WHO are you trying to kid? A brand new shiny Audi straight out of the showroom for less than £13,500. Surely there must be some sort of mistake.

Well, no, it's now a fact of life, for the German manufacturer has added yet another model to its expanding range, this time in the form of a small city car which is ready to take on the MINIs, Polos and MiTos of this world.

And if you think that the car's inexpensive price tag means Audi's meticulous standards have slipped a bit on the newcomer, then you had better think again. For the A1 carries forward all the premium brand's blue-blooded DNA every inch of the way.

The A1 is Audi through and through. The cabin is perfection and a beautiful place to spend time. The fittings, plastics and fabrics are of the quality we have come to expect from the brand, while the instruments, vents, dashboard and switchgear are immediately recognisable as throughbred Audi, carrying forward the basic design cues that are found throughout the whole range.

Under the bonnet sits the choice of two TFSI petrol engines of 1.2-litre or 1.4-litre displacement and a 1.6-litre turbocharged diesel, while three trim levels - SE, Sport and S Line - are much in line with other Audi offerings.

After spending some time with a mix of models on roads varying from winding lanes to a motorway, it's hard to single one model out.

However, from a comfort point of view, you can't go far wrong with one of the lead-in models. The SE offers a more supple ride than its Sport and S Line siblings, which sit on larger wheels and have much firmer suspension settings. 

Smooth, devoid of engine noise, quiet, yet sprightly on the hoof, the diesel SE has to be one of the finest superminis money can buy.

Utilising the VW group platform already used on the Skoda Fabia, VW Polo and SEAT Ibiza, Audi engineers have lowered the ride height and extended the track, the end result is that the engaging ride the A1 offers is simply amazing.

The little hatchback simply revels on twisting, country roads, gripping the black stuff as if it was travelling on rails, while the nicely-balanced steering offers just the correct amount of feedback to keep the driver fully engaged.

From a safety point of view, the A1 is also well catered for. An array of airbags, anti-lock brakes and a host of other high-tech aids including stability control with electronic differential lock helped the car gain five stars in NCAP tests.

Other features also include daytime running lights, air con, electric windows and mirrors, CD sound system and alloy wheels.

While the price of the entry-level 1.2-litre petrol car looks a snip at £13,420, for buyers seeking out real economy, the slightly more expensive 1.6-litre, 103bhp oilburner is without doubt the star act.

Aided by the car's start/stop system, fuel consumption for the combined cycle comes in at an impressive 70mpg, while CO2 emissions are kept in check at just 105g/km, placing the car in VED band B.

With a top speed of 118mph and a standing-to-62mph dash time of 10.5 seconds, there is more than enough power on tap for safe overtaking and to keep those with a heavy right foot more than happy.