Compare cars
Pick up to 3 cars to see how they stack up on score, price and specs.
Audi A1Nissan NoteVolkswagen Polo
Mandai score
7.5/10
7.5/10
8/10
Typical price
KSh 2,200,000
KSh 1,500,000
KSh 1,950,000
Years
2017-2023
2017-2023
2017-2023
Fuel
Petrol
Petrol, Hybrid
Petrol
Transmission
Automatic
Automatic, CVT
Automatic, Dual-clutch
Doors
5
5
5
Most popular trim
A1 Sportback 25 TFSI / 30 TFSI S Line
Note e-Power X / Medalist / Aura e-Power
Polo 1.0 TSI Comfortline / Highline / R-Line / GTI
Dealer listings
None listed
None listed
None listed
Fuel and running cost
Trim
Nissan Note e-Power
Fuel consumption
19.5 km/L5.1 L/100km combined · about 780 km a tank
28.0 km/L3.6 L/100km combined · about 1148 km a tank
21.0 km/L4.8 L/100km combined · about 840 km a tank
Running cost
KSh 1,164 / 100 kmKSh 12 a km · KSh 11,639 for 1,000 km · petrol
KSh 811 / 100 kmKSh 8 a km · KSh 8,106 for 1,000 km · petrol
KSh 1,081 / 100 kmKSh 11 a km · KSh 10,808 for 1,000 km · petrol
Dimensions
Length
4,029 mm
4,100 mm
4,053 mm
Width
1,740 mm
1,695 mm
1,751 mm
Height
1,409 mm
1,520 mm
1,461 mm
Wheelbase
2,563 mm
2,600 mm
2,551 mm
Ground clearance
135 mm
150 mm
145 mm
Boot space
335 L
340 L (1,000 L folded)
351 L (1,125 L folded)
Kerb weight
1,165 kg
1,220 kg
1,145 kg
Seats
5
5
5
Specifications
Engine
1.0L TFSI 3-Cylinder Turbo (30 TFSI)
1.2L HR12DE 3-Cylinder + EM57 Electric Motor (e-Power)
1.0L TSI Turbo 3-Cylinder / 2.0L TSI Turbo 4-Cylinder (GTI)
Power
116 hp @ 5,000 rpm
116 hp (136 hp Aura) electric motor output
95 hp to 115 hp (1.0T) / 200 hp (GTI)
Torque
200 Nm @ 2,000–3,500 rpm
280 Nm instant electric torque
175 Nm to 200 Nm (1.0T) / 320 Nm (GTI)
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
FWD or e-4ORCE AWD
Front-Wheel Drive
0–100 km/h
9.4 sec
7.9 sec
6.7 sec (GTI) / 9.5 sec (1.0T 115hp) / 10.8 sec (1.0T 95hp)
Top speed
203 km/h
150 km/h
200 km/h (1.0T) / 237 km/h (GTI)
Fuel economy
Combined
19.5 km/L (1.0T) / 17.5 km/L (1.5T)
28.0 km/L (e-Power) / 18.0 km/L (1.2L Petrol)
21.0 km/L (1.0T 95hp) / 19.5 km/L (1.0T 115hp) / 15.0 km/L (GTI)
City
16.5 km/L (1.0T) / 14.5 km/L (1.5T)
30.0 km/L (e-Power) / 15.5 km/L (1.2L Petrol)
18.0 km/L (1.0T 95hp) / 16.8 km/L (1.0T 115hp) / 12.2 km/L (GTI)
Highway
22.0 km/L (1.0T) / 20.0 km/L (1.5T)
25.0 km/L (e-Power) / 20.5 km/L (1.2L Petrol)
24.0 km/L (1.0T 95hp) / 22.5 km/L (1.0T 115hp) / 17.5 km/L (GTI)
Tank size
40 L
41 L
40 L
CO₂ emissions
112 g/km
82 g/km
108 g/km (1.0T)
At a glance
Model
Audi A1 Sportback (GB Series)
Nissan Note (E12 / E13 Series)
Volkswagen Polo (Mk6 AW Series)
Production years
2017–2023
2017–2023
2017–2023
Body type
5-Door Compact Luxury Hatchback
Hatchbacks / Compact MPV
5-Door Subcompact European Hatchback
Seating capacity
5 seats
5
5
Fuel types
Petrol (TFSI)
Petrol, e-Power Hybrid
Petrol (TSI Turbo)
Engine sizes
999 cc / 1,395 cc / 1,498 cc / 1,984 cc
1,198 cc (1.2L e-Power / DIG-S)
999 cc (1.0L TSI) / 1,984 cc (2.0L TSI GTI)
Transmission
7-speed S tronic Dual-Clutch Automatic
Automatic (CVT / Single-Speed e-Power)
7-Speed DSG Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
FWD or e-4ORCE AWD
Front-Wheel Drive
Ground clearance
135 mm
150 mm
145 mm
Source market
Japan / UK (RHD)
Japan (RHD JDM spec)
UK / Japan (RHD)
Pros and cons
What’s good
- Lowest customs duty bracket: 1.0L engine qualifies for Kenya's lowest customs tax valuation category.
- Premium Virtual Cockpit display: 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with MMI touch screen.
- Excellent 19.5+ km/L fuel economy: Low operating costs for daily urban commuting.
- Effortless city parking: Compact 4.02-meter length makes Nairobi CBD parking stress-free.
- Instant 280 Nm electric torque: Smooth, rapid acceleration away from Nairobi traffic lights.
- Exceptional 28+ km/L fuel economy: Slashes monthly commuter fuel bills by over 50%.
- Generous rear knee room: Cavernous rear passenger space despite compact 4.1m length.
- Lowest KRA import duty bracket: 999 cc TSI engine sits in KRA's lowest customs tax valuation category.
- High-speed European stability: MQB chassis provides unshakeable highway composure at 120 km/L.
- Punchy 200 Nm 1.0T torque: Turbocharged low-end torque makes city overtaking responsive and effortless.
- Generous 351 L boot capacity: Class-leading trunk space for a subcompact hatchback.
What’s not so good
- 135 mm ground clearance: Requires care over steep estate speed bumps.
- S tronic dual-clutch sensitivity: Demands proper transmission maintenance in heavy traffic.
- 150 mm ground clearance: Requires care over tall speed bumps when fully loaded.
- Engine generator sound under heavy hill climbs: 1.2L engine revs up to charge battery during steep ascents.
- Low 145 mm ground clearance: Requires care when navigating high urban speed bumps.
- Requires quality synthetic VW 504 00 oils: DSG transmission requires fluid maintenance every 60,000 km.