Used Audi A1 for sale: everything you need to know

The Audi A1 is a small premium car that provides much of the upmarket appeal and technology of bigger Audis, but at a cheaper price point to buy or lease. 

Although the A1 is Audi’s smallest and cheapest model for sale, it’s one of the German brand’s most popular cars. Whether you’re looking for deals on a used Audi A1, or looking to buy or lease a new Audi A1, you’ll find plenty of choice and a variety of engine and trim options. 

Competitors for the Audi A1 include the MINI Hatch in three-door or five-door form, the closely related Volkswagen Polo and the Peugeot 208. The Ford Fiesta is also available in posh Vignale trims, which rival the Audi A1 for equipment and technology. 

Should you buy a used Audi A1?

The Audi A1 is a good car to buy if something like a Volkswagen Polo just doesn’t look or feel posh enough for you. 

With a classier design than most other small cars, the Audi A1 also has an interior that feels a cut above its other VW Group siblings. With soft-touch plastics, gloss black and silver trims and (on top-spec Vorsprung models) lashing of Alcantara trim, it’s clear where your money goes in the Audi A1.

What’s more, the Audi A1 is one of the most high-tech small cars on sale. All versions of the latest model (from 2018-on if you’re buying used) get a digital instrument display in place of analogue dials, while there’s also a feature-packed 8.8-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash.

If you plump for the top-level models (or tick some of the options packs) you can make your Audi A1 really high-tech, with wireless phone charging and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system among the roster of equipment. 

The Audi A1 is also much roomier than rivals such as the MINI Hatch, meaning you can genuinely use it as a four seater for adults. The five-door model adds an extra seat in the rear which can accommodate a fifth person on short trips. There’s also a good-sized 335-litre boot, which again beats the MINI for space, and three ISOFIX points for mounting child seats. 

The Audi A1 might be pricier to buy and lease than some small cars, but it should prove fairly cheap to run thanks to its range of efficient petrol TFSI petrol engines. Used buyers looking at a pre-2018 Audi A1 will also find a couple of diesel variants which are exceptionally fuel efficient.

Buyers doing long distances will really appreciate the comfort and refinement the Audi A1 offers on the motorway. Hushed engines with effortless power delivery, along with an absence of wind and road noise. We’d recommend avoiding the sports suspension and bigger wheels of the S-Line model if comfort is a priority, because the rest of the range rides with real maturity. 

That’s not to say the Audi A1 isn’t fun to drive, because its sharp handling, good grip levels and positive steering, combined with its willing engines, means there’s enjoyment to be had on the open road. 

Overall, the Audi A1 is a great premium small car choice whether you’re looking at secondhand deals or wanting a classy compact model to buy or lease from new. 

It’s roomier and more usable than a MINI, with a good quality cabin crammed full of high-tech features. It’s also an excellent motorway car for something so small - you’d swear you were driving the larger Audi A3 given how stable and refined it feels. 

While there are other small cars that have greater fun factor, few new or used small cars feel as mature and classy as the Audi A1.

An Audi A1 not for you? We've got 1000s of used cars for sale to suit all budgets and needs.

What’s the best used Audi A1 model to buy?

With a broad range of turbo petrol engines to pick from, it’s easy to tailor the A1 Sportback to your needs. If you only ever drive around town, the 25 TFSI 1.0-litre with 95PS will be all you ever need, but we reckon the 116PS version is the wiser choice for its greater flexibility.

Much as we like the extra power of the 2.0-litre 40 TFSI with 200PS, it doesn’t feel as hot hatch swift as it should for a car that cracks 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds.

Which leads us like Goldilocks to the 35 TFSI with its 150PS. City drivers will appreciate the seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox, but we’d recommend most to stay with the easy action six-speed manual transmission. In this form, the A1 Sportback is a very strong supermini contender, especially if you avoid the more stiffly suspended Sport and S Line models.

Used Audi A1 fuel economy and performance

• Audi A1 25 TFSI: The entry-level Audi A1 engine is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine. It puts out 95 PS and 175Nm of torque, enough for a 0-62mph time of 11 seconds. Fuel economy is up to 50.4mpg combined, while it comes with a five-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed S tronic automatic. 
• Audi A1 30 TFSI: The next step up in the engine range uses the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, but power is increased to 110PS and torque is up to 200Nm.The 0-62mph time is 10.6 seconds, and fuel economy is up to 49.6mpg combined. It also gets a six-speed manual gearbox, with the option of a seven-speed S tronic automatic. 
• Audi A1 35 TFSI: This version uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine putting out 150PS and 250Nm of torque. Available only with the seven-speed S tronic automatic gearbox, it goes from 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds and promises up to 46.3mpg combined. 
• Audi A1 40 TFSI: The range-topping Audi A1 engine is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol putting out 207PS and 320Nm of torque. Only offered with the S tronic automatic gearbox, it’ll do 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds and fuel economy is up to 42.8mpg combined. 

What used Audi A1 trim levels are available?

The latest Audi A1 is available only in five-door Sportback form, although there are three-door versions of the previous generation model on the used market. 

Latest models come in five trim levels, ranging from the entry-level Technik to the sporty flagship S-Line Competition model. Here is the full list of versions and engines they can be paired with:

• The Audi A1 Technik is the most affordable entry-point in the range, but still comes well-equipped. It’s available with the 25 TFSI and 30 TFSI engines with manual or S tronic automatic gearboxes, but not the two most powerful engines. 
• The Audi A1 Sport is the next trim level, with key equipment upgrades. You can order the Sport trim with the 25 TFSI, 30 TFSI and 35 TFSI engines and a mixture of manual or automatic transmissions.
• The Audi A1 S line introduces sportier styling and a more upmarket cabin feel. Usually the most popular trim in Audis, it can be had with the 25 TFSI, 30 TFSI and 35 TFSI engines and either manual or S tronic automatic gearboxes. 
• The Audi A1 Black Edition is a high-end trim level that, as the name suggests, adds black exterior detailing alongside other equipment upgrades. As with the previous trims, it can be ordered with the 25 TFSI, 30 TFSI or 35 TFSI engines and a mix of manual or S tronic automatic gearboxes. 
• The Audi A1 S line Competition is the range-topping model, with styling, equipment and chassis upgrades over the regular S line. However, it’s only available with the most powerful 40 TFSI engine mated to an S tronic automatic gearbox.
• You’ll also find the used Audi A1 Vorsprung models, a fully-loaded model with many options fitted as standard. 

Used Audi A1 dimensions and boot size

The Audi A1’s dimensions are: 

• Length: 4029mm
• Width: 1740mm
• Height: 1409mm
• Ground clearance: 121mm 

The Audi A1’s boot size is:

• 335 litres
• 1090 litres with rear seats folded

Used Audi A1 road tax

Drive home in an Audi A1 Sportback and whether it’s the smallest 25 TFSI engine or the largest 40 TFSI, you’ll pay £180 for road tax. 

How much is it to insure an Audi A1? 

The Audi A1 falls into insurance group 16 in 25 TFSI Technik form, rising to group 31 for the most expensive to insure 40 TFSI S line Competition.

Read our full Audi A1 review