AUDI A5 CABRIOLET FULL REVIEW

Audi A5 Cabriolet full 9 point review

Performance

4 out of 5 stars

No A5 is short of power. Even the cheapest petrol model – with a 1.8-litre turbo engine – gives punchy performance, but you can also have a 2.0-litre turbo and a 3.0-litre V6. The entry-level diesel is a flexible 2.0-litre, while 201bhp and 242bhp 3.0-litre units complete the line-up. You can also choose from manual and automatic transmissions, and front- and four-wheel drive.
Ride & Handling

2 out of 5 stars

There’s no shortage of grip, but the A5 Cabriolet’s steering is too inconsistent and you feel shudders through the wheel. Body flex is also a problem, so the suspension can’t do its job properly and the ride is unsettled. Sporty S line and S5 models ride particularly badly, feeling uncomfortable at all times. The optional Audi Drive Select system – which offers three settings for the suspension and steering – doesn’t help much, either.
Refinement

2 out of 5 stars

Unlike many rivals, Audi has stuck with a cloth roof for its A5 Cabriolet. An acoustic version with extra insulation is optional on SE models and standard on S line and S5 cars, but you still have to put up with a lot of wind noise. There’s quite a bit of buffeting when you have the roof down, too. At least the engines are impressively smooth and quiet, whether you opt for petrol or diesel power.

Buying & Owning

4 out of 5 stars

The A5 Cabriolet certainly isn’t cheap, but model-for-model it undercuts its key rival – the BMW 3 Series Convertible – on price and we expect it will hold its value well. The four-cylinder engines have impressively good fuel consumption and low CO2 emissions, but go for one of the V6 versions and you can expect running costs to be high, if no worse than those of the A5’s rivals.
Quality & Reliability

3 out of 5 stars

Audi has a high-quality reputation and, apart from some rather lightweight plastics around the centre of the dashboard, the A5 doesn't let the side down. The fit and finish are excellent throughout and most of the materials are plush. Audi reliability isn't always as good as buyers expect, but the A5 rated as average in this respect in the 2011 JD Power survey.
Safety & Security

4 out of 5 stars

Every A5 Cabriolet comes with stability control, and front and side airbags that cover the head and chest. If sensors detect the car is about to roll over, metal bars pop up behind the rear seats to protect passengers. Among the high-tech safety options available are adaptive cruise control and blind-spot and lane-assist systems. The cloth roof is less secure than the metal ones of some rivals, but deadlocks are fitted as standard.

Behind The Wheel

2 out of 5 stars

The driver’s seat is supportive and comfortable, and rear visibility is fine, even with the roof up. Unfortunately the ventilation controls are fussy, the pedals are way off-centre, and because the clutch pedal drops into a recess in the floor, the only way to push it down fully is to poke it with the end of your toe.
Space & Practicality

3 out of 5 stars

The A5 Cabriolet’s cloth roof folds into a small space so, unlike the metal roofs of many rivals, it doesn’t fill the boot when you lower it. With the roof down, you get a healthy 320 litres of luggage space, and this grows to 750 litres with the roof up and the rear seats folded flat. There’s enough room for four adults in the cabin, too, although six-footers won’t want to ride in the back for long trips.
Equipment

4 out of 5 stars

Entry-level trim is reserved for the smaller engines; it comes with the basics, but most buyers will upgrade to SE, which is standard with the more powerful engines. Extras on SE models include an upgraded stereo, larger alloy wheels, leather seats, rear parking sensors and a wind deflector. S line models have extra sporty trim and xenon headlights, while S5 is a stand-alone trim that includes higher-quality leather, extra cosmetic upgrades and electrically adjustable front sports seats.