There aren’t many four-seat convertibles around these days, but the few that still exist tend to wear premium badges and offer a driving experience that leans towards cruising over excitement - and the Audi A5 Cabriolet launched in 2017 is perhaps the perfect example.
It can’t match proper sports cars for thrills, but it’s better built than most, seats four people in reasonable comfort, and is as easy to drive and live with as an A5 Coupe, or an A4, or any other Audi. Expensive when new, it’s much more affordable at just a few years old, making it even more appealing.
Others to consider if you’re looking at the A5 Cabriolet include the BMW 4 Series Convertible, Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet, Ford Mustang Convertible, and even the Range Rover Evoque Convertible if you’re prepared to consider an SUV-style model.
The Audi A5 Cabriolet should be on the list of anyone who wants a four-seat car that you can use every day, but also wants to enjoy top-down motoring on the rare occasions the weather is playing ball. It loses little to the fixed-roof A5 Coupe but with the fabric folded away, has the kind of style that only drop-tops can offer.
In typical Audi style the A5 Cabriolet is handsome rather than flashy, something that extends to its comfortable and well-built cabin. You really can fit four people inside, and even though adults probably wouldn’t want to travel in the rear seats for long distances, it’s more than manageable over shorter trips.
The 370-litre boot isn’t bad either, particularly given few would expect it to match an A4 Avant for carrying capacity or the size of the boot opening. Audi’s MMI infotainment system is one of the best around, being easy to operate, while the A5 is still from the era where you got buttons and knobs as well as touch controls, so all the minor controls are logical too.
A range of petrol and diesel engines provides the power. Most are four-cylinder, though you’ll find V6s in older models. There’s little to complain about with the driving experience in general - it’s not as exciting as some rivals, nor proper sports cars, but you also won’t feel the body flexing and shuddering despite the gap above you.
The BMW 4 Series Convertible and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet are the two closest alternatives to the A5 Cabriolet, with BMW having the edge for driving experience. If you want pure fun - and a great noise to go with it - then the Ford Mustang Convertible is worth a look, though obviously it doesn’t quite have the Audi’s badge appeal.
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We’re concentrating on later models here, but don’t overlook the earlier V6 diesel models or the S5. Both are very quick and their smooth V6 engines really add to the A5’s refined feel. Their premium might have been difficult to justify when new, but that’s less of an issue as a used buy, particularly if you’re treating yourself to something a little special.
Otherwise, it’s the 2-litre petrol cars that probably make the most sense, with their smooth engine notes and power delivery, which suit the experience better than the diesel. The equipment level is so high in later cars that Sport trim should satisfy most buyers, and it avoids the stiffer suspension of S Line models and up, too.
The trim levels below cover post-facelift models introduced in 2019, with a relatively simple lineup beginning with Sport trim (an SE was previously available) and topping out with the Vorsprung. Audi also offered Edition 1 trim for a time, while features like Virtual Cockpit and LED headlights became standard across the range from the 2019 update. Earlier models were also offered in S5 form.
The Audi A5 Cabriolet’s dimensions are:
The Audi A5 Cabriolet’s boot space is:
List prices on the wrong side of £40,000 mean that most A5 Cabriolets will be subject to a higher rate of road tax, a surcharge taking the annual total to £570 in years two to six. From the seventh year of registration onwards, this drops down to a lower rate.
In earlier SE specification, models with the 2-litre petrol engine started in group 35. A more recent 35 TFSI Sport is actually slightly less, beginning in group 33, rising to group 44 for a 45 TFSI in S Line trim and group 47 for the same engine and range-topping Vorsprung spec. The S5 is actually a little lower, at group 45.
Read our full Audi A5 Cabriolet review
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