Skip advert
Advertisement

Audi S1 quattro (2014-2018) review – ride and handling

The Audi S1 brings speed, premium appeal and impressive build quality to the junior hot hatch segment.

Evo rating
Price
from £27,000
  • Performance, secure handling and overall quality
  • Expensive, not as exciting as some

The broken, lumpen B-roads around evo’s Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire homes have exposed many an oversprung performance car over the years, but the S1 absorbs the endless bumps sweetly and without deflection, keeping its four contact patches firmly in touch with the tarmac.

Even in the stiffer damper mode – which is part of the standard-fit Drive Select system – there’s enough pliancy; in fact, for the extra body control it also delivers it becomes the default setting for spirited driving, regardless of the nature of the road surface.

Advertisement - Article continues below

There is never any real sense of connection through the steering wheel, but it is at least devoid of the unpleasant stickiness that afflicts some other fast Audis. The wheel itself could perhaps reach out an inch or two further towards the driver and the seat is mounted too high by the same amount, but these are minor criticisms of an otherwise welcoming driving environment.

That four-wheel-drive system brings boundless traction at corner exit, but it doesn’t add any other dimension to the driving experience. The S1 will never take an oversteer stance under power, instead firing away from corners without a hint of wheelspin. The chassis does respond to lifts off the throttle mid-corner, making the S1 adjustable and entertaining in the manner of a true hot hatch.

The very best small hot hatches, though – namely the Fiesta ST and 208 GTi – are even more engaging to drive because there’s yet more inherent adjustability and agility in their chassis. They don't have the wet weather ability of the Audi, driving only the front wheels, but both have an addictive immediacy that the Audi can't quite match, even if it'd be nicer to live with every day.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Best hybrid cars 2025 – the best of both worlds
Best hybrid cars
Best cars

Best hybrid cars 2025 – the best of both worlds

Fast and furious on the right roads, silent and sensible when you want them to be. From supersaloons to supercars, these are our favourite hybrid perf…
11 Nov 2024
Driving masterclass: how to be a safer and better driver
Driving masterclass
Features

Driving masterclass: how to be a safer and better driver

From mastering the everyday commute to unlocking the full potential of your performance car, our new series will help you become safer, more confident…
11 Nov 2024
The new Caterham Seven CSR Twenty is an £80k road-ready Seven
Caterham Seven CSR Twenty – front
News

The new Caterham Seven CSR Twenty is an £80k road-ready Seven

Caterham’s ‘most premium Seven ever built’ costs Lotus Emira money, and celebrates 20 years of the CSR chassis
12 Nov 2024