Audi offers prestige for under $30k

A SUB-$30,000 entry price and smart five-door packaging are big news for buyers who want a prestige European car and are happy to lose a little rear legroom and boot space to get it.

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A SUB-$30,000 entry price and smart five-door packaging are big news for buyers who want a prestige European car and are happy to lose a little rear legroom and boot space to get it.

On sale this week, Audi's A1 Sportback will have no natural competitor in the subcompact prestige class. The three-door A1 arrived 18 months ago and has since just won the points battle against the Mini Cooper, but nothing sold here (yet) has the A1 Sportback's five-door flexibility. Three adults are snug in the back, but it can be done and that's a tick in the practicality box. And then there's that prominent four-ringed badge.

VALUE

It's hard to argue with a new prestige car for $26,500. The base model has a 1.2-litre turbo petrol hooked to a five-speed manual. Auto buyers - most of you, in other words - will need to spend $32,250 for a seven-speed dual-clutch job paired with either a 1.4-litre turbo petrol or 1.6-litre turbo diesel.Ambition trim (the default trim is Attraction) is reserved for the 1.4 petrol and, for $3550, adds fog lights, a sportier suspension tune and more supportive seats to match, alloy finishes on dials and switchgear surrounds and leather on the steering wheel, park brake handle and gear shift lever.

The 136kW/250Nm Sports variant is priced from $42,500.

TECHNOLOGY

Electric-assisted steering is becoming the norm as carmakers try every trick to cut fuel use. As with most of these systems, feel when driving straight isn't fantastic but the A1 weights up under load and does a decent impression of sporty steering at speed. There are luxury software options - parking assist, lane assist and adaptive headlights - from the more expensive Audi lines.

DESIGN

Design 101 in the VW Group says change the car just enough to satisfy function while keeping as much of the form - and therefore common panels - as possible. It works a treat on the A1.

The curved roofline is slightly flatter than on the three-door to give rear passengers more headroom but the front and rear are indistinguishable. The interior is the most tangible justification for the premium over a regular five-door hatch.

The plastics don't feel or look cheap and they fit together as well as any car. The switchgear layout is uncluttered. A high-definition, 6.5-inch infotainment screen dominates the dash.

SAFETY

The five-door A1 hasn't officially hit the wall yet. Its three-door stablemate has five stars from EuroNCAP, thanks to six airbags and the usual software linked to the anti-lock brakes. The door pillar has been moved forwards and the arc of the roof extended on the five-door, so expect it to earn a similar safety tick.

DRIVING

The Sportback's handling and ride is a match for the relatively modest outputs (excluding the Sports model). The drive is composed rather than spirited, though the tighter the roads, the happier the Sportback is.

The base 1.2-litre engine mixes premium looks with budget consumption. The 0-100km/h sprint time of 11.9 seconds isn't eye-opening; fuel use of 5.1 litres/100km is.

The 1.4-litre petrol is the pick in price and performance: 90kW and 200Nm are enough to propel the lightweight Audi to 100km/h in 8.9 seconds, or about the same time as a 3.0-litre V6 Commodore.

Fuel use of 5.3 litres/100km tops off the appeal and the seven-speed dual-clutch auto will earn friends.

VERDICT

Audi needs the A1 Sportback to go well - and it should. It is a good, if not compelling, proposition to step up to owning a prestige brand. Audi reckons 90 per cent of A1 buyers are "conquest" sales.

The premium over a mainstream hatch is evident through the steering wheel and in the interior trim and fabric.

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AT A GLANCE

Audi A1 Sportback

Rating: 3.5/5

PRICE $26,500-$42,500

WARRANTY 3 years/unlimited km

RESALE n/a

SERVICE INTERVAL 12 months/15,000km

ENGINES 1.2-litre 4-cyl turbo, 63kW/130Nm (1.2 TFSI); 1.4-litre 4-cyl turbo, 90kW/200Nm (1.4 TFSI); 1.4-litre 4-cyl turbo, 136kW/250Nm (1.4 Sports); 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel, 66kW/230Nm

TRANSMISSIONS 5-speed manual (1.2 TFSI, 1.6 TDI); 6-speed manual (1.4 TFSI); 7-speed dual-clutch automated manual ($2350 option on 1.4 TFSI, 1.6 TDI)

THIRST 3.8L/100km, 99g/km CO2 (1.6 TDI manual) to 5.9L, 139g (1.4 Sports)

DIMENSIONS 4m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.4m (H)

WEIGHT 1065kg-1215kg