What we like

How well built the interior is, and how smooth and easy to drive the A5 Avant is on any road. The ride comfort is well balanced and the diesel engines – usually known for sounding loud and rough – are kept impressively quiet. Performance and economy are excellent, and it’s an understated way of covering ground very effectively.

What we don’t like

The fact that the boot is smaller than its closest competition, even if it is well shaped. While some of the interior is smart and impressively put together, technological details such as the driver’s control panel in the door and the haptic steering wheels add unnecessary complication. Finally, and most importantly, ongoing glitches with our 12,000-mile test example leave us wondering if Audi are letting its reliability slip.