Car of the Year 2004 - Convertible

Winner
VW Beetle Cabriolet 1.6
£15,575

Although the latest Beetle Cabriolet is unashamedly a throwback, reinterpreted to meet modern safety, quality, space and comfort requirements, it fits easily in a 21st-century environment.

It blends some of the character of the original rag-top Beetle with all that’s good about today’s Volkswagens. The cabin quality is excellent, and the fully weatherproof hood, which arcs back to rest on the rear deck, is beautifully tailored. It doesn’t help rearward vision, but at least it doesn’t steal any boot space, which is as well since there’s only really room in there for carefully packed soft bags.

The vast screen shields front passengers from buffeting, but those in the back don’t fare so well. However, there is leg space for four as long as the people up front don’t sit too far back.

What’s impressive is how solid the car feels over lumpy British roads. The Beetle Cabrio has only 102bhp to call on from the 1.6-litre engine, so it’s not a car to be driven vigorously, but a brisk yet relaxed pace will guarantee a fun drive with a comfortable ride.

The high-ish price is at least justified by the equipment supplied, so overall the Beetle Cabrio is good value as well as appealing, and running it should be a relatively painless experience. Then again, you probably don’t care too much: it’s the sort of car you buy because you want one.

Highly recommended
BMW 318Ci Convertible
£25,855
Vauxhall Astra 1.8i 16v Convertible
£18,095