If you're looking for a compact hatchback, you'll soon find yourself thinking about important features like...
cabin space, price, and running costs. But what if you want a compact car,
but you don't have to worry about the costs? For many years, your solution would be a Mini or an Audi A1.
The latter of which has been completely renewed, so it's time to see how they hold up against each other.
On the outside, the A1 is immediately recognizable as an A1. A lot has changed though. For starters, it now has more straight lines,
like a lot of other modern cars nowadays have. The distinctive roof pillars in different colors are gone as well.
Instead, you can now get the whole roof in a different color. Then, there's the nose...
It's a slightly different story with this version because of the black logo, it does look extra aggressive.
But despite that, with these three air vents, this big grille, and all of the straight lines and aggressive headlights...
it's quite an impressive looking car. It looks very bitey. More aggressive than the slightly jolly looking Mini.
The new A1 is only available as a 5-door Sportback, and it's a lot bigger than its predecessor.
Just like the Polo it's based on really. It's over four metres long so it has now surpassed the 5-door Mini,
which, in turn, is longer than the 3-door Mini. That also means there's more space in the back.
It's still not a car you should buy for its space, but I'm still able to sit behind myself.
My knees are against the back rest, but they're not piercing through or anything, so it's not too bad back here.
The luggage space has taken a big step forward as well. It now fits 335 litres instead of the 267 litres of its predecessor,
and that's quite a gap. With this, the A1 is also more spacious than the Mini, which only fits 278 litres.
On the inside, Audi clearly did their best to make the A1 look like a proper Audi. That means a lot of sharp shapes have been used,
whilst the design still looks very creative. Just look at the way how these vents have been clustered next to the instrument panel.
The air vents on the right are connected, so it seems that it's one big vent.
Then we've got the door handles. They're mounted in a way that you can't just grab them from above, but from below as well.
That's very nice to see and it actually works, so that's a clever feature.
However, it does have some drawbacks, and they're mostly in the used materials.
The upper side of the dashboard is nice and soft with good finishing. But if you take a look at the lower regions, like the door panels,
you can see they've used a lot of hard plastic. And it's the same for a lot of parts you don't touch every day.
In a Polo, that's fine by me, but in an Audi A1? I mean, we'll be discussing prices later, that's quite an disappointment.
There are more details in which you can see they've taken some cost-saving measures. Take the edges around the door handles...
for example. In the back, they don't shine as they do in the front, even though they have the same shape.
Also, the key has a small round shape. A shape the Volkswagen-logo uses for example, and they put an Audi-logo in it.
Stuff you'd rather not see in this class.
What they did do very well is taking care of the ergonomics. Everything is where you expect it to be,
the buttons work in a logical way, on the steering wheel as well. Then there's the touchscreen. It's very high up but it's incorporated...
in the dashboard. You can easily reach it. A touchscreen is typically Audi from today.
The A6, A7 and A8 have touchscreens instead of turning knobs as well. However, that's a drawback in those cars, because your hand doesn't...
logically rest on the turning knob anymore. In the A1 however, you had to lift your hand anyway,
so this is just as easy. And you've probably seen it already, where the bigger cars have a second touchscreen for the climate control,
the A1 just uses buttons. There's nothing wrong with that. The remaining touchscreen is used for the infotainment system.
It's a good system really. It reacts very quickly. However, it's not as customizable as you'd think.
In a car like this, you'd expect you could customize anything, but that's a little disappointing.
Speaking of drawbacks, the screen is very shiny, and you can see what's the result of that.
It'll soon be covered in greasy finger stains.
That's disappointing if you're a very neat person. This isn't the only screen in the car however.
The A1 has a digital instrument cluster. Remarkably enough, that's standard, but here's the catch...
As standard, that screen only shows you the dials and gauges. If you want a virtual cockpit-system, so that you can look at your satnav,
you still have to pay extra.
The seating in the front of the A1 is very nice, especially if you get the optional S-Line seats.
The only thing that reminds you that it's a smaller car is the fact that you're knees tend to be a little higher up.
That's especially annoying if you don't get the optional start button, because your knees will touch the keys.
Not a very handy space really. Or rather, that's the case with me.
And with that key, you can bring a turbocharged 1.0-litre 3-cylinder to life. You might already know it from other Volkswagen-products.
In this case, it has 116 horsepower. Audi calls it 30 TFSI which sounds rather impressive, but it really isn't that impressive.
It's a decent engine which picks up very smoothly. In this case, it's connected to a double clutch 7-speed automatic gearbox.
The gear changes are quick, but it changes gear too quickly as well. Because of that, the engine buzzes in a way as if it doesn't want to,
but if you put your foot down, it's not too bad at all.
The engine in this and in the Polo aren't very different, but it goes for the whole A1 if I'm honest.
It really feels and drives like a Polo. That's not a bad thing, because the Polo is one of the most grown-up and better driving cars...
of its class. The A1 is comfortable, nice and quiet, only a bit of tire noise... But it's not very distinctive.
You can choose for the optional Audi Drive Select-button, which has a Sport Mode to choose from,
but the difference between the different modes is minimal.
But how different can the Mini be? Even though it's a 5-door, it's a pleasure to drive.
You notice that from the moment you get in. The steering is rather heavy but really direct.
It's also pretty sturdy. Sturdier than the Audi, so that's a bit of a drawback, because you'll have to get used to it.
At the same time, it makes sure it's very solid on the road. That might sound like a cliché, but it's the truth.
You can corner it so incredibly hard, you can feel exactly what's going on... Even when you're not an experienced driver,
it's still easy to drive more playfully. That might mean it's not as comfortable,
but it's not like the steering is so neurotic that you can't take it for longer distances.
On the motorway, it's a relaxed car to drive. It might let you feel imperfections slightly better,
but the steering won't tire you.
It has a more enthusiastic engine than the Audi as well. Just like in the Audi, it's a turbocharged 3-cylinder engine...
which is connected to a double clutch 7-speed automatic gearbox. However, the gearbox doesn't change gear as much,
which makes for less of a buzzy feeling. Also, the engine just has more to offer, because it's one and a half times as big.
It's a 1.5-litre instead of a 1.0-litre. Also, it produces 136 horsepower instead of 116.
And with that, the car still isn't a racing monster, but you still have more reserves.
Also, because the engine is bigger, it sounds a little bit more serious, which is good for the driving pleasure.
You don't have to drive the Mini to know it's rather special. It'll start with your view.
If you drive a Mini more often, this might not sound very special, but if you're not used to it, it really weird to be this far apart from...
a vertical windshield. The roof keeps on going for very long, which is typically Mini, and because of that,
you get the feeling you're looking at things through a helmet. Then there's the dashboard.
I don't think I have to explain to you that it doesn't look as tight as the dashboard in the Audi.
It looks like they've thrown materials, colors and shapes together. It's a matter of taste, but it looks very premium and very Mini.
The seating position is very good as well, just like we're used to from BMW-products.
You can put the seat in a very low position, enough room for your arms and legs, so no complaints there.
What's very typically Mini as well is this big round clock, but it's not a clock anymore. It houses the infotainment system.
Just like in the Audi, it's a touchscreen if you want it to be. You can swipe through the menu's like this.
But you also have the i-Drive button. That's a very nice addition, especially while driving.
It's easier to feel where you're going. Also, you don't get greasy fingers on the screen.
The Mini doesn't have a digital instrument cluster. Instead, it has regular dials, which move with the steering wheel,
which means they're always in sight. However, it has some ergonomic flaws.
The optional head-up display for example. I just can't see it from this position, so why would I tick that option?
Also, these buttons. These are for the audio controls. So changing songs and changing volumes.
The volume settings are on the left and right, which certainly takes some getting used to,
but to change the song, you have to press two times. You have to press down once,
which will make the menu select "next", and then you have to press "OK" which selects the next song.
Small things like that are going to be pretty annoying in your daily drive.
I started my story with the statement that these cars are for people who don't have to think about money.
And that's a strong statement, because these cars are really expensive. If you want them with these engines and automatic gearboxes,
they'll set you back just below €30.000 with a standard trim, but you're far from home with that price.
The Audi is an Edition One, so it has a package with a lot of exterior features.
It has an S-Line exterior, big wheels, black logo's, an S-Line interior, and that package costs €8.500.
For that additional price, you still don't get automatic airconditioning, no satnav, no leather, no heated seats, et cetera.
This Mini does have all of those features, but it costs €42.000.
I do have to be honest, if you hand pick the features on your A1 instead of getting the Edition One-pack,
you have €8.500 to spend on options, and you can get pretty far equipping the A1 very well.
However, it does make for two cars which are well over €40.000. With the Audi, you get a car which looks like a real Audi.
A lot of people really like that. However, at the same time, the drive isn't really special.
It doesn't really distinguish itself compared to a Polo. And that's where the Mini scores the points,
because even before you've driven it, the car feels like something special. And that's exactly what you want for that money.