The new Audi A1 has been well received at the first round of press reviews this week. The latest edition to the Audi range is not due for release in the UK until late Autumn but motoring journalists from across the UK were given a unique opportunity this week to test drive a preview model.

“Sophisticated” is how an Autocar journalist described the A1 and then went on to say: “the well-finished cabin is a couple of steps beyond anything else in terms of quality you perceive from the driver’s seat.” Autocar added: “it has an air of sophistication and refinement that we haven’t seen before in this class.”

Autocar went on to say: “No other volume manufacturer keeps such a consistently premium feel in their cars across the range, and the A1 is no exception for Audi,”

“The A1 offers the tried and trusted Audi formula at an affordable level and this will obviously appeal to many.”

Finally, Autocar commented on the A1 TDI: “the TDI is both cleaner, quicker and most impressively, cheaper than Audi’s last small diesel the considerably more radical A2 TDI.” Autocar also appreciated the 5.2-litres/100km fuel economy, helped by the stop-start system.

The level of standard specification in the A1 was something that Car Magazine commented on: “you don’t suffer the ignominy of the basic MINI’s hubcaps that make sure everyone knows you’re a miser. And of course it feels just as expensive inside as the 1.4 S line we drove earlier. See the A1 for what it is, a premium supermini with a great badge and you’ll enjoy owning.”

A journalist from Auto Express focused on the A1’s performance: “It’s going to be strong and flexible in any gear, at any time. The 1.4-litre engine has 120bhp, so it’s no weakling at high revs, but its real strength is between 1500rpm and 4000, where all of its 200Nm of torque is available for heavy lifting all of the time.”

What Car? added: “we reckon resale values will be among the best, if not the best in class – this is an extremely desirable little car.”

For more information about the A1 then visit the contact us section of this website for your nearest Audi centre.