It may be an Audi but the A4 is not a safe as you might expect – a reflection of the fact that the body was designed back in 1993. Despite a driver’s airbag and side impact bars, it only gained a three-star Euro NCAP crash test rating. There was a recall in 1997 for revisions to the seat belt height adjuster and airbag. Some rivals are better protected than A4 too – the locks were particularly weak on pre-1998 cars, but all models get an alarm and immobiliser

The A4 has a decent sized boot, but it does sacrifice space for style and is not nearly as roomy as most estates of this size. There’s a good number of cubby bins for odds and ends but overall interior space could be better, especially for rear passenger who will find it quite cramped.