Vehicle on test

Audi A5 Cabriolet

Overall:

One aspect of the new Audi A5 Cabriolet really impressed me – the sound system. Driving back to the airport at the launch venue in Spain I had Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon up seriously loud, and it sounded awesome.

Which you might think is a pretty peripheral way in which to start a car review – except that in this case it’s not. You see this new drop-top from Audi is the ultimate cruiser, for motoring along the promenade with the top down, shades on and catching the rays.

Being an Audi, however, it’s a cruiser for Cannes rather than Clacton. Audi expects the 2500 Cabrios it will sell over the rest of this year to mainly go to males, mostly under 50 years old and living in pretty affluent households. These are people who expect top quality – hence the Audi “Concert” audio system, which comes as standard equipment in every A5 Cabrio and in the higher spec models gets bumped up by loads of watts, four extra speakers and subwoofers.

Mind you the rest of the car isn’t half bad either. The A5 Cabriolet is a natural progression from the A4 Cabriolet, a car that has always done the business for Audi. By basing the new drop-top on a coupe, rather than a saloon, the result is a slipperier-looking car that is very agreeable to the eye.

Audi is not sparing with its superlatives in describing this car – “the highest level of quality, fit and finish using the best materials available”; “the fastest accelerating diesel convertible available”, “the best residual values in its class”…

Thing is, once you slip behind the wheel, you understand said superlatives. This is one very well put together car, but it also offers a lot of practicality. The short overhang long wheelbase concept, debuted on the A5 hardtop and achieved by putting the front axle ahead of the engine, also adds up to lots of cabin space especially in the rear seats.

The roof is a soft one, which of course means less space swallowed up in the boot when you stow it – it sits in a panel above said cargo space. You get 320 litres of carry space – BMW’s 3 Series Convertible can only offer 90… And unlike some rivals the hood can also be operated on the move, up to 31mph in fact.

Out on the road practicality seamlessly melds into performance. Currently there are three engine options, The first pair are 2.0 and 3.2 petrols of 208 and 261bhp respectively, and in either front-wheel-drive or quattro four-wheel-drive form, the latter combined with the superb S tronic seven-speed auto/manual gearbox.

My favourite, however, is the new diesel, of three litres, in quattro/S tronic form only and of 236 horses. It’s swift, passing 60mph in under 6.4 seconds, and goes on to 154mph, but it’s also smooth too, just right for cruising those seafronts.

In fact you could argue that this is not a car you want to pump up with the stiff suspension options – “I’m a cruiser not a racer…” The car’s standard chassis is more than adequate for even mildly enthusiastic progress, though I’d always if money allows opt for the quattro four-wheel-drive, for the combination of better grip and extra safety.

Also, adding all the extras bumps up the price, which starts at £29,795 for the 2-litre petrol, £36,360 for the 3.2. Unusually the diesel is the most expensive of the three at £37,935. But for that money, you get rather a lot more than a good stereo…

Review by Andrew Charman