Audi A5 - Pictures

The A5’s design won’t exactly stop traffic, and it’s certainly more grand tourer than sports car, but it oozes class and style. The tail is tidy and the chunky haunches provide an athletic appearance.

Surrounded by buttons – including the switch for the electric handbrake – the manual gearlever looks plain. We’re not that keen on the shift action, either. An automatic transmission is due next year.

Another of the switches next to the gearlever fires the ignition if you specify the optional keyless go system, which costs an extra £495. You have to depress the clutch to start the car up.

The revised 3.0-litre TDI unit doesn’t feel like a normal diesel – there’s far less clatter than before, it’s eager to rev and, with 50Nm more torque than Audi’s old motor, it has plenty of mid-range punch

Although there are plenty of familiar Audi styling cues inside the A5, it has a unique look and a much greater sense of occasion than the BMW’s cockpit. Visibility, in particular, is excellent.

Legroom is tight in the back, and it’s a struggle to get your feet under the low front seats. The rear bench is comfortable enough, but short doors mean getting to it isn’t as easy as in either rival.