Audi A5 Sportback

I’VE discovered a surefire short-cut to instant popularity – and all you need is an Audi A5 Sportback! Ever since the sleek five-door model arrived on our fleet, I’ve been treated to a constant queue of people willing to offer me gifts and bribes in exchange for the keys. In fact, I’ve barely had a chance to get behind the wheel myself.

Take a look at the Audi, and it’s easy to see why the car is in such hot demand. The stylish exterior hides a spacious, well equipped cabin, a huge load area and a fuel-efficient diesel engine. If you’ve got a big trip planned, then the A5 will be at the top of your list. In the month the German machine has been here, it has already racked up more than 2,000 miles.

The bulk of this was added by senior road tester Owen Mildenhall, who used the A5 to travel down to Le Mans, France, for the famous 24-hour race. He returned raving about the car’s long-distance refinement and fuel economy. With three adults on board and a boot full of camping gear, the A5 achieved a decent 41.9mpg on the trip.

Owen’s praise has led quite a few colleagues to put in a request to use the Audi for their annual holidays. That means I’m having to make the most of the A5 while I’ve still got the chance. So far,I’ve been hugely impressed with the Sportback. With its bold red paint and optional 18-inch alloy wheels, it certainly looks the part, while the cosseting cabin is a great place to spend time.

This is partly down to the desirable extras fitted to our car. Included in the comprehensive specification are the heavily bolstered sports front seats, sat-nav, cruise control and an iPod connection.

Elsewhere, you’ll discover powerful xenon headlamps with high-beam assist – which automatically dips the lampsfor oncoming traffic – and LED tail-lights. While all these extras certainly boost the A5’s appeal, they do add an eye-watering £4,890 to the price.

There are no complaints about the smooth 168bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine. Notonly does it deliver strong pace and decent fuel returns, but its auto stop-start system works effectively, killing the powerplant at traffic lights and firing it again the instant you dip the clutch pedal.

There are one or two niggles, though. Despite the generous size of its cabin, the Audi is a strict four-seater, as there is no third safety belt in the middle of the back bench. I’ve also found the rear screen quickly gets dirty, an issue exaggerated by the lack of a wash/wipe system.

And while the wide wheels look great, they can crash into potholes and cause the A5 to pull to the left or right over cambers.

But even these problems fail to detract from the strong appeal of the Audi. With the recent arrival of a baby girl in the Disdale household, I’m appreciating the extra practicality of the A5’s hatchback layout and its huge load bay, which swallows our chunky pram with room to spare. Better still, this versatility is wrapped in desirable and stylish clothes. I’m certainly looking forward to the next 11 months – although I might have to join the queue to get a go behind the wheel!