What is the smallest and cheapest car from Audi, BMW and Mercedes

Audi A1, BMW 1 Series and Mercedes A Class are the three least expensive cars of the German brands, with prices starting from £24,075

Photo by: Motor1.com

By: Gianmarco Gori

Nov 16, 2024 at 4:25am ET

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Fancy driving a premium German car while spending as little as possible? The answer comes in the form of the Audi A1, BMW 1 Series and Mercedes A Class, the smallest and cheapest cars in the Teutonic triad.

For many, these three cars represent the gateway to a world of dreams and products that have always been coveted and, contrary to what you might think, you don't have to shell out big bucks to take them home, because they also exist in less affluent versions with low-performance engines designed to limit emissions and consumption, but with fairly complete equipment.

Audi A1

Starting strictly in alphabetical order, first on our list is the Audi A1. Unlike the BMW and the Mercedes , it is for all intents and purposes in the B-segment, the small car segment, and is aimed at a slightly different audience, one that is used to driving very often in the city and aims at practicality as the first quality of their car.

Now in its second generation, in fact, the A1 was conceived as a small premium car, for those who want Audi quality in a small and accessible format. In markets such as Europe, and in particular the UK, where cities are often busy, it has been quite successful over the years, quickly becoming a very strategic model for the brand, which thanks to it has been able to expand 'down under' without compromising its coat of arms.

Audi A1 2024

Model	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Luggage compartment
Audi A1 (GB)	4.03 metres	1.74 metres	1.41 metres	2.56 metres	335 litres

The latest generation, project name GB, debuted in 2018 and is based on the same platform as the current Volkswagen Polo, namely the MQB A0. Its engine range is quite extensive, and it starts with the entry-level 25 TFSI consisting of the 95-PS 1.0-litre, a three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and also available in the basic Business trim.

Standard equipment includes the MMI infotainment system with a 10.1-inch screen and compatibility with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the 10.25-inch virtual cockpit, 16-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlights and a host of driver assistance systems, such as lane-change assistant, automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. UK prices for this version start at £24,075.

2019 Audi A1 Sportback

BMW 1 Series

Switching brands and segments, the second car in our review is the BMW 1 Series, the entry model to the world of the German Helix, which this year celebrates 20 years since the arrival of its first generation on the market.

The undisputed hero of the C-segment, the German five-door has recently been revamped, with a new design, dimensions still within the segment average and enough interior space for four people and their luggage.

BMW 1 Series (2024)

Photos by: BMW AG.

Model	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Luggage compartment
BMW 1 Series	4.36 metres	1.80 metres	1.45 metres	2.67 metres	380 litres

The most economical version of the BMW 1 Series comes with the 1.5 three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 170 PS mild hybrid, named 120, mated as standard to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Standard equipment of the entry-level trim includes the iDrive infotainment system with 10.70-inch screen and 10.25-inch trip computer display, smartphone connectivity, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and automatic emergency braking system. UK prices for this version start at £31,065.

Mercedes A-Class

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The Mercedes A-Class is the entry-level model in the star's range and also part of the compact C-segment. Its cheapest version is the petrol-powered A180, equipped with the 136 PS 1.3 petrol engine, developed in cooperation with Renault, with a small electric motor producing around 14 PS.

Mercedes A-Class 2024

Model	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Luggage compartment
Mercedes A-Class	4.42 metres	1.80 metres	1.44 metres	2.73 metres	355 litres

The standard equipment of the small star with mild hybrid powertrain and basic Sport Edition or Executive version includes LED headlights with automatic high beam, sports leather steering wheel, rear view camera and black pastel paint and MBUX interior infotainment with 10.25-inch display for navigation and smaller size for the on-board computer, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility as standard. In the UK, the Mercedes A-Class 180 starts at £30,720.