If you enjoy open-top motoring but don’t want to compromise on comfort, the Audi A5 Cabriolet could be a great option. Its ride is just as smooth and quiet as any of Audi’s saloon cars and has space for four people, plus some luggage. The interior is a particular highlight – it’s beautifully made and the clean, simple design makes it easy to learn how to use all the features. You can choose from a wide range of engines and equipment packages, so it’s easy to find one that fits your needs and budget.
The current version of the A5 Cabriolet has been sold new since 2017 when it replaced an older version built from 2009 to 2017. You can tell the two apart from their different styling, and the current car has more up-to-date tech and a different choice of engines.
Those engines include a broad selection of petrol and diesel options. Even the least-powerful options give you good acceleration and the high-power models are great if you’re after a drop-top performance car. Many models have an automatic gearbox, and four-wheel drive – which Audi calls Quattro – is a popular option. You can pick from several trim and equipment packages, all of which have lots of features as standard. Top-spec models are as well-equipped as Audi’s more expensive luxury cars.
The A5 Cabriolet has a fabric roof that opens and closes at the touch of a button and can do so while you’re driving at up to 31mph. The roof is well insulated so the interior is warm and quiet when it’s up, while the powerful heater keeps everyone cosy even when the roof is down. If you’re not fussed about dropping the top, coupe and hatchback versions of the A5 are also available, as are the fast S5 and the very high-performance RS5.
All models of A5 Cabriolet will give you lots of standard features, with climate control, cruise control and parking sensors, as well as smartphone connectivity. Many models also have sat nav, leather seats and a widescreen digital driver’s display that can show everything from speed and distance readings to sat nav maps. The infotainment setup is very easy to use, controlled by a dial between the front seats that you turn and press to navigate around the system.
The A5 Cabriolet is available with a wide range of petrol and diesel engines – whether you want efficiency or high performance, there’s an option for you. The most efficient petrol-powered models can give an average fuel economy of 40 to 50mpg, according to official figures, and some diesel models can give as much as 60mpg. Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) costs are reasonable as a result.
Rivals to the A5 Cabriolet include the BMW 4 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class convertibles, and even the Range Rover Evoque convertible SUV. The BMW feels a bit sharper to drive, the interior of the Mercedes has more wow-factor and the Range Rover looks more distinctive, but the Audi gives you a compelling combination of comfort, practicality, ease of use and quality.
The A5 Cabriolet is one of the more practical four-seat soft-top cars. Four adults can easily fit, though those in the back seats may need to stretch their legs regularly on long journeys. With the roof up, there’s space in the boot for a couple of large suitcases or a big shopping trip; fold the roof down and you lose about 20% of the boot space. The back seats tip forward if you need to carry longer or bulkier loads. There are lots of places throughout the interior to store your phone and coffee cup.
The A5 Cabriolet is the larger of Audi’s four-seat soft-top models, the A3 Cabriolet being the smaller. Audi also makes a couple of two-seat convertibles – the TT Roadster sports car and the R8 Spyder supercar.
Safety organisation Euro NCAP hasn’t assessed the A5 Cabriolet, however, it did give the A5 Coupe a full five-star rating. Standard safety features on the Cabriolet include cruise control with speed limiter, automatic emergency braking and a safety bar that pops up from behind the back seats if the car rolls over.
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