Audi A1 vs Volkswagen Polo – which is best?

That's no surprise considering they're both VW Group cars, so they use the same platform and share lots of oily parts underneath. The A1 is posher and more desirable, but is it worth the extra money over the solid, sensible Polo? We'll compare them here to help you pick your favourite.

Don't forget to check out the savings on used Audi A1 cars and used Volkswagen Polo cars for sale at Motorpoint.

Audi A1 vs Volkswagen Polo compared

Styling and design

The A1 is arguably the more stylish car. Partly for its looks, but also since the styling just looks more deliberate than the anonymous-looking Polo. Its bluff six-sided grille and blocky headlights with sharp LED signatures recall larger Audi models, and you'll find neat styling lines breaking up the car's metalwork. Keep an eye out for A1 Black Edition cars, which get massive alloy wheels and a contrast black roof for a more premium look.

In comparison, the Polo looks inoffensive but a little plain. The front is defined by a prominent horizontal slot that blends into the headlights on either side, while the VW badge slots into the middle. Beyond that, the body kit and the sculpting down the car's sides are much more understated than their counterparts on the Audi. Some might appreciate that the Polo flies under the radar but, for us, it just looks a bit boring.

Interior and practicality

Like the outside, there's a more obvious sense of style in the A1's cabin. Its faceted dashboard deliberately angles the centre screen towards the driver, while the instrument binnacle is framed by air vents. The overall effect is that the Audi feels more like a cockpit with a definite driver focus. Other details like the wide, slatted passenger air vent and aluminium-effect lower dash panel also help elevate the experience.

The Polo has a simpler gloss grey panel that runs the width of the dashboard. A gloss black insert on the right contains both the centre screen and digital driver's dials. There's a low-profile centre console, like the Audi, that contains the gear shifter and cupholders but this is cheap-feeling moulded plastic in the Polo, while the A1 does a bit more to dress this area up.

We've no doubt that these cars share most of their infotainment hardware, but we think the Audi's software is better to use. The A1's screen has sharper resolution and the menus are more neatly laid out, making it easy to spot the on-screen control you're looking for. There's not much wrong with the Polo's setup – it's certainly easier to use than VW's more recent infotainment efforts – but it's not as slick as the Audi's.

You'll need to crack out the tape measure to see the differences in practicality as both the A1 and Polo are very similarly sized. Technically, the Polo very narrowly takes the win with just a fraction more passenger and cargo space. We doubt many would spot the difference in real life, however, as you'll just as easily squeeze adults into both rows of the Audi as you would the Volkswagen. Plus, the Polo's 351-litre boot is only 16 litres up on the A1.

Size and dimensions

Both the A1 and Polo are small cars. These compact dimensions make them easy to squeeze down narrow city streets and into tight parking spaces.

On paper, the Polo is larger in every dimension, but you'll struggle to spot this difference from behind the wheel.

Engines and performance

Compared to models higher in the Audi and Volkswagen lineup, the A1 and Polo keep it nice and simple. All versions are powered by simple petrol engines with a choice of manual or automatic gearboxes.

Every engine in the Audi is turbocharged, starting with a 95hp 1.0-litre unit badged 25 TFSI. You can upgrade to a 116hp version called the 30 TFSI which brings the 0-62mph time below 10 seconds. Both of these engines are available with the optional S Tronic dual-clutch auto, which shifts quickly and responsively. You also have the option of a 150hp 35 TFSI unit that dashes to 62mph in a hair over eight seconds.

The Polo is almost exclusively powered by the same 1.0-litre engine as the Audi. You still have 95 and 116hp versions with manual or automatic gearboxes, although the Polo also comes with an 80hp non-turbo version – this is fairly slow but has low insurance groups.

Finally, you can outfit either car with a 2.0-litre turbo making a much more meaningful 204hp. You'll find this in the A1 S-Line Competition and Polo GTI models respectively. This bestows both models with proper hot-hatch performance and helps them feel much more relaxed at speed.

Driving

Since both of these cars start from the same base, there's little to split the two out on the road. Both have excellent stability considering their small size, along with light, easy controls that means you rarely have to think about how to drive the car.

If we split hairs, the Audi is a little sportier with a touch more resistance to body roll. While it's not as thrilling as sportier hatches like the Ford Fiesta ST, there's still a good sense of agility that makes the A1 reasonably fun to throw down a twisty back road.

The Polo feels like it rides a fraction softer than the A1, with a touch more body roll in return – though you're only likely to notice this if you drive these two back-to-back. Its similarities to the A1 are much more obvious, including great stability and easy controls that make the Polo very undemanding to drive.

Value and reliability

As a rule, the Audi A1 is more expensive than the Polo but the gap is closer than you might think. As brand new cars, you'll pay a touch over £22,000 for the Polo and a little over £24,000 for the A1. However, since the A1 has the more powerful 95hp engine as standard, a comparable Polo actually costs around £23,000 – just £1,000 less than the Audi.

That price gap remains roughly the same on the used market, with comparable A1s being around £1,000-£2,000 more expensive than their Volkswagen cousin. As a result, picking a used A1 with a slightly older plate or a few extra miles could cost the same or even less than a similar Polo.

While you won't spend much extra to step from the Polo to the A1, it's worth highlighting that the Polo is better equipped as standard – odd considering the Audi is, in theory, the more premium product. You'll find alloy wheels and air conditioning on both entry-level models, but the A1's Technik trim misses out on the Polo's rear parking sensors.

Audi and Volkswagen both usually score a solid 'medium' across various reliability surveys. While there are very few mechanical problems reported on either car, some owners have reported occasional infotainment glitches. Both cars include an industry-standard three-year factory warranty.

Which is best?

In many ways, these cars have more similarities than differences. Both the A1 and Polo are easy to use and easy to drive, with decent practicality considering their small size. On the road, both cars are predictable and intuitive, and include mod cons to keep you entertained on long journeys.

We think the A1 is the more obviously stylish of the two, with sharper looks inside and out plus a fractionally more entertaining driving experience. The Polo, on the other hand, is marginally more comfortable and slightly better value for money.

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