Review Audi A1 Sportback hatchback

"For a little extra money, the Audi A1 Sportback offers even greater versatility than the three-door A1" The A1 Sportback is a more practical five-door version of the Audi A1, and is designed to take on the MINI Clubman. It's slightly taller and wider than the three-door version, which creates a little extra room for passengers in the back. The additional rear doors now make the A1 a realistic proposition for families with small children, although space is still tight in the back for adults. There's a wide choice of diesel and petrol engines, all of which are turbocharged and feature stop-start. One highlight of the range is the 1.4 TFSI petrol engine, which can shut down two of its four cylinders when you’re cruising along, which saves fuel. Drive 4.2 /5 The A1 is fun to drive - whichever engine you choose For such a compact car, the Audi A1 Sportback has a huge range of engines to pick from. The cleanest is the 104bhp 1.6 TDI diesel with fuel economy of 74.3mpg and emissions of 99g/km. The fastest is the 182bhp 1.4 TFSI petrol, capable of 0-62mph in seven seconds, and the cheapest is the 85bhp 1.2 TFSI petrol. There's also a 120bhp 1.4 TFSI petrol and two new engines - the 141bhp 2.0 TDI diesel and a 138bhp 1.4 TFSI petrol. A smooth six-speed manual gearbox comes as standard, although a quick-shifting seven-speed automatic S tronic gearbox is an option on the 1.4 TFSI models. The diesels are smooth and accelerate strongly, while the petrol engines feel and sound sporty. Thanks to its low weight and small size, the A1 feels agile in the corners and there's lot's of grip. Comfort 3.6 /5 High spec models are very firm The A1 is generally comfortable and exceptionally quiet for such a small car – even at motorway speeds. Three trim levels are available – SE, Sport and S line – and the suspension gets harder as you move up the range. So while S line models look great with their standard-fit 17-inch alloy wheels, they don't absorb bumps very well. The A1's interior is beautifully made, with high-quality materials and the kind of technology you'd find on large luxury cars. Reliability 4.3 /5 Safe and dependable There have been no major recalls on the three-door version of the A1, and seeing as the Sportback is based on the same platform and uses the same engines, you can expect a similar story. Audi has an excellent record for reliability and build quality, so the Sportback should stand up to the wear and tear of family life well – even if you choose to use it as a family car and carry small children in the back. Practicality 3.2 /5 Back seats remain cramped Thanks to an extra six millimetres in height and six millimetres in width, the A1 Sportback is a little roomier than the three-door A1. All UK cars come with five seats as standard, but don’t expect masses of space in the back – tall adults will still find it a squeeze to sit behind one another. Boot space is on a par with the three-door – so that means 270-litres of space with the rear seats in place and 920-litre with them folded flat. You can also adjust the height of the boot floor, either to maximise space or create a level loading lip. Value for money 3.5 /5 SE models offer a generous amount of equipment The Audi A1 Sportback is around £600 more than the equivalent three-door, which is reasonable considering the extra set of doors. Standard equipment on entry level SE models is generous – including 15-inch alloys and air-conditioning, while top-spec S line cars get LED interior lighting and 17-inch wheels. Be careful when adding options like the sat-nav, panoramic roof, 14-speaker Bose stereo and leather interior, as the price can escalate rapidly. Running costs 4.0 /5 Not as cheap to run as other superminis Only one model – the 104bhp 1.6 TDI is completely exempt from road tax and the London Congestion Charge, thanks to emissions of 99g/km. The 138bhp 1.4 TFSI isn’t far behind with fuel economy of 60.1mpg and emissions of 109g/km. This engine uses a cylinder deactivation system which shuts down two of the four cylinders when you’re cruising at a constant speed to save fuel. It's worth bearing in mind that as with all Audis, servicing costs will be above average.