Keeping A Low Profile

Applying coupé styling cues to other types of car is very trendy these days, as shown by the Audi A5 Sportback, Jaguar XE and new Mercedes-Benz CLA. But do these executives all have the trousers to back up their talk?

PICTURE THE SCENARIO: you’ve been invited to a fancy ball and you’re deciding which shoes to wear. Do you go with the swanky handmade Church’s brogues or Jimmy Choo heels, or a pair of wellies? One would assume you’re not intending to splash about in puddles en route, so it’s the posh option, right?

Of course it is. Like choosing a car, if you need practicality then fine: buy a regular saloon or even an estate. But if you don’t have three kids or a cab firm to run and style is important to you, chances are you’ll look at cars like these.

Now, at this point you might be thinking: “But the Jaguar XE is a regular saloon, isn’t it?”. In one sense, yes, but unlike, say, the BMW 3 Series, it has traded some practicality for its sporty looks. And because it has just received an extensive interior and exterior refresh, we reckon it’s a good place to get the ball rolling.

Next we have the Audi A5 Sportback. Beneath its rakish roofline, it’s essentially an Audi A4, and since that was our overall Car of the Year in 2016, this five-door coupé should prove tough to beat.

Finally, there’s an all-new model: the Mercedes-Benz CLA. The original CLA was pretty ordinary, to be frank, but given that this second-generation car is based on the considerably improved latest A-Class, we have high hopes.

They’re a slightly eclectic bunch, then, but since each comes with a turbocharged petrol engine and an automatic gearbox and can be yours for around £35,000, all three deserve a place on your shortlist.

DRIVING

Performance, ride, handling, refinement