Audi hasn't had a compact car in its stable since the failure of the A2, a model that did not sell well and was discontinued in 2005. But it certainly did not stop the Germans from creating something better - the A1.

This small car is big news in the motoring industry indeed. From newspapers and television advertisements to eye-catching photographs and posters, the Audi A1 is a compact car that battles directly with the MINI. But instead of focusing of a whole lot of fun, the A1 emphasises on sophistication.

Is the German marque seriously attempting to take a slice of the luxury compact pie that MINI is defending so well?

The supermini is certainly a breath of fresh air. From the hunky A4 to the genre-defining R8, Audi has finally completed what it has been lacking from its stable for far too long. And it's a car that all the young, classy and carefree working professionals will ever yearn for.

Exterior

The Audi A1 looks like a shrunken A8 that has been thrown into the washing machine and the dryer. But it's no bad thing, mind you. The face is a recognisable and a beautiful one with styling that will not stale in a couple of years' time. It's a more matured look, too, compared to the MINI which has the unmistakable retro and funky style.

Although it's the gaping grille and pronounced fog lamps that mark out the car as an Audi, the LED daytime running lights, shaped like those on the A8, steal the entire show upfront to give the car a more upmarket feel. It's a design that simply defines the creativity and style in the automotive industry, leaving all ropes burnt for the possibility of another carmaker to outshine the brand that warrants the four rings.

Audi went youthful with the designs all round. The side sees clean, uninterrupted lines which automatically draw your eyes to the roof arch which can be specified in a different colour to the body. And it's these fine attention to details are exactly what separates the A1 from its peers.

Less attractive is the rounded rear. Unlike the fascia, it does cause the car to lack that immediate oomph. As a matter of fact, it has bits of the Q5. That said, the rear still has a soft and inoffensive styling that people still admire and will deem it to be cute.

Interior

Like a tantalising striptease dancer, Audi does well in knowing how to build up excitement and exceed expectations.

Climb inside the A1 and the first thing that catches your eye are the air vents that resemble jet turbines and, again, customers can have their choice of colours for the surrounds like what you see in the pictures below. Although it seems like an out-of-the-box sort of idea, we reckon it's a tad too try-hard to outdo MINI's funkiness.

Still, fit and finish and the respectably roomy affair of the cabin take you by surprise. It easily smashes the MINI with the ample space provided by the A1. Head and legroom are decent all round, including the two lengthy occupants seated behind. Additionally, boot space is substantial even when the rear seats are in place, having a strong edge against the English icon.

When it comes to the car's fit and finish, everything your hands land on feels leather soft and expensive to the touch, reminding you that this is a luxury compact car you're in. Audi's displays are a delight to behold, with knobs and buttons luxuriously fabricated.

One thing we really enjoyed, though, was the Bluetooth function which was so easy to pair. And with your favourite tunes being played (via Bluetooth) through the Bose speakers, piloting the A1 will be a pleasant and lighthearted one.

The Drive

On the tarmac, the A1 goes like a peach with a nice surge of turbo. The performance is so smooth and linear with no dips in the power delivery that the car doesn't feel like it has a mere 1.4-litre powerplant underneath its bonnet. Similarly to paper figures, the car clocks a decent century sprint of 8.9 seconds. But in real-life driving, it feels quicker, with a responsiveness you would associate with bigger displacement engines.

Despite its small engine, the car never feels sluggish or unwilling. It produces a maximum of 122bhp and 200Nm which gets up to a decent pace with urgency and coming to a stop feels easy with the well calibrated brakes, instilling confidence in drivers. Step on the accelerator and the pint-sized car resumes progress seamlessly with the gearbox left in a suitable cog.

When pushed around tighter bends and winding roads, the A1 has plenty of grip and resists roll well. And with the accurate steering coming into play, the nose never runs wide. This translates into an enthusiastic driving experience that is manageable and more so when the exhaust note gets better and fiercer as it hits the 3,800-4,000rpm. And when travelling at illegal speeds (which is relatively easy in the A1), wind noise and vibration levels are very low.

The ride is a tad firm but it's never harsh, too. Over scarred and uneven roads, the A1 doesn't lose its damping and keeps a firm check on the body movement so that there is no trace of wallow. Moreover, the standard Start-Stop system is unobtrusive. Release the brake pedal and the car starts up again with an immediate attitude, allowing you to move off from the lights without any delay.

Conclusion

Although the Audi A1 won't set your heart racing like how some hot hatch does, we reckon there's no other small car like this one - the car somehow has a sweet disposition that clings onto you like a sugar pill.

Although the MINI and the Polo GTI are more stylish and fun to drive respectively, the A1 has a different proposition altogether. It is a very respectable and admirable car that has the four rings etched onto the shell, immediately raising people's eyebrows and tempting MINI's fan base to switch sides. It just depends whether you want to be deemed as funky or sophisticated.

If you ask me, the latter is better.

What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.

Audi hasn't had a compact car in its stable since the failure of the A2, a model that did not sell well and was discontinued in 2005. But it certainly did not stop the Germans from creating something better - the A1.

This small car is big news in the motoring industry indeed. From newspapers and television advertisements to eye-catching photographs and posters, the Audi A1 is a compact car that battles directly with the MINI. But instead of focusing of a whole lot of fun, the A1 emphasises on sophistication.

Is the German marque seriously attempting to take a slice of the luxury compact pie that MINI is defending so well?

The supermini is certainly a breath of fresh air. From the hunky A4 to the genre-defining R8, Audi has finally completed what it has been lacking from its stable for far too long. And it's a car that all the young, classy and carefree working professionals will ever yearn for.

Exterior

The Audi A1 looks like a shrunken A8 that has been thrown into the washing machine and the dryer. But it's no bad thing, mind you. The face is a recognisable and a beautiful one with styling that will not stale in a couple of years' time. It's a more matured look, too, compared to the MINI which has the unmistakable retro and funky style.

Although it's the gaping grille and pronounced fog lamps that mark out the car as an Audi, the LED daytime running lights, shaped like those on the A8, steal the entire show upfront to give the car a more upmarket feel. It's a design that simply defines the creativity and style in the automotive industry, leaving all ropes burnt for the possibility of another carmaker to outshine the brand that warrants the four rings.

Audi went youthful with the designs all round. The side sees clean, uninterrupted lines which automatically draw your eyes to the roof arch which can be specified in a different colour to the body. And it's these fine attention to details are exactly what separates the A1 from its peers.

Less attractive is the rounded rear. Unlike the fascia, it does cause the car to lack that immediate oomph. As a matter of fact, it has bits of the Q5. That said, the rear still has a soft and inoffensive styling that people still admire and will deem it to be cute.

Interior

Like a tantalising striptease dancer, Audi does well in knowing how to build up excitement and exceed expectations.

Climb inside the A1 and the first thing that catches your eye are the air vents that resemble jet turbines and, again, customers can have their choice of colours for the surrounds like what you see in the pictures below. Although it seems like an out-of-the-box sort of idea, we reckon it's a tad too try-hard to outdo MINI's funkiness.

Still, fit and finish and the respectably roomy affair of the cabin take you by surprise. It easily smashes the MINI with the ample space provided by the A1. Head and legroom are decent all round, including the two lengthy occupants seated behind. Additionally, boot space is substantial even when the rear seats are in place, having a strong edge against the English icon.

When it comes to the car's fit and finish, everything your hands land on feels leather soft and expensive to the touch, reminding you that this is a luxury compact car you're in. Audi's displays are a delight to behold, with knobs and buttons luxuriously fabricated.

One thing we really enjoyed, though, was the Bluetooth function which was so easy to pair. And with your favourite tunes being played (via Bluetooth) through the Bose speakers, piloting the A1 will be a pleasant and lighthearted one.

The Drive

On the tarmac, the A1 goes like a peach with a nice surge of turbo. The performance is so smooth and linear with no dips in the power delivery that the car doesn't feel like it has a mere 1.4-litre powerplant underneath its bonnet. Similarly to paper figures, the car clocks a decent century sprint of 8.9 seconds. But in real-life driving, it feels quicker, with a responsiveness you would associate with bigger displacement engines.

Despite its small engine, the car never feels sluggish or unwilling. It produces a maximum of 122bhp and 200Nm which gets up to a decent pace with urgency and coming to a stop feels easy with the well calibrated brakes, instilling confidence in drivers. Step on the accelerator and the pint-sized car resumes progress seamlessly with the gearbox left in a suitable cog.

When pushed around tighter bends and winding roads, the A1 has plenty of grip and resists roll well. And with the accurate steering coming into play, the nose never runs wide. This translates into an enthusiastic driving experience that is manageable and more so when the exhaust note gets better and fiercer as it hits the 3,800-4,000rpm. And when travelling at illegal speeds (which is relatively easy in the A1), wind noise and vibration levels are very low.

The ride is a tad firm but it's never harsh, too. Over scarred and uneven roads, the A1 doesn't lose its damping and keeps a firm check on the body movement so that there is no trace of wallow. Moreover, the standard Start-Stop system is unobtrusive. Release the brake pedal and the car starts up again with an immediate attitude, allowing you to move off from the lights without any delay.

Conclusion

Although the Audi A1 won't set your heart racing like how some hot hatch does, we reckon there's no other small car like this one - the car somehow has a sweet disposition that clings onto you like a sugar pill.

Although the MINI and the Polo GTI are more stylish and fun to drive respectively, the A1 has a different proposition altogether. It is a very respectable and admirable car that has the four rings etched onto the shell, immediately raising people's eyebrows and tempting MINI's fan base to switch sides. It just depends whether you want to be deemed as funky or sophisticated.

If you ask me, the latter is better.

What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.