Audi A3 Cabriolet

ON THE ROAD

Performance
Buyers can choose from four turbocharged engines - two petrols and two diesels. The entry unit is an ageing 104bhp 1.9 diesel, but the punchy and free-revving 197bhp 2.0 petrol is a much better bet if your budget will stretch to it. The 1.8T has a good blend of power and low-down muscle, so it’s tractable, revs swiftly and returns 38.7mpg on average. There's also a 138bhp 2.0 diesel that delivers ample power in a smooth, progressive manner.

Ride & handling
It would be too much to expect an open car to be as rigid as one with a fixed roof, but the agile handling and composed ride of the A3 hatch are largely unsullied. There's plenty of grip and accurate steering, although ideally we would like a bit more weight to the steering at speed.

Refinement
The A3 Cabriolet shuns the current trend for folding metal roofs in favour of a traditional fabric one. However, Sport cars get a thicker roof than standard models, and this keeps wind noise down. The 1.9 diesel is noisy, but the other engines are suitably refined. There's not much buffeting for front-seat occupants when the roof is stowed.

OWNERSHIP

Buying & owning
With prices starting on the wrong side of £20,000, the A3 Cabriolet is far from cheap, but we expect it to hold its value well. The petrol engines both average almost 40mpg, while the 2.0 diesel manages 53.3mpg and the 1.9 diesel 55.4mpg. Other running costs shouldn't break the bank.

Quality & reliability
Most of the Cabriolet's interior is shared with other A3 models, which means you get soft-touch upper dash plastics and slick switchgear. Audi appears to have downgraded some of the materials in the lower reaches of the cabin, but overall it still feels classy and built to last. The A3 hatch received a good rating for reliability in the last JD Power customer satisfaction survey.

Safety & security
Stability control, electronic brakeforce distribution and twin front and side airbags are standard. However, the Cabriolet misses out on the A3 hatch's full-length curtain airbags. Deadlocks and an alarm help to deter theft, although that fabric hood isn't as tough as a metal roof.

IN THE CABIN

Behind the wheel
The seats are supportive and there's a wide-range of adjustment to help drivers make themselves comfortable. It's not all good news, though, because over-the-shoulder vision is poor with the roof up. Most of the controls fall readily to hand, but some of the switchgear on the centre console is a little fussy.

Space & practicality
Rear shoulder room is a bit tight, but otherwise there's decent space for four people. The roof folds down in just nine seconds and can be operated at speeds of up to 19mph, while the boot is a respectable 260 litres whether the roof is up or down. The rear sears fold flat in case you need extra load space, too, but the boot opening is small.

Equipment
In standard form, the A3 Cabriolet comes with air-conditioning, all-round electric windows, alloy wheels and daytime running lights. However, you have to upgrade to Sport trim to get climate control and a fully electric hood (the standard car has a semi-automatic one that you have to release manually from the header rail). An even sportier S line model will join the line-up later.

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