AUDI's contender in the sub-compact or supermini sector of the marketplace, the A1 has been an unqualified success.

This model takes on head-to-head cars like the BMW MINI and in its five-door Sportback configuration is certainly a potent challenger.

The Sportback brings more versatility to the A1 line up, offering roomy seating for four or five at a pinch and only carried a modest premium over the the three-door.

This is one of those cars that feels much larger and more imposing than it really is when driving.

This Sport version featured the latest take on the 1.6 TDI diesel engine, offering a mind-boggling combined mpg of 74.3 for a carbon output of 99g/km which means zero road tax.

The car is, as would be expected from an Audi finished and constructed to the highest standards and as such it is not cheap. The basic price of the car is £16,455 but add on a raft of extras and on-road additions and the price rockets to £23,195.

But there is a market out there and it is growing by the day for sub-compact luxury and the Audi offering fills the bill perfectly.

In terms of styling top marks go to the frontal treatment but I am not the greatest fan of the rounded rear end. I believe the Sportback deserved a more dynamic touch in this area.

It is also possible on the A1 to bring the internet into the car with an on-board WLAN hotspot which offers connectivity to mobile devices when a mobile phone or SIM-access profile is presented. This can provide a vast amount of information not normally available in-car.

But the real proof of the pudding is on the road because this version does not behave like an economy champion with very lively performance from a 1.6 turbodiesel offering a maximum speed of 118mph and a 0-62mph sprint of 10.7 seconds.

This is another compelling reason why the A1 Sportback is a success, being perfectly poised to net sales from many drivers, including business users who are downsizing and do not want to sacrifice comfort and performance for sound economic motoring.

As would be expected basic specification is good but like other Audis the A1 Sportback can be configured in many variations with an impressive array of optional extras on offer.

Although not one of the fastest Audis of recent times, this model represents a major step into the more affordable world for this premium manufacturer.