HOW well do we know our cars? Really. Really?
Most of us flit from here to there and back again in our daily lives seldom giving the jalopy a second thought. As long as it gets us there and back again, how many people care that much?
The majority of cars do the job well enough, in a fuss-free manner, and we reach journey’s end with little regard to how they perform.
What we need is a proper drive and for the A1 Sportback this comes in the form of an eight hour sojourn up and down the dreaded M6.
Until this point the Audi had been fine and dandy. It may only have three cylinders and a 1.0 litre capacity but that’s more than enough to nip around country lanes and towns. It’s peppy and the six speed manual gearbox and light clutch are lovely to operate.
The suspension is also excellent to traverse the asphalt ploughed fields we call roads nowadays and the Python yellow livery is more than enough to cheer a dull day and give you a healthy tan on a sunny one.
But the real test comes on a 200 mile jaunt south and back again – that’s four hours behind the wheel in each direction, surely a shatteringly tiring journey by the day’s end?
My first thought is ‘if only I’d booked a bigger more luxurious car in which to travel’. But wait. Hang on. I’m absolutely fine.
The 1.0 is perfectly comfortable at motorway speeds with more than enough thrust to accelerate onto the slip road and cruise nicely in the traffic. And just look at the trip computer, it’s reading 59.7mpg. When topping up, I’d calculated the tank range based on 44mpg so I’m now going to have plenty of fuel left when I reach home.
On this occasion I’m leaving the electric driving aids on. The ‘lane assist’, that stops you drifting across the carriageway, is invaluable for two reasons. The obvious one is that it stops you drifting across the carriageway but more importantly it makes you more disciplined with your indicating. If you don’t signal then the steering wheel fights you as you try and cross the white lines. This is great because it makes you concentrate and it keeps you awake.
It may be Audi’s smallest car but it is a little pocket of luxury. So the Google Earth-type satnav is brilliant as are the virtual clocks – you can even change the way they look and have the map right in front of you.
There is cruise control if you want it and all the switches and controls are perfectly placed. The infotainment (that’s the radio to the more mature drivers) is superb. It is by Sonos and when you hook it up with your phone to play your favourite tunes the sound is concert hall in quality and transforms the ambience of the interior.
Lengthy journeys generally spell long periods of discomfort but not in the A1. Those firm and supportive seats hold you in an osteopathic embrace lining up the vertebrae and spreading the load on muscle and flesh. The result is a pain-free back and bottom, no tightening of the back, shoulder and neck muscles, so when you arrive at your destination you feel fresh and relaxed and not dreading the trip back.
A1 looks the part too, much bigger than the previous model and you can be fooled into thinking it’s the bigger A3 thanks to its LED lights, slotted bumper, deep grille and airdam. The smart alloys and attractive rear end finish off what is an attractive looking, sporty and luxurious hatchback.
By the end of the test I know the A1 inside and out and am nothing but impressed by its accommodation, aesthetics and driving dynamics. So if you are popping to see your local dealer for a test drive, why not go for a quick 400 mile flit around the block – just don’t tell the salesman.
Fact File
A1 Sportback 30 TFSI
Engine: 1.0 three cylinders turbo-charged
Power: 110PS
0-62mph: 10.5secs
Top speed: 126mph
Combined MPG: 50.4
Transmission: six-speed manual
CO2 g/km: 126
Price: £28,195.00
