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The A5 Sportback is Audi’s automotive attempt at fitting a square peg in a round hole.

It is a stylish executive car combined with the family-friendly practicality of a 5-door hatchback.

The Sportback uses heavy styling clues from its A5 three-door coupe sibling but also has much in common with the popular A4.

Essentially it is a posher, better looking and firmer riding version of the family favourite.

Parked it next to an A4 Saloon and the most obvious difference is the sloping roofline which tapers to the rear.

We tested a 2.0 turbo diesel quattro S line version, which from behind the wheel drives identically to a normal A5.

Suspension setting have been firmed up over the A4, as Audi thinks customers of the more sporty looking model expect a taunter set up.

There have been criticisms they have gone to far with the Sports suspension for UK roads, but our car came with the optional variable damper control.

Select with Comfort or Auto mode and it does an admirable job in delivering a composed ride whatever the surface.

Even on 19 inch multi-spoke V wheels (£1,050) piloting the A5 was a relaxing and quiet affair befitting the refinement expected in the premium executive sector. But beware the bigger rims increase the CO2 figure a few points, knocking it into the next tax band.

On the faster bends handling remained assuredly surefooted and it stuck to the chosen line.

The famous quattro four-wheel drive system with torque vectoring could be felt simultaneously pulling from the front while pushing from the back.

It's a shame the characteristic Audi numb steering feel takes away from some of the driver involvement in the process.

The smooth 187 bhp engine has enough grunt to make swift-progress. If you never tried the more powerful versions available you would not feel like you were missing out.

It will reach 62mph from a standstill in 7.4 seconds, which is half a second quicker than standard thanks to the quattro system.

Other engines include a faster 2.0 litre petrol, a 3.0-litre V6 diesel and a petrol version available for the super swift S5.

The entry-level diesel models come as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox.

But with modern gearboxes being so good it really is a no-brainer to opt for the 7 speed dual clutch auto that suits the motorway and commute where this sector spends a majority of its time.

It still comes with a gear selector which you can knock in to manual but in reality you will soon tire of this. With the slug of engines power coming low down in the rev range, it will self-shift even if you don't, between 4,000 revs before the redlining at 4,700 rpm.

Of more use are the paddles behind the steering wheel, for knocking it down a gear before an overtake.

There is not much from the engine note to get excited about, but where it does impress is fuel economy.

We didn't get the claimed combined fuel economy of 62.8mpg but in over a week on mixed roads mid-40s was eminently achievable.

With a 54 litre fuel tank a 600 mile range is possible.

On the inside the fit and materials of this latest model do seem a cut above rivals from BMW and Mercedes.

It is one of the crucial things they have got right that has led to Audi's phenomenal popularity rise in a generation.

Ergonomically they must have hired Derren Brown as a consultant, as all the controls are exactly where you expect them to be.

Want to adjust the stereo volume? Choose either the scroll wheel on the steering wheel with your right thumb or twiddle the dedicated knob behind the gear stick with with your left handd.

The MMI control system with a large scroll wheel and dedicated hot buttons is a joy to use.

It is all presented beautifully in a central 7 inch screen. Tick the right option boxes and you can have full Google image photograph like maps for your satellite navigation.

Really push the boat out and you get the TFT Virtual cockpit, which turns the instrument cluster into a second fully customisable 12.3 inch screen.

The heads-up display is beautifully clear and viable in all conditions but then for £900 extra it should be.

More tempting is the Bang & Olufsen £750 upgraded stereo, which is better than other systems we have tested at several times the price.

In the rear there are three seat belts but a sizeable hump for the middle passenger means it would be uncomfortable for long journeys. Also the rear windows don't completely sink into the doors, which particularly seems to annoy younger passengers.

Rear leg room is adequate even with a tall driver and despite the sloping ceiling even passengers over 6ft will still not be touching the roof lining.

Push a button on the key and standard powered boot hatch opens to reveal a larger and more accessible storage area than the regular A5.

It provides 480 litres of space, before the split rear bench can be folded down.

Those looking for a cutting-edge coupe but with five doors have few choices. The sector didn't even exist until quite recently.

The BMW 4 series Gran Coupe is the obvious contender.

Introduced early this year the concept of the A5 Sportback looked on paper like a bit of an odd ball.

But with its blend of refinement and usability it will find plenty of admirers.

Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 Sportback TDI S tronic

Price: £38,970

Engine: 4 cylinder 2.0 diesel turbo

Power: 187 bhp

Gearbox: 7 speed dual clutch auto

Top speed: 146 mph,

0-62mph: 7.4s

Fuel economy: Combined 62.8 mpg.

Co2: 117 g/km