Audi A1 vs Honda Civic
What's the difference?

Audi A1

$18,998 - $29,990

2020 price

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Honda Civic

—

2025 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2020 Audi A1

2025 Honda Civic

By Matt Campbell

By Andrew Chesterton

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.8L

Inline 4, 2.0L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded/Electric

Fuel Efficiency

5.9L/100km (combined)

4.2L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Character-filled car
Sporty performance
City-friendly dimensions

Impressive driving dynamics
Truly frugal powertrain
Svelte exterior styling

Dislikes

Fuel use a bit high
Expensive
Back seat lacks amenities

Engine sounds harsh under heavy acceleration
Cabin tech fiddly and hard to quickly understand
Middle seat in the back mostly ornamental

2020 Audi A1 Summary

The Audi A1 2020 range offers something for everyone, and in the case of this particular variant, it’s the one you buy if you want as much grunt and gear as you can get.

It’s the top-of-the-range Audi A1 40 TFSI model, which gets the zestiest engine, the lengthiest equipment list, and offers performance to match some hot-hatches out there. It’s essentially an Audi-ised version of a VW Polo GTI.

This test wasn’t so much about the wow-factor, though. We put it through its paces as an urban runabout to see how it coped as a real-world city car.

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2025 Honda Civic Summary

I’m just going to cut to the chase here. This Honda Civic hybrid is a good car. A great one, even.

But for some reason, nobody is really buying it. And it’s not just because it’s not an SUV – it has been outsold in its segment this year by the the BMW 1 Series, the Mercedes A-Class, the MG4 EV, and the VW Golf. Premium and non-premium alike, they’ve all got the little Honda licked.

So, what’s going on? A CarsGuide investigation is required. Stick around and we’ll try to figure this out together.

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Deep dive comparison

2020 Audi A1 2025 Honda Civic

Verdict

If you’re eager for a sporty compact hatchback with premium design and luxury car badges, the Audi A1 40 TFSI is a very, very strong contender. It’s fast, fun, and functional for a little hatchback. It’s just very expensive, and for most people the $10K cheaper 35 TFSI model will tick most of the boxes. I’d recommend you drive it before signing on for the top-spec model.

Verdict

Talk about your new-car unsung heroes – I can't believe Honda's not selling more of these. So, if you can get over the price, and you worry it might be too small for you, I encourage you to check the Civic out. The back seat and boot are both bigger than you might expect, and the drive experience leaves most SUVs in the rear view mirror.

Audi A1 vs Honda Civic What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Audi A1 vs Honda Civic
What's the difference?