Not for the first time, my inner traditionalist was wrong. Within five miles I discovered that this new A1 three-pot is not only beautifully smooth and quiet but also gives up its healthy 94bhp with the utmost willingness. I revelled in the compactness of the car and its fine driving position but soon appreciated what I’d already been told by our testers: that the Sport’s stiffer suspension and bigger tyres promote a poorer ride with more road noise than the standard SE. As a half-way house, you can order a Sport and delete the stiff suspension at no cost but keep the better-looking wheels. The A1’s big strength is the way it keeps its small-car advantages while offering a decent helping of big-car luxury.