The supermini battle: Audi A1 vs. Volkswagen Polo

The supermini car market has become an extremely competitive and intense battleground for manufacturers in recent years. There are just so many options for motorists to choose from and without all the facts it can be very difficult to reach a conclusion of which is best for your needs.

No match-up resembles this competition more so than the Audi A1 vs. the Volkswagen Polo. There’s no doubt about it, both are fantastic cars, offering a wealth of excellent benefits.

Funnily enough though, both are almost identical when it comes to the mechanics, so which is most deserving of your attention? Take a look at the following, where we face these two prestige models against one other.

The Interior

This may seem like an odd place to start, but this is the vehicle you’ll be driving around in for thousands of miles. Therefore, you want something that’s comfortable and practical.

Given the status of both the A1 and Polo, you can expect a plush cabin in each. In this department it’s the Audi coming out on top and if you want something to better this you’ll have to step up a class.

However, because of the Polo’s spacious interior it’s a close run thing, with the A1 only having a pair of rear seats compared to the VW’s three.

Boot Space

How much luggage can you carry around? This is another defining question when it comes to splitting these two heavyweights and again, there’s not much separating the two.

The A1 and Polo have 270 and 280 litres of boot space respectively, whilst the Polo also has a little more space with the rear seats down too.

The Sports Version

If you wanted to opt for a sporty supermini, your best bet is going to be the Polo as there’s the GTI version available. There simply isn’t an Audi A1 offering this. If you really wanted to though, it’s possible to fit an Audi A1 with the same Polo GTI engine.

The raw Polo and A1 though are practically inseparable when it comes to performance. Both offer 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds and there’s only a second’s difference in top speeds, with the Polo just edging out at 142mph.

Engines

Both the A1 and Polo share a similar makeup, though it’s the Audi that’s injected with a little extra power and packs the greatest punch. Let’s take an example of this, where the same 1.2 litre engine for an Audi and VW has 86hp and 60/70hp respectively.

The Audi A1 is also slightly more fuel efficient, producing fewer carbon emissions and ensuring you’ll be spending less at the petrol garage. As a result, the Audi A1 is also cheaper to tax.

The Conclusion

So with all that said and done, which of these two vehicles is superior in the automotive market? Both have their advocates and are almost neck and neck. For those purchasing, the A1 is pricier than the VW Polo, so this may put many buyers off.

However, what’s clear is there’s little to choose between the two and if you’re looking for a new car, either will provide you with reliability, high performance levels and a quality interior.

If you’re interested in an Audi A1 or Volkswagen Polo lease, simply give Autograph Contracts a call today to discuss your options and receive your own personal quote.