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

Want to drive apremium German car 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 most economical cars of the Teutonic triad.

The three cars, in fact, represent for many the access door to a world made of dreams and products that have always been coveted and, contrary to what one might think, to take them home it is not necessary to shell out large sums, because they also exist in less rich versions and with non-performing engines designed to contain emissions and consumption, but still quite complete.

Audi A1

Starting strictly in alphabetical order, first on our list is the Audi A1. Unlike BMW and Mercedes, it is for all intents and purposes in the B segment, that of small carsand is aimed at a slightly different audience, who usually drive in the city very often and who aim for practicality as the first quality of their car.

Now in its second generation, in fact, the A1 was designed as one small premium carfor those who want Audi quality in a small and accessible format. In markets such as Europe, and in particular Italy, where cities are often busy, over the years it has achieved some success, quickly becoming a very strategic model for the brand which thanks to it has been able to expand “down ” without compromising its own coat of arms.

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 vast and, as the 95 HP petrol version is no longer available from November 2024, it starts from the entry version 30 TFSIcomposed of the 1.0 TFSI with 116 HP, a three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, combined with a 6-speed manual gearbox and also available in the basic trim Business.

In his standard equipment there is the MMI infotainment system with 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 series of vehicle assistance systems. driving, such as lane change assistant, automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. The Italian prices of this version start from 27,250 euros.

The Audi A1 in Citycarver version

The interior of the Audi A1 in Citycarver version

BMW series 1

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

The undisputed protagonist of the C segment, the German five-door has recently been renewed, with a new design, dimensions still within the segment average and enough interior space to four people and related baggage.

Photo di: BMW AG.

The cheapest version of the BMW 1 Series is equipped with the 1.5 three-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 122 HP mild hybrid, called 116, combined as standard with a automatic transmission double clutch and 7 speeds.

The standard equipment of theaccess setup 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 . The Italian prices of this version start from 34.400 euro.

Mercedes Class A

The Mercedes A-Class is the entry-level of the Stella range and also part of the compact C-segment and whose cheapest version is the A180 petrolequipped with the 136 HP 1.3 petrol engine developed in collaboration with Renault combined, as in the case of the competitor from Monaco, with a small electric motor of around 14 HP.

The standard equipment of the small Stella with mild hybrid engine and in the basic Entry or Executive version includes LED headlights with automatic high beams, sports leather steering wheel, rear view camera and pastel black paint and MBUX internal infotainment with 10.25 inch display for navigation and smaller in size for the on-board computer, with standard compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In Italy, the Mercedes Class A 180 leaves from 36,328 euros.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2024

Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2024