NO sooner had the first of Audi’s new A1 premium compact cars begun arriving on these shores than the German firm was turning its attention to the launch of something much bigger and in more familar territory.

Audi gathered the UK’s motoring press in Spain to unveil the A7 Sportback, in effect a bigger version of its sublime A5 coupé and a car that will go head-to-head with the redoubtable CLS coupé from Mercedes-Benz.

In case you are unfamiliar with Audi-speak, Sportback simply means that it is a five-door car, whereas the A5 is on sale as both a three-door or five-door.

With Audi’s philosphy of competing in every possible niche market in the premium sector, there was an inevitability that the A7 would evolve from the A5 coupé format. In terms of price and equipment, it bridges the gap between the A6 and A8 saloons.

With a starting price of about £47,000, you might expect that the A7 comes with lots of goodies, and it does not disappoint on standard equipment and new technology. It is not only the first Audi to feature a head-up display but also the first to offer Google maps access.

Eyebrow-raising figures of up to 53.3mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 139 g/km are among the highlights, while the hatchback body, engineered in advanced lightweight materials, is very pleasing on the eye.

The engine line-up and transmission range has been kept simple. For petrol version customers, there is a 2.8 FSI generating 204bhp and more powerful 3.0 TFSI (300bhp), both employing S tronic quattro transmision. Diesel fans can choose from one of two 3.0 TDI engines, one offering 204bhp and the other 245bhp, with the lower-powered version available only with multitronic front-wheel drive transmission and the higher-powered engine matched to S tronic quattro.

The higher-powered diesel is expected to be the big seller, accounting for up to 70 per cent of sales.

At only a smidgen under five metres long, the A7 is a sleek motor, with more presence than the A5 and with dimensions that mirror those of the CLS in virtually every area.

It’s a fraction bigger than the A6, but the lower roof and wider stance not only make it look sleeker but significantly more compact. The low roof is also a key element to the strength of the design, giving it the coupé feel that sets it apart from a conventional car.

There are clear elements from elsewhere in the Audi range. The front says A8, the sides recall the A5 and the rear is more A4, but it’s no mishmash: this is a properly handsome machine, and before you even get to the bottom line it has the presence and style of an expensive car.

Where the A7 starts to really make sense is when you get out the tape measure. The lithe exterior lines suggest that it will have room for the vertically challenged and nothing else, but the reality is quite different. If you happen to be sitting up front, then a grand view out is on offer, with all the head and legroom you could possible want.

Step into the back seats and the story is much the same. Even though the roof begins its curve over your head, there is head and legroom second only to the A8 luxury saloon. But the star turn is the boot space, which offers 535 litres with the seats up and an estate-like 1,390 litres with all the seats folded flat.

This combination of practicality and elegance is rarely seen and difficult to achieve. Underneath the A7 lies a new platform and the suspension set-up, whether in sporty S-line guise, standard or comfort-oriented air suspension, delivers a confident mix of ride and handling. Having tested all three suspension set-ups, I found the basic offering the more enjoyable, providing better feedback through the steering.

The A7 surprises with the accuracy of that steering, which is well-weighted and inspires confidence. It deals with bumps well, too, inevitably the air-suspended car doing this best.

Should you choose to press on, the A7 shows itself to be a faithful and predictable companion, gripping strongly and making the most of the Quattro four-wheel drive system. In the dry, it hangs on for ever, and in the wet it will keep going when others are in the weeds.

The 3.0-litre TFSI is the driver’s choice for the moment, as the supercharged V6 has torque all the way around the rev range and punches this large car forward with real vigour. If you have to wear a more sensible hat – and most of us will – then the high-output 3.0-litre TDI offers almost as much punch. The same engine can be specified with the clever CVT gearbox to deliver more than 53mpg and an amazingly-low 139g/km of C02.

Remember, this is still an Audi too: the peerless interior is present and correct, and in the A7 it inherits some of the top-line switchgear found in the A8 as well as some of the technology. If you want it you can have a head-up display, parallel park assist, ventilated massage seats – the list is virtually endless.

So what of the bottom line? Inevitably, this is not a car for everyone.

Prices start at £42,925 for the entry-level version, but when you consider that this essentially buys you a sporty coupé crossed with a practical hatchback and a comfortable luxury saloon, it begins to look like rather good value for money.


Audi A7 Sportback fact file

Model: A7 Sportback 3.0 TFSI S-line, £49,860 (range from £42,925).

Engine: 3.0-litre petrol producing 295bhp and 325lb.ft of torque.

Transmission: Seven-speed dual clutch transmission driving all four wheels.

Performance: Top speed 155mph, 0-62mph 5.4 seconds.

Economy: 34mpg combined.

CO2 Rating: 190g/km C02.