Used Audi A1 review: 2010 to 2019 (Mk1) - Practicality and boot space
The Audi A1 is available with three or five doors - the latter is called the A1 Sportback and is much more practical
The Audi A1 hatchback is a three-door car, so those looking for practicality should consider the five-door Audi A1 Sportback. In the normal A1, the back seats are awkward to access and only really suitable for occasional use.
Ultimately, the A1 is a small car and you can’t expect too much in the way of practicality, although it does have a bigger boot than the MINI and is easier to see out of, so many will find it easier to park and use as an everyday car.
How big is the Audi A1?
The A1 is just under four metres long, 1.7m wide and 1.4m tall. This means the A1 is over 100mm longer than a MINI hatchback, which means there's more legroom and the boot is slightly bigger. The car's small dimensions make parking fairly easy, plus some models have front and rear parking sensors for added peace of mind.
There’s not much difference between the three-door A1 and the five-door A1 Sportback – they’re almost exactly the same length and width.
How much space is there for passengers?
Getting into and out of the back seats is awkward in the A1. However, the two rear seats are more spacious than the ones in the MINI hatchback and offer more legroom, even though headroom is restricted by the car’s sloping roof.
The A1 Sportback has a bit more headroom and legroom than the three-door, but don’t expect masses of space in the back because tall adults will find it too much of a squeeze. The middle seat is also not much use other than for kids, although there’s more light in the back of the Sportback so it feels roomier than it actually is.
How big is the boot?
The A1’s boot holds 270 litres, which is usefully bigger than the MINI's 211-litre space and just behind the DS 3's 285-litre capacity. The rear seats can split and fold to increase luggage space to 920 litres, although they don't fold completely flat. The quattro four-wheel drive system fitted in the Audi S1 reduces boot space by 60 litres.
The boot lid opens to give reasonably wide access, while the boot floor is level with the load lip. The lip does jut out slightly because of the chunky rear bumper, though. The A1 has a puncture repair kit as standard, and unless the original owner opted for the optional space-saver spare, you can’t fit one in retrospectively.
