Pure charisma

Looking at things from that perspective sometimes helps bring out the positive qualities that might otherwise be overshadowed by the trivial shortcomings that contribute to the character of the car.

Audi is one of those cars that in my opinion, doesn't show off its minuscule shortcomings. Some of my Audi owner friends tend to disagree with me on my view of Audi's renowned Quattro system which I feel is a little too balanced and perfect for my taste. Switching off the traction on Audis makes very little difference to how the car handles under pressure. Owners take pride in the Quattro's perfection, while I long for a little imperfection. The fact that there is too much perfection in the drivetrain is reason enough for me not to like a car.

However, the A5 is still quite likeable. It isn't really intimidating in its looks or character like some of its sedan cousins such as the RS6; neither is it too pleasant like its A4 and A6 siblings.

Dispelling doubts

When I was offered the car for a test drive, my first thoughts before stepping in were, "Why would I want to test drive a 4-door A5? How different could it be? Like all sedan-coupé hybrids, this one probably has cramped rear seats and a tiny boot. How do car companies come up with these kinds of target segments?"

Once in the driver's seat and a couple of glances into the cabin, I managed to discard a large portion of my initial impressions. The A5 sportback isn't just another coupé/sedan. It's targeted as a better option for station wagon lovers. I remember the days when families opted for station wagons as their prime choice of car long before the SUV killed this segment. Station wagons were good enough to carry most of the stuff you had at home, as well as six kids on board.

Nowadays, carrying a lot of luggage and just one kid on board means you need a four-wheel drive transmission, sophisticated lane-changing and camera-aided gadgetry and airbags everywhere. Car companies have managed to convince the general public that these gadgets are an absolute must in terms of safety. I tend to disagree most of the time, because station wagons were cool vehicles and people drove more responsibly a couple of decades ago. The cars were never the problem - it was always the driver.

That said, the A5 doesn't look anything like a station wagon, because it's not. It offers some of the functionality and boot space of a station wagon combined with an unassuming exterior that boasts sedan convenience and coupé-like handling. After driving the car around for a few days, I was convinced that the A5 indeed offers all three. The looks were sporty enough to pass for a coupé, the rear seats and four doors are quite a necessity and the boot space left little to be desired.

The A5 sportback's 2.0-litre turbocharged engine produces 211hp between 4,300 rpm and 6,000 rpm and a torque of 350Nm between 1,500 rpm and 4,200 rpm. Those figures aren't bad at all for a station wagon. The acceleration of the A5 was quite good - it goes from 0-100 km/hr in about 6.7 seconds and the fuel economy is great as well.

This is a well-rounded car if you ask me. But like I mentioned before, it's a little too well-rounded for me.

Commendable interior build

Like with all Audis, the interior build quality and lighting is great to look at and feel. The extravagant use of red interior lighting on the controls has been managed well by the A5. The sound system is functional enough and there is very little evidence of overdesign.

One feature that is quite a necessity these days - a full-featured iPod interface and Bluetooth phone connectivity - is available on the A5.

One of the things that annoyed me during the test drive was the fact that the tyres are too grippy and its curve-handling characteristics and steering feedback are not exciting enough. I expected a little bit of traction loss and oversteer domination which the Quattro intelligently got rid of and kept the car well within its track at reasonable speeds.

The steering feel was light. However, this kind of road grip and stability is what most people love their Audis for. On the other hand, there was a personal source of excitement while driving this car - the occasional glance at the steering wheel which carried the Audi logo. It reminded me of my trip to Audi's hometown and the celebrations that took place at Ingolstadt last year as Audi turned 100 years old.

That show was simply amazing as Audi proudly showcased the legendary cars it had produced over the years.

No doubt it is gearing up for the next 100 years of exceptional car making.

One thing that has always amazed me about Audi cars is the fact that they manage to remain sober looking even when backed with class-beating performance capabilities under the hood. Its German rivals sometimes tend to display their prowess on the outside as well, but these guys manage to keep it cool.

The engineering finesse and innovations that Audi has contributed to the motoring world are legendary and today, their cars are symbolic representations of how sensible cars should be built. The A5 is no exception. At a starting price of around Dh179,000, it offers a lot for your money.