OKAY so let's get the negative point out of the way first - this beautifully-sculpted and incredibly luxurious Audi A6 allroad costs a whopping £83,835 with the £30,000 of options fitted and to put that into context it's more than my first house cost.

But with that 'minor' issue out of the way, the A6 allroad is one very special piece of kit.

It has all the sophisticated refinement to satisfy a lord, the technology to keep a geekish trekkie quiet for days on end and the driving dynamics to meet all the demands of the pickiest of motorists.

Add in the allroad's quattro four-wheel-drive capabilities and all the practicality any estate car should offer and you can start to see why this car is so impressive.

Despite its larger than life appearance the A6 allroad - which is sportier and more SUV-like than the A6 avant model on which it is based - is deceptively sleek in its design with smooth curves and sweeping light clusters. Eye-catching features include 20-inch alloys, roof rails, tinted windows and all-LED headlights.

Inside the car it's impossible not to be wowed by the sheer beauty and quality craftsmanship that greets you with the very finest leathers and materials incorporated to create a warm, inviting and beautifully chic environment for all occupants.

The Bang & Olufsen sound system produces pitch perfect quality and I have to confess I was fascinated by the tiny speakers that were protruding from each end of the dashboard and then disappeared away flush to the dash when the engine was turned off.

Other creature comforts include ambient lighting, heated front and rear seats (with a fabulous massage function for front seat occupants), a very easy-to-use sat nav system, head-up display and a list that goes on and on and on¦

To be honest this is one of the most richly equipped cars I have driven but not in a garish, cluttered way. All the dials and switches serve a purpose and are very practical and easy to operate.

And when it comes to performance the car's 3.0-litre 320ps diesel engine delivers all the power and bite you could wish for.

It can sprint to 62mph from a standing start in just 5.5 seconds, tops out at a limited 155mph and delivers combined fuel economy of 43.5mpg with carbon emissions of 172g/km. All this from an estate car.

The eight-speed automatic transmission is smooth and responsive and you can change the car's handling and dynamics via a number of driving modes.

The road-holding is very sound meaning tight bends can be attacked with confidence and there is minimal road surface and engine noise. That said, there is a little wind noise when driven at higher motorway speeds.

Comfort levels are excellent and the boot, which is opened and closed automatically, can accommodate 565 litres of luggage which is increased to 1,680 with the rear seats folded flat.

The A6 allroad is packed with top notch safety innovations which helped it achieve the maximum five stars in the Euro NCAP safety ratings, although I did find the side lane assist system which helps to prevent you from wandering between lanes was a tad fierce. In fact, when driving through a section of contra-flow I was really fighting the steering to stay on my intended path - needless to say it can be deactivated very quickly.

All in all the A6 allroad is a beautiful car - its practical without being boring, flexible without being a load-lugger and offers sublime luxury and comfort albeit at a price.