IT'S generally a good indication of a car's charisma, or lack of it, when a teenager says "I'm definitely getting one of these when I'm older".

Of course by the time he can afford the insurance, let alone the car, something else will no doubt have taken the boy's fancy.

What's certain for now is that the Audi A5 Sportback is one of the best looking cars on the road - cool, sexy and oozing both class and elegance.

It is also blessed with executive quality comfort and, surprising for such a low-slung coupe, offers a decent amount of practicality too.

Okay, there are four seats despite there being five doors - although this car had an optional £250 three-seat rear bench.

That said, the wheelbase is longer than on the A5 Coupe, meaning there's plenty of space - including rear legroom - with a full squad aboard.

Luggage space is excellent too, its 480-litre volume almost matching that of the A4 Avant estate model and rising to 980 litres with the back seats folded down.

That volume was well capable of transporting a year's worth of quilts, coats, shoes, books, pots, pans - and a set of weights from the basement that passes for student accommodation back across the Pennines.

Despite the considerable extra weight, and foul weather conditions, the A5 stayed rock solid and planted on the motorway at all times - with sufficiently instant acceleration for overtaking.

The tested model was a 2.0 TDI diesel with Start/Stop technology to help give the oil-burner an impressive average fuel economy of 61.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 120g/km.

The four cylinder engine's 177ps gives the A5 ample punch with an acceleration figure of 0-62 in 8.5 seconds and top speed of 142mph.

It's rewarding to drive too with firm road-holding, a comfortable ride, positive steering and short shift six-speed manual gearchange, plus an ESP stability programme with electronic front differential lock to increase agility and prevent understeer.

Inside we are talking trademark Audi quality and plenty of kit - firm, multi-adjustable and durable leather seats, silver and alloy highlights around the cabin, a pin sharp multimedia set-up and S line badges on the fenders, door sill trims and embossed on the front seats.

That said, it's still possible to add a plethora of extra cost options. For instance the tested A5 Sportback featured the likes of 19-inch alloys at £400, a Technology package at £1,995, CD changer and DVD player for £305, cruise control for £225 and a through-load to the boot facility at £165.

And those LED running lights at the front just enhance what's one of the slickest looking cars on the market.