The same price as a Q5 with pretty much all of the ability. Foot. Shoot. In. The.

• Comfort

  The Allroad has 37mm inserted into the ride height, so it actually rides better than any of the saloon variants - even when you put the adaptive suspension into ‘dynamic' mode. It doesn't even get soggy when in ‘comfort'. Plus there are decent seats, plenty of room (even though this is the little brother to the A6 Allroad) and good all-round vision. That 37mm makes a big difference to the driving position.

  

• Performance

  There's a 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine with 208bhp and 258lb ft of torque, a 2.0-litre TDI with 174bhp (returning 46.3mpg) and a 3.0-litre with 240bhp, a whopping 348lb ft of torque and a 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds. It also returns 45.6mpg and emits 161g/km of CO2.

  

• Cool

  It won't pull members of the opposite sex, but there's something neat and trendy about an Allroad. It's slightly more butch than the stock car, can do things that most SUVs struggle with and still remains reasonably efficient - meaning that it won't get targeted by environmentals. 

  

• Quality

  Really very good. The cars we tested were full-spec, but felt tight and solid. Even pushed to the limit off-road, the general feeling was that if Audi builds something, then it stays built. Right through eight inches of water, six inches of mud, a couple of mild jumps and a small tree. 

  

• Handling

  Again a nice surprise. The A4 Allroad feels very much like a stock A4 - except slightly nicer-riding. Yes, there is an element of body roll if you go mental in comfort mode, but it still hangs together very nicely. Stick it in dynamic mode and you'll be able to tag along to a saloon A4 without any problem at all - even though the ride gets a tad harsh over really bad bumps. 

  

• Practicality

  Smaller than the A6 Allroad (obviously), the A4 still maintains that estate capacity that makes it a doddle to ferry about a small family. Loading heights are more genial, and smashing through urban potholes is fine when you have the beef to cope. It's no bigger than an A4 Avant, it just feels more useable. 

  

• Running costs

  The mpg figures are very reasonable if not startling, and you can get into one for just over £30k. Insurance is relatively good, though main dealer servicing can be pricey. Not bad though. 

  

The definitive example of rock-solid, sensible, impeccable German engineering. Lovely chassis and a good breadth of ability.

• Comfort

  It rides nicely too, with decent compliance over small-depth irritations in the surface and softness on bigger stuff. If the road has a lot of three-dimensional corners, you might want better damping. There's also an optional set of magnetic ride dampers. Link them to the standard suspension, and you might well have the answer.

  

• Performance

  The A3 launches with three engines, a sweet 1.4-litre TFSI and a punchy, silky-smooth 1.8-litre TFSI. The one most people will buy though, is the 150bhp 2.0-litre TDI. Again, this is all-new, and is astonishingly quiet. Nothing wrong with its power delivery, torque-filled punch or freedom to rev, either.

  

• Cool

  Too boring to be really cool. 

  

• Quality

  Excellent – Audi knows how to make cars feel nicely put together. Prod and push this cabin – you won’t be disappointed. Prod it again after 100,000 miles – ditto. 

  

• Handling

  Because the new A3 has been engineered to use lightweight parts, particularly up front, it has a lithe lightness on the road that the old A3 never had. Seriously - the handling is light-footed and playful in a way no mainstream Audi has yet managed. It grips hard, hardly understeers, and even generates a semblance of feedback through the steering.

  

• Practicality

  Only comes in a three door initially, but rest assured more doors will follow in due course. 

  

• Running costs

  The 2.0-litre diesel is the one to go for if money-saving is your bag: 68.9mpg and just 106g/km of CO2. That's good.

  

The Audi Q7 is the one Audi that shouts too loudly.

• Comfort

  Air suspension makes light work of most stuff, but the Q7’s body control does come with some downsides – it can be a bit firm on UK roads. The bonus for that extreme exterior size is a humongous interior – you won’t be left wanting for space. And it cruises sublimely. 

  

• Performance

  The 3.0-litre TDI is the most suited to this car, and it's far less aggressive than the 4.2-litre TDI. The 3.0-litre TFSI petrols are better sounding, but do you need to rev that high? The V12 TDI - all 500 horses and 737 torques - will hit 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds and return 25mpg. Yes, it's powerful, but why would you?

  

• Cool

  Only cool if you’ve recently won the Lottery. Even then not really. 

  

• Quality

  Generally good, though small niggles in the cabin you might notice over other Audi product. This car was made for America, where anything better than a 70s Chevy is deemed awesome. 

  

• Handling

  Remarkable for such a big car, the Q7 manages to hustle with the best of them thanks to adjustable air suspension as standard across the range. Still big though, and you never quite forget it. 

  

• Practicality

  This thing is massive, so no worries about space inside. The only thing is, it’s genuinely massive; it only fits in a standard British parking space if the wing mirrors are folded in, and even then you can’t get out of the damn thing. On a British country lane it feels enormous. Not for the nervous. 

  

• Running costs

  Diesel if you care about mpg, but all the engines are in high tax brackets. Residuals are good though.