Audi is understandably keen to exploit the associations that come from the Sportback being based on a sleek coupe except you get the real world practicality of two more doors.

And it makes good sense to draw those inferences in terms of how the car looks, because the A5 Sportback is strikingly stylish for what is essentially a five-door hatchback. Its real challenge, is whether it can deliver a driving experience to match the lighter two-door coupe, or indeed the BMW 4-series Gran Coupe, its closest rival.

Depending on whether you choose a petrol or diesel engine, buyers can opt for front-wheel drive or Quattro all-wheel drive, while at the top of the range sits the high-performance S5 Sportback model.

If you’re considering 4 doors over two then space will be of paramount importance. And the Sportback gives you a lot more of it with a large boot that matches the BMW 4-series Gran Coupe for space, and thus will therefore easily swallow a couple of large suitcases or two sets of golf clubs. The rear seats can be folded to extend the space further, but don’t go completely flat.

Those familiar with travel in the back of the previous A5 Sportback will appreciate the extra rear leg room afforded in the new model, which means one lofty adult can sit behind another comfortably – and there’s room to spare. And that’s better than you might think because despite the sweeping roofline, head room is also very good. While there is a seat belt for a middle seat passenger, the large transmission tunnel and hard backrest mean that sitting there is going to be the worst seat in the house but to be fair this is a problem in many such cars but it feels spacious and airy, although in-car storage is only average.

Comfort is excellent as long as you choose the right suspension. Similar to the A5 Coupe, the Sportback version is deliberately firmer than the equivalent A4 saloon in order to give it a sportier more engaging feel. Therefore, it is well worth considering upgrading to the optional adaptive suspension which does a good job at keeping body lean well under control. If you like your motoring experience to keep you as insulated as possible from your external environment stick with a smaller wheel size to minimise tyre roar. With very little noticeable wind noise the A5 Sportback is an excellent car for long journeys especially coupled with Audi’s impressively unobtrusive petrol and diesel engines.

If you’re an Audi advocate then the dashboard layout will be similar to other Audis, and thus brilliant. The A5 Sportback shares its dashboard layout with the A5 coupe, and it’s class leading. The controls are responsive and sensibly placed, the infotainment system is quick to respond and slick to operate and the optional Virtual Cockpit digital dial display will provide hi-tech and everyday usability as well as being great to use even if it’s considered a reasonably expensive addition. Whatever you opt for it’s a class act that packs a lot of technology but is still intuitive and easy to use so you certainly will never feel disappointed or short changed.

Opt for an A5 Sportback with an automatic gearbox, as most buyers will, and it’s an effortless car to drive, with just the right amount of feedback from the main controls. For a car that feels so prestigious and luxurious to travel in, it’s also reasonably compact, meaning that parking isn’t something to be feared even if over the shoulder visibility is somewhat restricted.

All of the available engines offer a respectable amount of power, so overtaking slower traffic should never trouble you. The A5 Sportback is an entirely proficient car for any driver, with grip aplomb and hardly any body roll, even when you cornering hard. Its 2.0 litre engines, whether it’s the punchy diesel or the faster petrol, offer enough performance to entertain, while the 3.0-litre V6 diesel will be guaranteed to be better still.

It’s surprising then that it’s still not a car that ever delivers the kind of exciting handling that makes a BMW 4-series Gran Coupe so convincing. It can partly be blamed on lack of feedback to the driver both through the steering and the seat. While the A5 Sportback is fast and grippy, it’s not a flawless diamond and therefore can at times feel a bit lacking in sparkle. Audi’s warranty lasts for three years or 60,000 miles – whichever comes sooner – whereas BMW and Mercedes offer unlimited mileage cover over the same period.

Audi has saved up to 85kg in weight producing the new A5 Sportback. That’s an equivalent weight saving of an average person which moves the Audi to the top of the class and means your fuel economy heads in the right direction. The most efficient model is the 2.0-litre TDI Ultra, which returned 68.9mpg in official fuel tests. At 47.9mpg, the petrol model also just about beats the equivalent BMW for economy – so good news for you and for Audi. The coasting function on automatic models (it’ll either do it automatically or you can hold down the right gear-shift paddle to make the car freewheel) will help you eke out every possible drop from a tank of fuel although you will still get around 30-35mpg in mixed driving conditions.

Starting prices for the A5 Sportback, whether it’s for purchase or a leasing deal, are higher than for its rival from BMW, and nor is it expected to hold on to quite as much of its value when time comes to sell so it’s competitive if not the best in class. The range starts from £32,965 for the 2.0 TDi through to £47, 875 for the 3.0 V6 TFSI quattro.

The A4 saloon on which the A5 Sportback is based scored top marks when crash tested by Euro NCAP, the benchmark European crash testing organisation. All models come with six airbags and a system which will detect impending accidents at up to 53mph and apply the brakes as required. You can also pay extra to extend the system to higher speeds, in addition to features such as blind spot monitors and Traffic Jam Assist, which allows the car to steer itself at low speeds in heavy traffic in s further move towards more autonomous driving and means this car will be very safe in the event of a crash.

The entry level SE model comes with DAB radio, front and rear parking sensors, a powered tailgate, three-zone climate control and 17-inch alloy wheels. Choosing a TDI Ultra model changes the standard Comfort suspension for a lowered and firmer Sport setup to improve aerodynamics. Upgrading to Sport spec adds a satnav (standard on BMWs), electrically adjustable sports seats and LED interior lights, while S-line changes the standard suspension setup for a firmer sports option, upgrades the wheels to 18-inch items and features a noticeably more aggressive body styling. It’s still possible to spend a lot on optional extras for your A5 Sportback, such as the Virtual Cockpit, a point made worse by the fact that many of them need to be bought in conjunction with expensive equipment “packs”. So you pay your money and take your choice but it’s easy to get carried away with the numerous options on offer all of which will increase the base price substantially. Essential options  you might consider include: Metallic paint (£645), Adaptive comfort suspension with damping control (£900), Hill hold assist (£75), Technology pack (£1,110 for a larger central screen, 36-month internet subscription and phone signal booster/wireless charging), Virtual cockpit (£250). Those options alone add up to just under £3K on the base price.

This car isn’t all about looks though. It’s also got to be good to own and to drive, and on that front the A5 is a genuine alternative to its key rivals, the BMW 4 Series and Mercedes C-Class Coupé.  It might be no more fun to drive than its coupe equivalent, but the A5 Sportback brings a lot of extra space without compromising on its sleek styling which makes it so distinctive. Engines are brilliant, the interior plush and it is a fine car in which to cover long distances with ease. Which makes it one classy carrier with practicality thrown in free.