Review: Audi GB A1 Sportback (2019-on)

Overview

Released in Australia in November 2019, the Audi GB A1 Sportback was a light, five-door hatchback. Manufactured in Martorell, Spain, the front-wheel drive Audi GB A1 Sportback range consisted of 30 TFSI, 35 TFSI and 40 TFSI S line variants (see table below), all of which had double clutch transmissions (Audi’s ‘S tronic’).

Production of the Audi A1 Sportback commenced in October 2018.

Body and dimensions

The Audi GB A1 Sportback was underpinned by Volkswagen Group’s MQB A0 architecture which was shared with the Volkswagen AW Polo . Compared to the Audi 8XA A1 Sportback , the GB A1 Sportback was 79 mm longer (at 4043 mm), the same width (1740 mm), 6 mm taller (1433 mm) and had a 93 mm longer wheelbase (2550 mm), while its drag co-efficient was 0.31 Cd. The GB A1 Sportback had a 335 litre boot, though this increased to 1090 litres when the rear seats were folded down and luggage was filled to the roofline.

Suspension

The Audi GB A1 Sportback had MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear axle. As standard, the A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S line was equipped with electronically-controlled dampers that could vary damping resistance according to driver behaviour and road conditions.

Steering

The Audi A1 Sportback had rack-and-pinion steering with electric power assistance; its turning circle was 10.5 metres.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Audi GB A1 Sportback included dual front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, full-length curtain airbags (i.e. for front and rear occupants), ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, seatbelt pre-tensioners and limiters for the front and outer rear seats.

As standard, the Audi GB A1 Sportback was equipped with ‘Audi pre sense front’ which used a radar sensor to detect if the A1 Sportback is closing too quickly on vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists in front of the vehicle. Operating at speeds above 5 km/h, Audi pre sent front could detect pedestrians or cyclists when driving at speeds up to 85 km/h and could detect vehicles when driving at speeds up to 250 km/h. If a collision risk was detected, Audi pre sense front would initially provide audible and visual warnings to the driver. In its second stage, Audi pre sense front would bring the brake pads into contact with the brake discs and increase braking assistance to prepare for an emergency stop. If the driver did not respond, the brakes would be briefly applied to produce a ‘jolt’ to alert the driver. If the driver still failed to respond, Audi pre sense front would apply the brakes autonomously to avoid or reduce the severity a collision.

Other active safety technologies for the Audi GB A1 Sportback included –

• Lane departure warning: active at speeds above 60 km/h, lane departure warning would warn the driver if they were about to cross lane markings and applied ‘corrective steering intervention’ to prevent the lane departure (‘lane keeping assist’); and,
• Attention Assist: monitored driver behaviour for signs of inattentiveness. If detected, a warning tone would sound and a visual signal would be displayed.

Euro NCAP testing

In Euro NCAP testing , the Audi GB A1 Sportback received a five star safety rating which included a 95 per cent adult occupant protection rating and an 85 per cent child occupant protection rating. In the frontal offset test, protection of the driver’s head, thighs and feet were rated as good, though protection of the chest and lower legs was rated as adequate (i.e. a slight risk of serious injury). Maximum points were awarded in the side impact test; in the more severe pole test, however, chest protection for the driver was rated as adequate.

Wheels, tyres and brakes

Within the Audi GB A1 Sportback range –

• The A1 Sportback 30 TFSI had 6.5J x 16-inch alloy wheels with 195/55 R16 tyres;
• The A1 Sportback 35 TFSI had 7.5J x 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/45 R17 tyres; and,
• The A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S line had 7.5J x 18-inch alloy wheels with 215/40 tyres.

Rather than a spare wheel, the Audi GB A1 Sportback was equipped with a tyre repair kit.

The standard braking package for the Audi GB A1 Sportback consisted of 276 mm by 24 mm ventilated front brake discs and 272 mm by 10 mm solid rear discs. The Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S line, however, had 312 mm by 25 mm ventilated front brake discs and 272 mm by 10 mm solid rear discs.

Features: Audi A1 Sportback 30 TFSI

The standard infotainment system for the Audi GB A1 Sportback consisted of:

• a six speaker audio system with digital radio tuner (DAB+);
• an 8.8-inch colour touchscreen (‘MMI radio plus’);
• two USB interfaces (type-A and type-C) with charging and data transfer functionality (‘Audi music interface’); and,
• smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (‘Audi smartphone interface’).

Beyond this, standard features for the Audi A1 Sportback 30 TFSI included front seats with manual adjustment, ‘Delta’ cloth upholstery, air conditioning, cruise control, halogen headlights, daytime running lights, dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors (‘parking system plus’), a rear view camera, a leather steering wheel, 40:60 split folding rear seats, power adjustable and heated door mirrors, power windows, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, a digital instrument cluster (a 10.25-inch colour display), tyre pressure loss indicator, floor mats (front and rear) and an immobiliser.

Features: Audi A1 Sportback 35 TFSI

Compared to the A1 Sportback 30 TFSI, the A1 Sportback 35 TFSI was further equipped with ‘Debut’ cloth upholstery, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, front centre armrest, illuminated vanity mirrors, front footwell lighting and wireless mobile phone charging as per Qi standard (‘Audi phone box light’).

Visually, the A1 Sportback 35 TFSI and 40 TFSI could be identified by their ‘Mythos’ black roofs and black exterior door mirrors.

Features: Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S line

The infotainment Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S Line included –

• MMI navigation plus: a 10.1-inch colour display for the navigation system, voice control and wireless Apple CarPlay; and,
• Audi connect plus: navigation and infotainment services which included online traffic information with hazard alert, destination entry via myAudi or Google Maps, parking information, weather, fuel prices, Wi-Fi hotspot and Google services.

Features for the Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S Line also included front sports seats with side bolsters and two-way manually adjustable lumbar support, ‘Derby’ cloth upholstery, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, LED headlights including daytime running lights, steering wheel gearshift paddles, ‘Audi virtual cockpit’ (fully configurable digital instrument cluster, though with the same 10.25-inch display as the 30 TFSI and 35 TFSI), power folding door mirrors with kerb-side function on the passenger side and LED rear lights.

Visually, the A1 Sportback 40 TFSI could be identified by its ‘S line’ exterior package which consisted of ‘S line’ bumpers (front and rear), a front spoiler blade in matt platinum grey, body-coloured side sills, ‘S line’ emblem on the front fenders, a rear spoiler and aluminium front door sill trims with ‘S line’ logo.

Premium plus package

Available as an extra-cost option ($2990 at launch) for the Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S line, the ‘Premium plus’ package: Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop&Go function, a 560 watt Bang & Olufsen 3D Sound System with eleven speakers and a twelve-channel amplifier, Park assist (i.e. parking space detection and automated parking), leather seat upholstery, heated front seats, LED interior lighting package and rear privacy glass.

Specifications

• Specifications: Audi GB A1 Sportback (August 2019)