Audi A1 S-Line. 185hp. Avoiding The Cliches

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Indeed, it’s under such circumstances that the car’s balance is so readily showcased. Interestingly – even bizarrely – there’s hardly any body roll, the A1 despite its tall(ish) statue feeling poised and balanced thanks to stiffened suspension and good weight distribution. This doesn’t always lead to the most comfortable of drives but whoever bought a go-kart for its ride quality?

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Under the bonnet we find a gutsy 1.4l turbo-charged – and supercharged – TFSI powerplant, good for 227kph and 0-100kph in 6.9s. Now granted, the turbocharger can mean a bit of lag in the lower revs (again, much like the go-kart), but keep the right foot planted though for an extra tick, and the turbo will suddenly fire into life. Trust me, you will notice 185 horses stampeding simultaneously. And you’ll love it! Couple this with a responsive seven-speed S tronic dual clutch automatic gearbox and paddle shifts ready to withstand some abuse, and the enthusiasm to keep gunning to the redline will sweep over you quickly, the engine pulling dutifully in accordance. Good feel for, and good bite from, the brakes won’t be too far away to scrub the speed back off again too.

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Despite all this sprightliness though, there is one standout element: the noise. Even with a racesuit and a helmet, wind rushing past at 40kph offers an incomparable element to every karting experience, as does the burble coming from the A1 S-Line’s exhaust valves. Kick the gearbox into first, wait a beat for the throttle to come back, feel the revs rise smoothly, then sharply, then upshift into second and continue the rise, all as the tenor chorus ricochets through the cabin. A burble, an amiable ‘BA-BUBB!’ warble through the exhaust as the next gear slots home, and another burble. Everything else seems insignificant by comparison.

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Perhaps the Audi A1 S-Line is not what has come to be expected from a standard supermini. Rear legroom could be more generous, the driving setup doesn’t exactly encourages fuel-friendly economy runs, and road noise is slightly heavier than one might expect. But for a small, planted, characterful piece of kit that will make you smile on the asphalt, there’s very little to compare it to.

Well, maybe there is one thing…

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