Which small car offers the same premium feel as our Audi?

Telegraph

05-03-2025

Dear Alex,
My wife and I have bought new Audis for many years. She is soon to change her 2022 A1 and, although there are still many A1s around, Audi has discontinued it. Which similar cars would be suitable replacements? Similar overall size, boot capacity, passenger capacity, with four doors and a petrol or self-charging hybrid engine – in other words, an Audi in another manufacturer's clothing?
–IB
Dear IB,
You're correct that the A1 is being discontinued this year, probably to be replaced by an electric model. But you can still order a brand-new one – although you'll have to be quick to secure one of the last of the A1s to leave the factory.
Or your wife could simply keep her current example – at only three years old, I've no doubt it will have years of life left in it.
If it's the lack of warranty that concerns her, she could always take out an All-In service plan, which includes two years' worth of extra warranty, as well as two years of servicing and MOTs at a main dealer. An added bonus is that keeping the same car, rather than buying an all-new one, is a more sustainable choice.
But if she is set on changing her car and she's too late to order another A1, try a Volkswagen Polo instead. It doesn't have such a prestigious badge, but it's actually the same car underneath, and ticks all the boxes you mention.
In fact, the Polo offers greater boot and rear seat space than the A1, despite being roughly the same size. It's also one of the classiest and most comfortable small cars, so it won't seem much of a downgrade from the Audi.
The Style model provides a few classy touches emulating the higher specification of her current A1.
Alternatively, the sporty-looking R-Line has the option of a more powerful version of the 1.0-litre engine – or an automatic gearbox. The downside is that the R-Line's larger wheels make the Polo a touch less comfortable.
Another option is the Mini Cooper. In the absence of the A1, and since Mini is a subsidiary of BMW, this is just about the only current small car that could be considered a premium-branded product. Inside, the Mini is unashamedly retro but it's also immensely characterful and different from the norm.
In the five-door model, space in the boot and rear seats should be on a par with the A1. The only real downside is that the Mini feels quite firm over bumps, although you can mitigate that by avoiding the Cooper S and opting instead for a Cooper C, which has smaller wheels and softer suspension.
One final thought: try a Honda Jazz. Your wife might sniff at the idea of a Honda as a replacement for an Audi, but the company's latest models have high-quality interiors that feel a cut above its slightly humdrum image.
The latest Jazz is a hybrid, which means it's extremely frugal, while it offers far more space and versatility inside than your wife will be used to in her A1. In addition, the Jazz's reputation for reliability is better than any of the other cars I've mentioned, making it the one to choose if she really wants peace of mind.