Although Audi has made an effort to differentiate the A1’s interior from that of its Volkswagen Polo and Seat Ibiza cousins by employing a slightly more tasteful palette of trim materials and switchgear, that relationship isn’t completely masked. Sure, upon first encounter it may exude more in the form of immediate opulence, but closer inspection reveals several surfaces and finishes that make it feel like a budget option. Coarse, sometimes weak-feeling plastic that smells of cost-cutting makes the VW Group’s DNA easily recognizable.
That said, platform sharing means that an element of sameness is inevitable, and you get more visual interest with every box you tick on the spec sheet – as is the case with a German machine. Top-spec cars, with their aluminum trim, ambient lighting and leather seats, respond more convincingly to their high-end ambitions than the lower segment models.
All variants of the A1 come with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8.8-inch color touchscreen with basic infotainment features such as Bluetooth, DAB radio, voice control and USB connectivity. Curiously, Audi’s own satellite navigation system isn’t fitted as standard, but all cars come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
If you install the optional Technology Pack, you get a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless phone charging and a built-in SIM card for 4G internet access. It’s neatly integrated into the surrounding structure of the dashboard and, framed by attractive gloss black plastic, gives the slightest hints of Audi’s technological sophistication for large cars.
Graphically, both the infotainment screen and the Virtual Cockpit are very impressive and work smoothly and without much lag. In terms of ergonomics, the touchscreen is easy to operate when stationary, but the elimination of the rotary knob used to control previous versions of Audi’s infotainment software makes on-the-go adjustments a little trickier, as you have to point a specific point at a touchscreen.
At the base of the touchscreen is – praise be – a row of physical dials for the heating and air conditioning. Below that are more buttons to change riding modes and disable traction control. There’s also a rotary knob to adjust the radio volume, and the steering wheel is littered with physical controls. Not only is the A1’s reliance on buttons a welcome relief for drivers looking for ease of use, but they are also extremely tactile to use and hold.
Despite this and the fact that the A1’s interior generally looks nice, it fails to really differentiate itself from its VW Group siblings and justify its higher price. That it’s around £3,000 more expensive than a Seat Ibiza and Skoda Fabia – both of which share engines with the A1 – isn’t easy to overlook.
Of greater importance, however, is Mini’s competition. It may be around £1000 more expensive, but the luxurious interior is unique to look and feel – and makes the Audi look both outdated and cheap. And while it’s only a minor point, we would have expected a front armrest/storage compartment to be included as standard – especially considering the – cheaper – Polo offers one across the range.
Although you could fit two adults in the Audi’s second row in relative comfort, according to our tape measure the typical rear legroom of 640mm is about 50mm less than that of the Polo. The A1’s 335-litre boot is also 20 liters smaller than the Polo’s by our measurements, although it at least beats the Mini’s 210 liters by a significant margin.