Audi A3 Cabriolet car review

The new Audi A3 Cabriolet has bucked the trend for folding hardtops and has a trusty fabric number instead.

We drove the soft top fitted with a brand new ultra-economical 1.6-litre diesel engine.

This engine is important for Audi, and the Volkswagen Group as a whole. It replaces the hugely popular 1.9-litre TDI, which is being pensioned off in most models.

It might be a smaller engine, but it offers 104bhp and 184lb/ft of pulling power and it’s much cleaner.

Fitted in the A3 Cabriolet you can expect 65.7mpg on the combined cycle while emitting just 114g/km – exceptional figures for a wind-in-your-hair car.

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Stop and start

It features stop and start technology and energy recuperation, which uses energy recovered when you brake to charge the car’s battery.

Acceleration from 0-62mph in 12.2 seconds and a top speed of 118mph are fine for cruising, but there are much faster petrol models in the range if performance is your priority.

The main advantage of the 1.6-litre TDI from behind the wheel is its relative lack of noise. Compared to the 1.9-litre it’s much smoother.

But, it also lacks some of the low down punch of the 1.9 and needs to be revved harder to make decent progress.

Removing the roof has inevitable effects on the stiffness of the Audi A3, but we found the Cabriolet handled as well as the hatchback during our drive on typical A and B roads.

The tyres offered lots of grip and there’s little body roll in corners, as the suspension is still quite firm.

Choose a standard or SE spec car and it will ride the best, while Sport cars have 15mm lower and firmer suspension 17-inch wheels and S-Line A3’s get 10mm lower still suspension and sit on 18-inch wheels.

There’s the option to colour-code your convertible by choosing from black, blue or red for its roof fabric and the interior can be fitted with leather seats for £705.

Closed to open in nine seconds

Inside, the cabin is traditional Audi – beautifully made and satisfying to behold.

The hood folds down in a speedy nine seconds – much quicker than a folding hardtop – and it can be operated at up to 19mph.

It’s comprised of three layers of material, and we found it kept the cabin as well insulated from road and wind noise as you’d expect.

A wind deflector can also fold up behind the front seats to reduce wind buffeting for front occupants, when you’re two-up.

In the back you’ll find space for two passengers, and the rear seats can fold down to increase boot space.

With them up the 260 litres of boot space comes off second best to the 305 litres of its closest rival the 1 Series Cabriolet. But, fold them down and the BMW can’t compete with the Audi’s 674 litres of luggage room.

All A3 Cabriolets feature air conditioning or climate control, CD player, electric windows and electric mirrors. Sport models and above get a fully electric hood, with the basic cars requiring you to manually release it from behind the windscreen.

It makes a strong case for itself against the BMW 1 Series Cabriolet, but in the end will probably appeal to a slightly different customer. The Audi is better-looking and appointed, while the 1 Series has the edge for driving thrills.