IT'S a fact of life that children have a sweet tooth and when they grow up that often becomes a bigger sweet tooth.
While often told you cannot have your cake and eat it, adults know you can indulge, and they frequently do, so they will appreciate the Audi A5 3.0 TDI quattro.
Now here's a car which is both stylish as a coupe and practical as a big four seater, which delivers strong performance and parsimonious fuel consumption.
Individually, the essential components which make up the Audi A5 are impressive, but put together they are an awesome attraction which makes rivals look very second best.
The engine is the latest highly developed turbo-diesel from Audi and it provides remarkable refinement, acceleration, and every-day economy without compromise or hesitation.
Matched to the six-speed gearbox there is instant get up and go, sharp throttle responses when needed for overtaking and a very long legged ability on motorways which aids economy and lowers noise levels to a remarkable level.
The powertrain is exemplary and not only does it all work very well, but it does so without any real effort on the driver's part and he or she can simply sit back and enjoy the experience, and in an idle hour or so can watch the needle on the fuel gauge . well, stay put.
That is matched by that of the power steering, which combines pin-sharp precision with assistance which is well weighted so it is not twitchy.
If you need to use them, the brakes will haul down speed in a dramatic fashion with only the lightest of pedal application and you have the additional confidence which comes with the knowledge and efficiency of the renown Audi quattro four-wheel-drive system when you are accelerating or cornering.
The Audi A5 does behave like a sports car with its agile chassis and you can hear it absorbing bumps even if you rarely feel them through the suspension. With the quattro drive and standard electronic stability programme this is a belt and braces approach to safety.
That said, the ride is slightly firm but not hard and there is no body roll, pitching or dipping. It can be placed precisely and confidently on the road and the handling is entirely surefooted and confidence inspiring.
The secondary controls are generally laid out very well and comprehensive while the big clear instruments and warning lights immediately give feedback and warning and are in direct line of sight.
I like the straightforward heating and ventilation system backed up by the powered front windows but the powered sunroof does not come cheaply. Wipers, and those wonderful powerful lights outlined with fairy lights at the front, do an excellent job at maintaining visibility in any conditions. When reversing, the high tail can hide some shorter objects.
Inside, the seats are big and extremely comfortable with a very wide adjustment range on the front pair. Tipping them forward to gain easier access to the back means there is nominal room to wiggle into the back pair. Once seated, however, the back seats are well shaped if lacking in useful legroom for anyone but a child or young adult.
Boot space rise from 455 to 830 litres with the seat backs down and the oddments space in the cabin is reasonable.
The Audi A5 is a big coupe at over 4.6m by nearly 1.9m but it is beautifully proportioned and behind the wheel it certainly feels like a much more agile car than the figures alone suggest.
Every motoring pundit I know compares the A5 to the original Audi quattro and this is certainly fair comment, but by today's standards it is a better coupe than many saloons are four-door four-seaters, and that was not something which could be said of the original model.
FAST FACTS
Audi A5 3.0 TDI quattro
Price: £33,765
Mechanical: 240ps, 2,967cc, 6cyl diesel engine driving four wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 155mph
0-62mph: 5.9 secs
Combined mpg: 39.2
Insurance group: 17
CO2 emissions: 191g/km
BiK rating: 28%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust