If there’s a niche that can possibly be filled, Audi has a car to fill it. That might seem like a task that requires little effort, but in truth it is a mark of Audi’s confidence and bravery that it sees fit to create whole new segments where it is the only player.

This is something it has done before of course, with the similar A5 Sportback sitting somewhere between a four-door coupe and a hatchback. And back in the 1980s, the Quattro blazed a trail for high performance four-wheel drive saloons.

Despite this, the A7 sits higher up the range and so requires a bigger financial commitment from those writing the cheques: missing the target could result in unhappy customers.

Right from the start though, the A7 Sportback is on a roll. As is increasingly the case with modern car designs, seeing one in photographs is not enough.

You need to get up close and personal, walk around the car and drink in all the details. It is not an easy car to gauge in terms of size either. It is a fraction bigger than the A6, but the lower roof and wider stance not only make it look sleeker but significantly more compact.

The low roof is also a key element to the strength of the design, giving it the coupe feel that sets it apart from a conventional car.

There are clear elements from elsewhere in the Audi range. The front says A8, the sides recall the A5 and the rear is more A4, but it is no mishmash. This is a handsome machine, and before you even get to the bottom line it has the presence and style of an expensive car.

Where the A7 starts to really make sense is when you get out the tape measure. The lithe exterior lines suggest that it will have room for the vertically challenged and nothing else, but the reality is quite different.

If you happen to be sitting up front, then a grand view is on offer with all the head and legroom you could possible want.

Step into the back seats and the story is much the same. Even though the roof begins its curve over your head there is head and legroom second only to the A8 luxury saloon.

But the star turn is the boot space, which offers a very impressive 535 litres with the seats up and an estate-like 1,390 litres with all the seats folded flat.

Accessing this space through a hatchback-like tailgate also makes loading a breeze. The combination of practicality and elegance is not usually that easy to find.

With all this unexpected practicality, you might assume the driving experience must be lacking somehow — not a bit of it. Underneath the A7 lies a new platform and the suspension set-up, whether in sporty S-line guise, standard or comfort-oriented air suspension, delivers a confident mix of ride and handling.

Once again, like the A8, it surprises with the accuracy of the steering, which is well-weighted and inspires confidence. A car with accurate steering is one that is easy to drive. It deals with bumps well too — inevitably the air-suspended car does this best but all versions strike a good balance.

Should you choose to press on, the A7 shows itself to be a faithful and predictable companion, gripping strongly and making the most of the Quattro four-wheel drive system.

In the dry it clings to the road reassuringly, and in the wet it will keep going when others are in the weeds.

As ever, the powerplant choice is comprehensive. The 3.0-litre TFSI is the driver’s choice for the moment, as the supercharged V6 has torque all the way around the rev range and punches this large car forward with real vigour.

If you have to wear a more sensible hat, then the high-output 3.0-litre TDI offers almost as much punch. The same engine can be specified with the clever CVT gearbox to deliver over 53mpg and an amazingly-low 139g/km of CO2.

And the interior you would expect from an Audi is present and correct. In the A7 it inherits some of the top-line switchgear found in the A8 as well as some of the technology.

If you want, you can have a head-up display, parallel park assist, ventilated massage seats — the list is virtually endless.

So what of the bottom line? Inevitably, this is not a car for everyone.

Prices start at £42,925 for the entry-level version, but when you consider this essentially buys you a sporty coupe crossed with a practical hatchback and a comfortable luxury saloon, it begins to look rather good value for money.

Model: Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TFSI S-line Peformance: 0-62mph: 5.4 seconds, top speed 155mph Economy: 34mpg (combined) CO2 emissions: 190g/km

Price: £49,860 Web: www..audi.co.uk