Audi A1 30 TFSI

TWENTY-NINE grand. Twenty. Nine. Grand. Whichever way you cut it, that is an eye-watering amount of money for a 1.0-litre supermini. Audi might have enjoyed some massive popularity thanks to the Audi A1 with 800,000 sold since 2010 but the German firm is planning to push this second generation version even further upmarket.

Even so, when a supermini is knocking on the door of £30,000 and it’s not even a flagship hot hatch model, it does make you raise your eyebrows somewhat. Fair enough, our test car was loaded with options but when it starts at £22,350, that’s certainly not small change to begin with.

At least it looks the part. It’s certainly not a radical change from before and it looks smart but the A1 has grown in size and while we like the oversized front grille and rear lights, we’re not so convinced about the thin vents on the leading edge of the bonnet.

We also like some of the colour combinations available in the range. Our test car was a solid non-metallic blue with a black roof – although rather sneakily, unless you choose white, all the other hues will cost extra.

Under Audi’s latest confusing numbering system for its engines, our A1 was called the 30 TFSI and actually powered by a threecylinder 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with 115bhp (there’s also a 25 TFSI with 94bhp).

In seven-speed, twin-clutch, automatic form, that’s enough to get this A1 from

0 to 60mph in 9.4 seconds and on to a 126mph top speed.

The average fuel economy of 45.6mpg and 110g/km emissions could be better for a new engine like this but it performs well on the road. The engine runs smoothly through the rev range and is refined at lower urban speeds and it also cruises surprisingly well when driving faster on the motorway.

There’s no greater compliment and you could easily be unaware that there was only