South Africans interested in owning an Audi A1 will need to pay up to R72,900 more than what they would for the equivalent VW Polo.
Audi has been part of the Volkswagen Auto Group since 1964, and the two automakers often share platforms and engines between their models to reduce the cost of research and development and improve efficiency across their production lines.
The result is that the most affordable Audi on the market happens to use the same mechanical underpinnings as one of South Africa’s best-selling vehicles, the locally-made VW Polo hatchback.
Same engines, different price
In South Africa, both the Polo and A1 are sold with three different powertrains, two of which are shared between the brands while another two are unique to their respective line-ups.
The cheapest option, a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol block with 70kW and 175Nm, is only found on the VW while the Audi has access to a 1.5-litre turbocharged unit with 110kW and 250Nm.
The other two choices are available in both cars, starting with an uprated 1.0-litre turbo-petrol powerplant with 85kW and 200Nm, which is found on the higher-spec Polo and base A1.
In both cases, a seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox is used to connect to the front wheels, though the Audi claims to have a noticeably lower average fuel consumption of 4.8l/100km compared to its sibling’s 5.4l/100km.
The other drivetrain is reserved for the flagship performance models of each brand, the Polo GTI and the A1 S Line, taking the form of a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol plant with 147kW and 320Nm.
This is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and a front-wheel-drive setup, though again, the Four Rings claims to achieve a better fuel stat of 6.0l/100km compared to the People’s Car’s 6.4l/100km.
You can see a price comparison of the VW Polo and Audi A1 in the table below:
| VW model | Price | Audi model | Price | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VW Polo 1.0TSI Life | R419,700 | Audi A1 30TFSI Advanced | R492,600 | R72,900 |
| VW Polo 1.0TSI R-Line | R468,800 | Audi A1 30TFSI S line | R508,100 | R39,300 |
| VW Polo GTI | R550,900 | Audi A1 40TFSI S line | R601,500 | R50,600 |
The cheapest Audi actually has the highest premium over its counterpart, while the mid-range S Line is technically giving the best value for money.
It’s also worth highlighting that the manufacturers provide different aftersales support, as the A1 comes with a 1-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and a 5-year/100,000km maintenance plan.
In contrast, the Polo offers a 3-year/120,000km warranty and a 3-year/45,000km service plan.
VW Polo
Audi A1
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