Costing £27,720 (£500 more than if you shun the back doors), the Sportback adds 72mm to the car’s overall length but just 40kg to its weight – little enough to allow Audi to claim the same ...

The Audi A3 distills the luxury and ... cut and thrust as it is to the open road. The A3 comes in a choice of stylish sedan or versatile Sportback five-door hatch.

Nothing in the Audi A3 Sportback range is particularly slow, although you'd definitely label the three-cylinder 1-litre TFSI's performance as 'willing' rather than 'quick'. A 0-62mph time of 9.6 ...