Audi A5 Sportback

What does a £140,000 Aston Martin Rapide have in common with our long-term Audi A5? Well, a lot more than the £110,000 difference in price would lead you to believe. You see, as we discovered during our Aston Special in Issue 1,141, both four-seaters deliver the same unusual mix of sleek coupé styling and hatchback practicality.

So does that make our Sportback a cut-price Rapide rival? Well, in terms of kerb appeal, it trails the beautiful Brit. And while its interior is impeccably built, it can’t match the Rapide for luxury.

Unsurprisingly, our Audi loses out in the performance stakes, too, as its 2.0-litre diesel is outmuscled by the Aston’s glorious 6.0-litre V12. It’s not as poised through a series of bends, either... Okay, okay, it’s not very fair to compare two such vastly different cars – but Audi bosses should feel flattered that the A5 is mentioned in the same breath as the amazing four-door Aston.

The Sportback really turns heads, and after running it for six months, I still find it a soothing place in which to spend time after a long day in the office – I think it has the best interior on our long term fleet. The low-slung driving position, top-quality materials and logical dash layout create a cosseting environment. The A5 is practical, too, with a generous 480-litre boot making the car the first choice among my colleagues for everything from holidays to trips to the tip. The only downside is the restrictive four-seater configuration.

We’ve no complaints about the excellent 2.0-litre diesel. With nearly 11,500 miles under its belt, the 168bhp unit feels stronger than ever, while fuel returns of 41.3mpg are impressive for such a big car. Long-distance comfort is excellent, and the A5 was the perfect choice for a 2,000-mile trip across France in the summer. It cruised effortlessly on the autoroutes and easily swallowed enough luggage for two adults and a six-month-old baby.

However, its copybook isn’t blot-free. There’s no rear wash-wipe, while the clutch footrest catches the side of your shoe every time you change gear. These are minor irritations – but the biggest black mark has to go to the Sportback’s chassis.

The ride feels soft and floaty at first, but if you hit a pothole or motorway expansion joint, the suspension sends a bone-jarring crash through the cabin. And as the front tyres have worn, the Audi’s tendency to follow cambers in the road has become much more pronounced – especially under braking. Our car’s optional, steamroller-wide 18-inch wheels are the likely culprits. While we think they look the business, the standard 17-inch rims could be a better bet. If my numbers came up on the lottery, the Aston would be a sure-fire addition to my millionaire’s garage. But the Audi provides a large slice of its style for a fraction of its price.