (Polo GTI: 25,520 euros - Audi A1 29,450 euros) is of course not only in the outer shell of a vehicle from Ingolstadt, but also in the finer interior, although the plastics and synthetic leather are not quite as elegant as they are the price might suggest it. In addition, despite the high base price, in this case even 31,890 euros for the “Edition 1” special model, many expensive options, for example just under 1,500 euros for “Navigation Plus”, 790 euros for the (actually superfluous) parking assistant or 535 euros for the smartphone connection. Premium prices. Overall, our test car added up to just under 41,100 euros, but you can buy two segments higher, i.e. in the middle class.

But then it doesn't have this snappy small car, even if “small” is relative at over 4 meters in length. The 2.0-liter turbo is really splendid and has no problems whatsoever with the small car that weighs 1,350 kilos. It does get a bit booming in certain speed ranges and yes, the double clutch could sometimes react a little more quickly - why is there no more manual gearshift? - but otherwise the ride in the 40 TFSI is great fun.

The vehicle is as full on the road as you can only expect from a sports car. In addition, the driver sits in suitable seats, has precise steering between his hands and a precise, powerful brake under the right foot. Whereby this, i.e. the foot, is of course largely on the gas pedal. Small disadvantage of the lack of all-wheel drive: The 320 Newton meters of torque, already applied very early at 1,500 revolutions and then practically over the entire speed range used, then pulls the front wheels somewhat obtrusively.

Wheelbase at 2.56 meters

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In view of the wheelbase of 2.56 meters, which is normal for a vehicle of this class, but of course short in absolute terms, the sporty Audi also offers a surprisingly high level of comfort and smooths away some bumps on the road with relative ease. Of course, you shouldn't bring any back damage with you, if you come across transverse joints in quick succession, you can clearly feel it. Nevertheless, the A1 is still a decent everyday companion in this configuration.

But since you don't get 200 hp in order to lurch all the time on the highway, the standardized 6.0 liters for 100 kilometers are of course not the same. If you want to try out whether and how quickly the small car can reach the top 235, you are not doing the environment or your wallet a favor in view of the double-digit consumption. We needed 7.8 liters over the test period with the predominant use in the city and at a moderate motorway speed. No glory for the turbo engine, but also bearable.

The trunk has a capacity of 335 liters

After the emotion, a few words about utility: We're talking about a small car. That means that in front you sit very well even as a tall driver, at the back it quickly becomes tight even for people of medium height and 335 liters fit into the trunk. Incidentally, this is not such a bad value, as the predecessor had 65 liters less to offer. And since it is rather tight at the back, as I said, you can also fold down the rear seats, intelligently use the almost 1,100 liters that are then available and go on vacation for two. Yes, we can well imagine that. And so much common sense and utility also offer a good selling point for an otherwise rather unreasonable small car.

Yes, but there is also a problem. The A1 Sportback 40 TFSI has not captured our hearts. And maybe it is precisely because of this somewhat contradictory mixture as a piece of sports equipment with a claim to utility that we always kept something emotionally at a distance from this cool small car. (SP-X)

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