OK, first off is the good news. The hottest Audi A1 is now on sale in S-line specification, complete with a 182bhp version of the 1.4-litre TFSI engine that gives the posh supermini a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 141mph.
So now here comes the bad news … the A1 S-line starts at £20,705. Now bear in mind that the hardware (chassis, engine and seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox) are shared with the Audi’s cousins, the Skoda Fabia VRs (£15,700), Seat Ibiza Cupra (£17,550) and Volkswagen Polo GTI (£18,790). Seems a touch pricey, doesn’t it?
Yes, the S-line A1 has slightly more power than the others (183bhp instead of 178bhp) and gets leather trim on the immaculately finished interior, but is it really worth £2k more than a Polo GTI or a massive £5k more than the Fabia VRs? Oh, and don’t forget the excellent 184bhp Mini Cooper S at £18,010.
Should you really, really want an Audi A1 S-line your local Audi dealer is more than willing to take your deposit.
