Audi automatic suits diesel just fine

Nov 17 2008 Peter Hayward

DIESEL engines and automatic gearboxes did not go together for years but now they are in every car range on the market.

And driving the truly beautiful Audi A5 with this combination showed just how good it can be.

The 2.7 V6 TDI engine has almost 190bhp and a huge amount of low speed pull or torque. It drives the front wheels through Audi's continuously variable Multitronic gearbox.

It will trickle along in auto at 1,000 revs for maximum economy but put your foot down and it leaps for the horizon.

As well as a fully automatic mode, which is relaxing but not very inspired to use, it also has Sport and manual modes which are much better.

The ride is a little jittery with the sport suspension fitted to my car but the road holding is truly superb on dry roads, as good as the best that BMW could throw at it and better than anything Mercedes has to offer.

Interior

The gearbox's manual mode has paddles just behind the steering wheel to change up and down but they move with the wheel and would be better attached to the column.

Other equipment is vast, with just about everything most people would have time to use, but the screen centred control system is far too complicated.

FAST FACTS

Audi A5 2.7 TDI Sport

Price : £32,935

Mechanical : 187bhp, 2,698cc, 6cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 7spd automatic gearbox

Max speed : 144mph

0-62mph : 7.6 secs

Combined mpg : 44.1

Insurance group : 15

CO2 emissions : 167g/km

BiK rating : 23%

Warranty : 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust

Marks : 10/10

Main rival : Mercedes CLK