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Even better than the R8 V8. But not by very much.

• Comfort

  Magnetic-fluid damping is standard, so you can gad about in an R8 V10 without hurting anything specific. And the 5.2-litre V10 has been ‘de-tuned' by 35bhp by Audi to make it quieter and easier to drive than it is in its other home, the Lamborghini Gallardo. It's a pretty remarkably easy to use supercar. Nice seats. 

  

• Performance

  Ho. Here's the good bit. Think the 414bhp V8 was squirty? The 5.2 V10 punts out 525bhp, chucks the R8 to 62mph in 3.9 seconds and eggs it on to nearly 200ph. Third gear overtakes are very special; it revs to 8,700rpm. That'll make your ears curl up into small, fleshy balls. And then fall off. So yes, it has the measure of most supercars out there. 

  

• Cool

  The R8 is already a cool car, so having the one-potato, two-potato supremacy of an even faster version should make it even cooler. We like.

  

• Quality

  Some say that the interior is like a big TT, but that's wrong. And there's nothing wrong with the interior of a TT even if it were true. The fact is that the R8 is sober and fairly restrained, but one the worse for that. It lets the undoubted quality shine through at the very least. Looks, feels and smells very well made. 

  

• Handling

  Flat, tight, communicative, supple - all the stuff you really need here. The good thing about the R8 is that you can have great fun driving it in even the worst conditions (which we're used to in the UK). The fact is that it feels nicely rear-wheel drive most of the time, but when the crunch comes, it'll pull you out of trouble. Which is what most of us really want. The V10 version builds on the success of the V8 - it's slightly sharper but none the worse for the power-up.  

  

• Practicality

  The R8 has built a reputation as a very useable supercar and the trend is the same with the V10 - there's a boot up front and plenty of stowage. You'll have to pack light (it's still a fairly focussed sports car), but you can get away with enough stuff for two or a trip away. Just leave the kids at home with Bob the Builder on repeat: they'll work out how to open tins by about the third day. 

  

• Running costs

  High, but not especially so for a car this fast. Insurance is group 20, servicing is stiff and you won't see more than about 20mpg even if you're careful, but who cares. Really? 

  

Refined, versatile, handsome...and slightly characterless. Very neat

• Comfort

  Possibly a little firm given the pretention to basking along - especially on the lowered sports suspension option - and there's a bit of a draught when you don't have the wind deflector in place. Problem with that is that you either have breezy motoring with the kids or cover up the back seats with the deflector and go solo or parents-only. The ‘acoustic' hood works well at all but eliminating wind noise as well. Other than that you'll be better with the larger engines simply because they work less hard and generally pleased because this is one sorted soft-top. 

  

• Performance

  You get the 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engines, and a pair of diesel engines in 2.0-litre flavour (173bhp and 200bhp) and 3.0-litre (240bhp). That last engine mated to quattro hits 62mph in just 6.3 seconds, while returning 47.9mpg.

  

• Cool

  In the right spec, with the right driver, this could be one of the coolest ‘normal' cars of the year. Still manages to be understated yet quite flash - a hard trick to pull off.  

  

• Quality

  It's quite dull to keep re-iterating the point, but Audi really does pay attention to the quality and build of its cars. The A5 Cabriolet is no exception - even the ‘acoustic' fabric hood really does work and there's a measure of tactility that is missing even on other ‘premium' marques.  

  

• Handling

  Does everything competently enough, and there's a general feel of engineering integrity built into the car's DNA. Expect a slightly jiggly ride, though one compounded with lots of grip and agility, especially the quattro versions.

  

• Practicality

  Even if it starts to rain when you're on the move, you can raise or lower the fabric hood at speeds up to 30mph. That makes the A5 Cab more practical for the UK at least, where extended periods of ‘shine are hen's teeth. There's also genuine space for four and their luggage, even if getting in through the two-door only aperture can be a bit of a faff with the roof up. 

  

• Running costs

  The big diesel will get over 45mpg, the smaller petrol a touch more, and insurance isn't bad on the lower cars (but beware the S5). Residuals are predicted to be strong, and servicing average. Pretty much as you expected, then.

  

An admirable effort to bring the engineering values of one of Germany finest carmakers to a wider audience. Poor suspension lets it down.

• Comfort

  Over small bumps the ride is pretty lumpy, especially in the S-Line models. Over bigger potholes and ridges it has a travel that the Mini lacks, so never really punishes you.

  

• Performance

  The A1 comes with three turbocharged engines - 1.2 and 1.4 petrols, plus a 1.6 diesel. The latter is a bit gruff and none too lively. In a car with sports ambitions, 0-62mph in 10.5 secs doesn't really cut it. But at least the torque spread is wide and even, so you can relax about timing your gearshifts. Only five gears in the 'box too, and a slow shift with it. Luckily, things are better on the petrol front: the 122bhp 1.4 TSi is much more agreeable and has a lowdown torque, a sweetness high up and easily beats a petrol Mini Cooper for real-world acceleration, thanks to its turbo.

  

• Cool

  Fsahionistas will love it, but it's just a Polo with a posh badge on the nose.

  

• Quality

  The cabin is beautifully made and solid, but it's all a bit conservative, unless you tart it up with some of the expensive alternative colours for the seats, air-vent bezels and centre console.

  

• Handling

  This car has a gummy, unenthusiastic suspension. It's got none of the vivacity you find in a Mini or DS3. It's vicefree and stable, feeling more like an A4-sized car really. The steering is accurate but overdamped, and it turns out Audi took over the Polo's platform and simple suspension pretty much wholesale. The only suspension components they altered were the elastic parts: springs, dampers and bushes. It sits lower and the track is wider because of different wheels, bit it just feels over-tyred and unsophisticated. Grippy but unengaging. We prefer the more fluent honesty of the Polo.

  

• Practicality

  The A1 is a three-door only but rear space is good for two while access into the back is excellent. The bootspace is better than a Mini's but that's not saying much. A Citroen DS3 has far more. That's especially true with the diesel, whose boot is eaten up by a rear-mounted battery to balance out the weight distribution.

  

• Running costs

  Every model offers excellent running costs, with low CO2 emissions and high fuel economy. Best is the 1.6 TDI with 105g/km and 70.6mpg, but both the 1.2 and 1.4 twin-clutch auto duck 120g/km.