AUDI turned practical with its chic A1 hatchback, adding an extra set of doors while keeping the same price as the existing three-door version.

More than this, it added a brand new entry version powered by a tiny 1.2-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine and kicking off from just $26,500 plus on-road costs – making it the cheapest car to wear the Four Rings in Australia since 1984.

While the three-door A1 has proven a capable little rival for the likes of Mini, the addition of extra doors and the new starting price extend this car into areas where Audi has never had a presence, and that is most definitely a good thing.