When it comes to prestigiously-badged compact executive German cars, traditional thinking suggests that estates are fine but five-door hatchbacks aren’t. Audi however, hasn’t made it to the top of the pile by traditional thinking and their second generation A5 Sportback continues to turn such thinking on its head, with coupe styling married to a couple of rear passenger doors and hatchback practicality.

This second generation A5 Sportback sits on an all-new platform with a wide track and a comparatively long wheelbase, all ingredients that should provide for composed, agile handling. There’s a more sophisticated suspension set-up too. You’ll want to know about engines. Petrols first - there are a couple of 2.0 TFSI petrol options, with a choice of either 190 or 252PS. Most will want a diesel though. There’s a 190PS 2.0 TDI option that’s also available in frugal ‘ultra’ form. And two six cylinder 3.0 TDI variants offering either 218 or 286PS. The range flagship is the 354PS V6 petrol turbo S5 sports model. As usual, quattro 4WD is either optional or standard-fit on more powerful models. Engine efficiency has improved by up to 22% across the range.

As for exterior design, well Audi designers have brought together dramatic shapes and taut surfaces to update this A5 Sportback, creating a familiar yet very contemporary silhouette for the five-door coupe design that retains the original’s handsome good looks. The stretched wheelbase, short overhangs and long, wraparound bonnet featuring a power dome emphasise the sporty silhouette. Inside, it’s significantly more spacious too.

And inside? Well it’s significantly more spacious. The interior length has gained 17mm, the shoulder room for driver and front passenger is up 11mm and the rear knee room is up by 24mm. The horizontal architecture of the instrument panel creates a sense of spaciousness too and the optional ambient lighting system with 30 colours to choose from should evoke a fitting interior mood.

Audi has already proved with the A5 Sportback that there’s room in the market for a compact executive model with a fifth door and an added dose of charisma. This second generation model represents a decent step forward from its predecessor, lighter, more sophisticated and eminently more desirable. One thing’s certain: here’s another very desirable Audi.