2020 Audi A1 Review
Audi A1 Citycarver Review
We tested the all-new Audi A1 Citycarver on Irish roads
Review
Model Driven: Audi A1 Citycarver
Engine: 1.0 TFSI 116 S-TRONIC 4DR 30
Transmission: Automatic
Price: €33,045
Motor Tax: €200 per annum
Power: 116BHP
Fuel Consumption: 6.7-6.4l/100km
The new Audi A1 Citycarver, as the name suggests, like the A1 Sportback is best suited for nipping in and out of traffic through a busy city. But the Citycarver sets itself aside from the regular A1 in the form of a crossover, intending to add an extra degree of practicality with a greater overall height, increased ground clearance and higher seating position.
The A1 Citycarver isn’t the first city-car to get beefed up with an SUV look. The likes of the Ford Fiesta Active, Volkswagen Polo Cross and Kia XCeed offer this option also. But Audi’s premium design gives the A1 Citycarver a unique character. From the octagonal grille with the three-dimensional honeycomb grid, to the LED headlights and contrasting black roof colour, this car looks stylish. Broad mudguards and optional 18-inch wheels give it a powerful appearance on the road.
On the inside, the A1 Citycarver doesn’t differ too much from the Sportback, apart from the higher driving position. The quality interior we are used to from Audi is very much present in this car, with the 10.25-inch digital instrument display and 8.8-inch touchscreen display for the infotainment system being the focal points as you sit into the driver’s seat. For a compact car there is surprisingly a bit of space in the rear for passengers and the boot has a volume of 335-litres which is adequate luggage space for one or two people.
The A1 Citycarver comes with a 30 TFSI 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine. It is available with a 6-speed manual gearbox as well as a seven-speed automatic transmission that we drove. The manual option starts at €30,150, whereas the automatic starts at €33,045 on the road.
The 30 TFSI engine produces 116bhp, which is enough if you are just buzzing around the city or town and feels nippy taking off due to the light weight of the vehicle. It handles very well and was quite fun to drive even in busy traffic and small towns. The suspension was cushioning going over any bumps in the road and took corners well even with the increased body height.
There is plenty of standard safety equipment that comes with the Citycarver, including the lane keeping system, cruise control, rear parking sensors and the Audi pre-sense which monitors the traffic in front for potential collision hazards. Our test car even came with a wireless phone charger, which sends out a voice alarm to warn you if you are leaving the vehicle without your phone, I found this extremely handy.
Carzone Verdict 3.5/5
The A1 Citycarver is comfortable on the inside and offers reasonable space for a crossover or small hatchback. Its sporty good looks with a hint of off-road character turn heads wherever you go. The Citycarver is expensive compared to alternative options out there but does offer more of a premium option.