Used Audi A1 cars for sale or finance at 10.9% APR

There’s only one version of the A1 and it’s a five-door hatchback. If you’re after a city-friendly Audi but fancy something that looks a little chunkier, take a look at the Q2 SUV, which uses similar engines and technology to the A1 but in a slightly taller SUV package.

The A1 is very slightly more than four metres long – almost exactly the same size, give or take a couple of centimetres, as the Volkswagen Polo and SEAT Ibiza. That means four adults should be able to fit in reasonable comfort in the cabin, but the fifth seat is really only large enough for very short journeys with minimal leg or elbow room. The boot will handily tackle the weekly shop but will struggle with more than one large suitcase.

A1s are now all powered by turbo petrol engines, which is no bad thing because every version feels smooth and responsive on the road. You might want to consider the fast-shifting S tronic automatic gearbox, which suits the A1’s premium car image and is available across most of the range.

The Audi A1 isn’t known for poor reliability nor bulletproof reliability – like most new cars, the vast majority of A1s will be completely reliable, but some may develop problems and software glitches. For ultimate peace of mind, consider purchasing an extended warranty.

Squeezing the feel of a big, expensive Audi into a smaller, cheaper package, the A1 is a good car if you really value nice interior materials and the latest tech. It’s pretty economical, capable of returning 45-50mpg, and is quite good fun to drive. The latest A1 is much more spacious than its predecessor.

With space for four adults, economical engines and the must-have phone connectivity, the Audi A1 ticks a few boxes if you’re looking for your first car. But the mechanically related Volkswagen Polo offers these things at a cheaper price and with much cheaper insurance, so we’d recommend the Polo over the A1 for new drivers. Browse our lists of the cheapest cars to insure and the best cars for teenagers.

With the Audi badge on the front and lots of gadgets on board, the A1 costs a little more to insure than superminis like a Vauxhall Corsa or Ford Fiesta. The entry-level 25 TFSI engine puts the Audi A1 in insurance group 16 out of 50, while the more powerful engines are in higher insurance groups. Range-topping 40 TFSI models sit in group 31, which is high for a supermini.

The Audi A1 will cost a little more to service and maintain than less premium superminis, but costs should be similar to what you’d pay to keep a Mini on the road. At the time of writing, Audi charges £205 for an oil service for a three-year-old A1 and £330 for a more thorough service. The brand does offer an ‘All-in’ package that includes two services, two MOTs plus two year’s breakdown cover and warranty for just over £800 or £33 per month.