AUDI A5 TFSI 150PS

This is its acid test: the mainstay spec of 2.0 petrol and Sport suspension

- ILLYA VERPRAET

Decrypting a car's equipment structure can be a bit of an art. Judging by the faint sense of desperation I've felt when buying a new TV, I wonder how people who aren't that interested in cars manage it.

Options lists have shrunk over the years, giving way to a handful of trim levels and option packs, but it's still a bit of a minefield, particularly with cars like the new Audi A5. Want the white leather or 19in wheels? You can have them, but you will need to upgrade to S Line trim, which also lumps you with Audi's Sport suspension, and we know that's rarely a good idea in the UK.

Not that we were able to offer definitive advice on the suspension choice initially, because the first batch of press cars came fitted with adaptive dampers, which won't actually be offered here. But now we've finally had the chance to try Audi's compact executive saloon in the spec that will be most popular: mid-range S Line trim and powered by a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine.