I swapped our Audi A1 1.4 TFSi S Line for the revamped A5 Sportback 2.0 TDI S Line before the festive break and I was immediately impressed by how assured it was on the road.
The interior oozes class and comfort, and after a 300-mile round trip to pick up my mother from mid-Wales not even her incessant chat could spoil my enjoyment of this four-door coupe.
Audi has given the A5 a facelift and apart from its pretty LED driving lamps and equally striking light graphics at the back, I’m told the visual changes to the A5 are a little hard to spot.
Nevertheless, the bumpers, grille and bonnet have apparently all been changed as well, but whatever tweaks have been made the A5 remains a good looking car.
The interior oozes quality and has all the toys you would want from a car of this class, while the ride is good and its soft suspension gives it a more comfortable feel to its previously over-firm ride.
Standard model equipment includes automatic stop-start and 17 inch alloy wheels, four standard seats with a fifth seat available via a three-seat rear bench for an extra £250.
The updated 2.0-litre diesel is more economical, now claiming a very good 60mpg and a tax-friendly 120g/km of CO2 putting it into the 18% Benefit-in-Kind bracket.
However, having spent most of my time in the Audi in an urban environment, I’m only achieving around 43.2mpg, but with more motorway driving in the offing I’m hopeful that I will come closer to that 60mpg figure.
My experience of Audis in the past is that their quoted figures are achievable, unlike some, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed that as well as giving me a very good driving experience they will also save me some cash, especially when the upgrades have had more to do with economy than performance.
Overall at £31,250, the A5 Sportback is reasonably priced and there is a decent array of standard kit, which includes a quality stereo, Bluetooth, climate control and leather seats, plus the S line’s smart alloy wheels, even if our version boasts the 19 inch alloys at an extra £400.