MINI had the boutique supermini market mostly to itself for the best part of a decade but the challengers have come thick and fast in recent times writes Peter Carroll.

The Fiat 500, Alfa MiTo, Toyota iQ, and Citroen DS3 have all arrived to muddy the waters for the Cowley firm.

Yet it’s the latest arrival that will surely be causing Mini bosses most anxiety.

• See more pictures of the Audi in our gallery to your right

For Audi’s new A1 has the style, performance – and that premium four-ringed badge – to cause them
a major headache.

The ‘baby’ Audi offers a curvy appearance to the world rather than the squarer lines of the Mini and prices start at the appealingly low level of just over £13,000.

The test car, a 1.4 TFSI Sport, came with a distinctive chromed roofline – one of a number of personalisation options that is likely to prove popular with customers in this sector of the market.

A1 buyers can choose from turbo-charged 1.2 or 1.4 petrol engines and there’s a diesel option too that’s expected to prove the best seller.

Trim levels range from SE through to Sport and S Line – and it won’t take too many option box ticks to see prices nudging £20,000 for the flagship model.

The A1 wrings better performance from its 1.4 litre engine than the Mini’s lower output 1.6 power plant and is capable of hitting 60mph in under nine seconds.

There’s also an agreeably rorty note from the engine when it’s asked to perform – though if you are too carefree with your right foot you’ll never get anywhere near Audi’s combined cycle economy figure of 53.3mpg.

Though this is the smallest Audi since the A2 of 1999, the German firm does not appear to have stinted on quality.

The paintwork is beautifully finished and the cabin is made from quality materials – concentrated Vorspurng Durch Technik indeed.

The seats are very comfortable and the driving position is good.

There was a quality sat nav in the test car and the solidity and chunkiness of the handbrake made it clear from the outset that this was no run-of-the-mill supermini –even if it is based on a VW Polo.

There’s enough room, just, for four adults to sit comfortably inside and the A1 also scores over the Mini by virtue of its slightly larger boot.

Despite its slightly cutesy looks and kerb weight of just over a tonne there’s a reassuringly solid feel about the A1 on the road. It handles and steers well though doesn’t quite go about its business as enthusiastically as its Mini rival, with its trademark gokart handling ability.

The A1’s stop/start mechanism and gear/shift indicator help eke out the fuel and decent consumption should be possible on a run.

Those who do mainly town driving, however, may struggle to reach even the urban figure of 41mpg.

Ride quality is good and the car is superbly refined for its class.

The 1.4 Sport is getting on for £16,000 to put on the road – on the pricy side for a supermini, perhaps, but a bargain compared with other Audis.

The important thing is that anyone considering downsizing to the smallest model in the Audi range need not feel short-changed: the A1 is a quality product in virtually every respect.