In 1984, Audi took the rally world by storm when it entered the original Audi Sport Quattro S1 – those heady days in the World Rally Championship have defined Audi’s history, present and will surely have a large say in its future too. The Quattro tag had come to the fore and launched Audi as leading car maker.

In 2014, Quattro is now synonymous with the brand but, trust us, entering the Group B arena in the world of rally was a bold step. It paid off for the German maker and now the technology is easily one of the best all-wheel drive systems in the world.

Now, Audi has launched a supermini with more power than the classic Sport Quattro S1 – now that’s some feat.

In terms of size alone, the S1 is comparable to the likes of the latest Ford Fiesta ST, but its power and pricing is much closer to the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Performance

One word – astounding. This S1 Sportback supermini can get from zero to 60mph in 5.9 seconds. That’s just over half a second less than it takes the current Volkswagen Golf GTI to complete the benchmark sprint – this car really has the wow factor.

Under the bonnet, the S1 Sportback has a 227bhp 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine. In every gear, there is plenty of torque; just in case you need the figure for the pub quiz, it has 370Nm between 1,600 and 3,000rpm.

The top speed on the S1 is electronically limited to 155mph – that’s 2mph higher than the latest Golf GTI and 16mph quicker than the Fiesta ST.

Ride and Handling

The chassis feels great, turn-in is first class, while the steering is direct and accurate.

This car is faster, sharper to drive and much stiffer than the standard Audi A1. This inevitably results in a noticeably firmer driving experience. The Audi’s ride is not, however, as compromised or as harsh as some rivals, so it won't beat you up when pootling around town. Take it onto the twisty stuff and you will be impressed at the levels of grip – this is Quattro at its best. The chassis feels great, turn-in is first class, while the steering is direct and accurate. For some purists a little more steering weight would be good but it’s far from bad. In fact, it’s pretty darn close to perfection. The ride and handling has no doubt been aided by the standard electronic stabilisation control (ESC) as it comes with wheel-selective torque control. This clever bit of kit improves traction when cornering, making the S1 even more agile. Enhanced suspension also comes as standard on the Sportback S1. You can switch between either Auto or Dynamic settings depending on what driving mood you fancy. If you want a supermini with power, agility and one of the quickest cars with the best traction on the planet, then you could do worse than look at the S1.

Interior and Equipment

This is the first Audi road car to bear the ‘S1’ designation in over 20 years.

When it comes to kit, the S1 Sportback is highly specced as the flagship model in the A1 range. Highlights include Quattro all-wheel drive, Xenon plus headlights, variable damper control and Audi Drive Select. Also onboard as standard are luxuries such as electronic climate control and a six-speaker CD stereo with iPod support. There’s also a 6.5-inch colour display screen which slides out of the top of the dashboard. The boot is small, storing 210 litres (in three-door form) or 270 litres (for the Sportback) as standard. That compares to 290 litres for the Fiesta ST. However, leg and head room in the cabin is reasonable for both front and rear passengers. The cabin itself also has a high-quality finish which helps make it feel classy and comfy to sit in.

Cost

Not only does it offer tons of power and ferocious performance for one so small, it also offers good fuel economy.

Performance cars are not known for their frugality or being entirely friendly to the earth when it comes to emissions. The S1 Sportback is a little different. Not only does it offer lots of power and ferocious performance for one so small, it also offers good fuel economy. On average it will return 39.8mpg, which is respectable for a performance-focused model. But, the Ford Fiesta ST3 will average fewer trips to the filling station than the Audi as it returns 47.9mpg on the combined cycle. The S1 starts from £25,380 for the three-door version, increasing to £26,110 for the five-door Sportback. That makes the S1 over £5,000 more than some similar sized hot hatches like the Fiesta ST3. In fact, the three-door S1 is only just over a grand less than the Golf GTI. It’s undoubtedly a lot of money to pay for a small car, so it’s a good thing for the S1 that it feels special to drive.

Our Verdict

This supermini is a mouth-watering prospect – it oozes class, has phenomenal grip thanks to Quattro technology and tons of power. It is a lot of money to pay for a car this size and other hot hatches are more practical. However, those considering the S1 won’t necessarily be put off by the price because the performance and driving experience is so truly impressive. Compare this road car to the Group B monster - the original S1 - and you will see how Audi has evolved its technology. From rally stages to road, Audi Quattro cars just keep getting better. Now all Audi needs to do is re-enter the World Rally Championship. That really would be a treat…