More space for 5dr Audi A1

Audi A1 Sportback offers space for five and greater practicality, with almost no efficiency penalty

This is Audi‘s new A1 Sportback – a five-door version of our reigning Car of the Year.

Although it shares most parts with the three-door model and has the same wheelbase, the Sportback’s higher rcofline makes it 6mm taller. Audi says that packaging changes have freed up an extra 12mm of rear headroom, which is partly why five seats are now standard. Maximum boot space is identical at 270 litres.

From launch, there will be three petrol engines and one diesel. The petrol options are an 84bhp 1.2 TFSI and 1.4 TFSI engines with either 121bhp or 182bhp. The diesel option is a 103bhp 1.6-litre TDI; a 141bhp 2.0 TDI engine has just been launched in the three-door, but this won’t be available in the Sportback until summer 2012.

Only the higher-powered 14 and the 1.6 TDI with optional S tronic semi-automatic transmission miss out on engine stop-start. This means that performance, fuel economy and C02 emissions figures are only a fraction worse than the three-door’s, because Sportback models weigh just 25kg more. The lowest CO, figure – for the 1.6 TDI – is identical at 99g/km.

Audi A1 Sportback

The line-up mirrors that of the three-door, with SE, Sport and S line trims. As with the three-door, a range of personalisation options is available, with upgrades for interior and exterior trims. The contrasting roof covers the entire roof, whereas the three-door gets just contrasting side rails. It’s more expensive, too, at L400 rather than L350, and there’s a choice of three – not four – colours.

Audi A1 Sportback

A1 Sportback models cost L560 more than the equivalent three-door variant, meaning the entry-level 1.2 SE starts at L13.980. The range-topping 1.4185 S line starts at L21,270. It’s available to order now.