Audi A5

FIRST UKDRIVE Behind the wheel of cool new fourseater coupé on British roads.

- Sam Naylor

AUDI’S new A5 Coupé has finally made it to the UK. The BMW 4 Series Coupé rival is now based on the current A4 saloon, rather than the previous version, so can it match the BMW – as well as the Mercedes C-Class Coupé – here in Britain? We’ve got behind the wheel of the new model in Sport trim with the 187bhp 2.0-litre TDI ultra diesel to find out.

The A5 Coupé doesn’t look massively different from its predecessor, with a similar roofline and muscular stance on the road. That’s not such a bad thing, because the car still looks smart, and it’s easily a match for its main rivals in the style department.

There’s a bigger difference inside, because the new A5’s interior has taken a step forward. Material quality is excellent, and the simple, clean dashboard design is one of the best of any car at this price. It’s a different approach to the curves of the C-Class Coupé, but it works just as well to create an upmarket feeling.

In addition, the seats are comfortable and supportive, and the wraparound dash and lower driving position mean it feels a bit sportier than the A4 saloon. Audi’s MMI user interface for the seven inch infotainment system is easy to use and responsive, too, while the cabin build quality feels top-notch.