| A Week at the Wheel | Herts, England | Audi A5 3.0 TDI quattro Sport |

Inside & Out:

Design might be a subjective topic, but it's difficult to argue against Audi's current styling direction. Oddly proportioned Q7 aside, Audi's range is notable for its clean, classy lines that exude the sort of quality look that few other manufacturers can rival. The same is true inside, Audi being the benchmark among the volume manufacturers when it comes to fit, finish and layout. The A5 follows Audi's proven formula. You could take the badges off it and you'd know immediately it hails from Ingolstadt, the A5's lines unmistakably Audi but distinct enough to stand out as a model in its own right.

It's a broad shouldered car, looking particularly wide when viewed from the rear, the relatively narrow boot opening and expansive rear wings accentuating the low stance of the big four-seater coupé. The interior will be familiar to any Audi driver, the simple, clear white on black instruments, red illumination at night and sensibly positioned switchgear typical to the Audi line up. It's not all good though, the MMI system - something we've praised in the past - isn't quite as easy to use as we remembered, and the push in 'key' can be a pain to retract when you've stopped the engine - it sometimes requiring a re-start and stop to get it to release.

Engine & Transmission:

The 236bhp 3.0-litre turbodiesel fitted here is perhaps the most appealing engine in the A5 range. Forget the flagship 4.2-litre V8 petrol, as the A5 works best as a GT and the easy power delivery of the diesel suits its demeanour perfectly. It's a gear skipper, the ample torque on offer meaning only a couple of the manual's six ratios are necessary, the 368lb.ft peak torque available from just 1,500rpm. Anything but the highest speed cruising results in the 3.0-litre V6 turning over at under 2,000rpm, though a quick prod of the accelerator always results in a spirited response.

It's quiet too, at least inside, the 3.0-litre's clatter outside betraying its taste for fuel from the black pump. The six-speed manual slips through its gate quickly enough, the clutch's nice weighting and feel allowing the A5 to be driven very smoothly indeed. It's unusual for us to be hankering after an automatic transmission, but with this engine an auto would make it an even more appealing cruiser.

Ride & Handling:

As a Sport model the A5 comes with sports seats and sports suspension. Combined with the 18-inch alloys it looks great, but the firmer suspension is prone to crash and thump on expansion joints and rough surfaces. We'd happily sacrifice some body control for an improvement in ride quality. The A5's wide stance makes it feel remarkably planted on the road, but even though it's based on a new platform, the old Audi trait of feeling nose lead remains - despite claims of a rearward bias in the quattro four-wheel drive transmission.

The steering lacks any real feel and there's none of the interaction you get from something like BMW's 3 Series Coupé. However, its appeal lies in its ability to cover ground quickly with the minimum of fuss. It's a relaxing, easy car to drive, and all the better for it.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

Standard equipment is pretty decent, but the near £2,000 Audi asks for its satellite navigation is too much, and equipment like cruise control and heated seats really shouldn't be cost options. An auxiliary socket - or iPod connector - would be welcome too, as would a Bluetooth telephone system. Economy is excellent; the official combined fuel consumption figure is quoted at 39.2mpg, and early 30s is easily achievable in daily driving. Similarly, 191g/km of CO₂ is very respectable, too.

Overall:

At the launch many criticised the A5 for lacking the sharpness on the road of its BMW 3 Series Coupé rival. We think that's a good thing; not everyone wants to go tearing off down country roads. The A5 appeals on a completely different level. It's got a similar sort of gait to big, super expensive GT cars from Bentley and Mercedes, excelling at covering ground quickly and comfortably. There's even space in the rear for passengers and a huge boot, too. An impressive all-rounder then, that feels and looks more expensive than it actually is.