Audi A1 Citycarver: A small car that looks like an SUV but isn't

By dpa | 4 November 2019


INGOLSTADT: The endless tide of SUVs is beginning to reach beyond large and mid-sized cars, with even the smallest Audi now available in off-road optics.

Audi has turned its A1 into a small car on stilts: Starting in November, the four rings will be selling an entry-level model as a boosted-up A1 Citycarver that looks like an SUV, just far away.

With prices in Europe starting at €22,100, Audi's latest is poised to compete with other small off-road cars like the VW T-Cross or the Peugeot 2008.

For €2,000 more than the conventional Sportback, you get a five-door wannabe SUV with around 5 cm more ground clearance and a modified SUV-like front.

The Citycarver's design also hints at an underride guard, while coming in contrasting body colours and decorative elements in the interior. Audi has been showing this car off in a garish orange that makes it look like it's wearing a hiking jacket, but you can have the car in other shades.

Under the bonnet, you can choose between two three-pot petrol engines, both with a 1-litre capacity. Depending on the model, the Citycarver has 95 or 116hp and can reach top speeds of up to 198kph.

A closer look at the engine shows why this car isn't really a compact SUV and being sold as a Q1: There's no all-wheel drive, something you'd expect to see on an off-roader.

Audi puts fuel consumption values at between 5.1 and 5.4 litres, corresponding to CO2 values of 117 to 122 g/km.

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