The Audi A5 Convertible Reviewed

The Audi A5 Convertible is striking for a wide variety of reasons, and not all of them relate to the smooth and flowing curves of the body. The range of engines on offer with the A5 suit a number of different budgets, and in general it offers better value for money than the BMW 3 Series Convertible. At the start of the range, the 1.8 litre petrol variant still packs a considerable punch, and the 4.2 litre, 242hp top-of-the-line V8 version is for lovers of serious speed and power - this came with the premium price tag of around £70k when new.

With the optional Audi Drive Select system, there are three different settings that adjust the steering and suspension settings of the A5. This is a useful feature for drivers that prefer varied configurations for their drive in different road conditions, although some motorists may find themselves endlessly experimenting with the different settings. For urban and inner-city driving, it may be difficult to really appreciate these different driving modes - taking a ride out to the country is the best possible opportunity to get a feel for the car. Front and four-wheel drive versions of the A5 are also available. 

What to look for in the Audi A5

When purchasing an A5 with some of the more powerful engines, SE features come as standard. This range of benefits includes a vastly-improved stereo system, leather seats, rear parking sensors and a wind deflector. If boot space is an important consideration, the A5 uses a cloth roof instead of a metal variant - this makes a huge difference when the roof is down and stored in the boot. While metallic roofs can take up a significant amount of storage space when they are down, the fabric of this Audi roof compresses itself into an extremely compact form. Once the rear seats are down, the rear storage is comparable in volume with a number of other family-orientated vehicles.

Audi Safety

Although detractors of cloth-roofed vehicles often mention the safety aspects, Audi has introduced a number of measures into the A5 convertible that make it amongst the safest vehicles in its class. For example, if the safety system detects that the car is about to roll over, passengers are protected by metal bars that appear behind the rear seats - this is just one of the automatic safety features that can be activated if necessary. While stability control elements improve the drive of the Audi A5 Convertible, it also contributes to its excellent safety record.