Audi A5 Cabriolet Review 2023

First things first: this is not a sports car. If you want driving excitement and a white-knuckle adrenaline hit this is not the car for you. We suggest something with two fewer seats and a fruity exhaust, like a Jaguar F-type.

What the Audi A5 Cabriolet does offer is unrivalled refinement, ride comfort and interior quality in a car that is well suited to the type of low-speed cruising you'll want to do with the roof down and three close friends in tow.

Its relatively roomy four-seat layout makes it pretty practical for this type of car, and with an engine range it shares with the sensible A4 saloon, the running costs are reasonable too, although it is the most expensive A5 body style to buy.

If you're the type of person who wants to make the most of the sun whenever it decides to shine, but also need a car that works all year round, then the A5 is one of the absolute best, but it's not that fun to drive. Of course the A5 range also includes the Audi A5 Coupe and the Audi A5 Sportback.

In our experience, the best way to enjoy a convertible is with a smooth petrol engine under the bonnet. While it might be tempting to go for a pricier model with more power, the 190PS 2.0-litre TFSI feels quick enough.

It's also smooth, revs cleanly, and works well in tandem with the dual-clutch auto gearbox. In this spec, the Audi A5 Cabriolet is a wonderfully refined, rapid cruiser with an unstressed engine that suits its laid-back character perfectly.

Naturally the 3.0-litre V6 diesels and cooking S5 petrol model feel exceedingly fast, but we're not convinced that they're massively more exciting to drive than the more affordable versions, even with standard four-wheel drive.

If you do big mileages then the 40 TDI could start to add up, but it's a shame to have such a characterless engine in a car where being able to hear the motor is half the fun. As for the spec, with the latest model the bump in standard equipment is so generous that you'd be mad to get anything except the entry-level Sport.

As is often the case with Audi, its closest competition comes from other parts of Germany, with the sportier feeling BMW 4 Series Convertible, and equally luxurious Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet worth your attention.

If you want a thrilling open-top drive then the 4 Series is the best bet, and its infotainment system is easier to use than the A5's. Meanwhile the cleanest versions of the C-Class emit less CO2, so are cheaper company cars.

The fastest version of the Audi A5 Cabriolet is rapid enough, but if you want really high-performance then both BMW and Mercedes will sell you an open-top with over 440PS and track-focused suspension: The M4 and the (now only available used) C63 AMG.

Speaking of loud, fast convertibles, the Ford Mustang soft-top is a brash American alternative to these very similar upmarket Germans, but its cramped rear seats and poor refinement make it harder to use every day.

Finally, if you're feeling left-field and want some off-road ability thrown into the mix, the oddball Range Rover Evoque Convertible (now discontinued) makes a very interesting used buy, with prices from around £25,000.

You won't begrudge a single moment spent behind the wheel of the Audi A5 Cabriolet, it's a terrific place to sit. It has a minimal elegance that very few brands can carry off so confidently; the quality simply speaks for itself.

Everywhere you look and touch your eyes and fingertips are met by sumptuous materials, weighty switches and dials, and precise shut lines. Yes, this is an expensive car, but my word does it feel it once you're inside.

It looks every bit as plush as a C-Class Cabriolet, but feels more robust and less chintzy than the Mercedes.

All of the surfaces are finished in dense soft-touch material, leather, or metal, and everything fits together with reassuring solidity. The steering wheel (flat-bottomed on top models for a sporty look) and wide gear shifter are especially nice to hold, and you won't find a single poorly-fitted item to spoil the overall effect.

Every Audi A5 Cabriolet feels equally upmarket, but going up the trims does unlock a few extra luxuries. S line cars come with brushed aluminium dash inserts, steel pedals and perforated leather on the steering wheel. Pay a little more for the Edition 1, and you'll get softer leather, electric seat adjustment, plus piano black cabin trim.

Vorsprung models have multi-coloured ambient LEDs lights, oak veneers in the dash, and extended leather.

Audi's MMI infotainment system is one of the best around, and in the Audi A5 Cabriolet it manages the impressive trick of bringing together a lot of different gadgets into a single, cohesive user experience that's still simple to grasp.

In older versions of this car, you got a fixed 7.0-inch display in the centre of the dash (controlled using a chunky scroll wheel between the front seats) and standard dials. Audi gave you the option to upgrade to a widescreen 12.3-inch screen in place of conventional clocks, something the brand calls its 'Virtual Cockpit'.

The latest model though, feels truly cutting-edge, with a new 10.1-inch touchscreen with pin-sharp graphics, and redesigned menus and icons to make it look and feel like a giant tablet. Those digital instruments are now fitted as standard on every trim, and the generous standard feature list leaves you wanting for nothing.

All Audi A5 Cabriolets have a slick sat-nav with 3D mapping from Google Maps, DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, eight speakers, a wireless phone charging pad, and online services via an integrated sim-card.

Plug in your phone (Apple or Android) and you'll have full compatibility to mirror your home screen to the in-built display, giving you full access to your favourite navigation, music and podcast applications on the move.

We have no complaints to makes about MMI itself. The menus are clear, the touchscreen is snappy in its responses, and it's intuitive to use. Yet the shift to touch controls has meant Audi phasing out the physical controls, which is a shame. Prodding a screen will always be slower than twisting a dial when you're driving.

The dimensions of the Audi A5 Cabriolet remain as before at a shade under 4.8m in length and 1.4m wide. That's broadly the same as the A4 saloon on which it is based, so if your driveway or garage can swallow an A4 then the A5 Cabriolet should fit equally well.

Many would have you assume that the sheer hassle of owing a convertible would prevent you from enjoying it. Yet the A5 goes a long way to busting that myth wide open, with genuine four-seat capability and a decent boot.

Sure, those rear seats are certain to be a snug fit for most adults, and you need to clamber through the car to get to them, but provided those in the front don't recline too far, most will be perfectly happy to sit there.

Roof up, its dark enough to feel like sitting in the bottom of a well, and taller people will be brushing their hair on the fabric, but compared to its rivals the A5 is more than comfortable enough for short trips in the back. It has easy access ISOFIX points in the rear too, but we'd recommend fitting child seats with the roof open.

Stowing it hassle-free, with a one-touch button in the centre console starting the electrified origami, and the whole process takes around 19 seconds, and can be done while rolling, up to 31mph. Get caught in a storm on the motorway, and you can take the next exit slip, shut the roof and rejoin again without needing to stop.

With up to 380 litres of luggage space, you'll be able to fit in a buggy or a set of golf clubs, but not too much else. The opening to the load bay is wide, but the space inside is shallow and reduces by a further 60 litres when you do get the top down. Helpfully, Audi has put a switch in the boot, allowing you to drop the box the roof folds into independently of the whole mechanism, allowing you to measure that space before you set off.

The rear seatbacks also split-fold in a 50:50 configuration, helping you carry longer luggage when required. If you're thinking of buying a convertible but are worried about practicality, the Audi A5 Cabriolet is one of the best.

The brand-spanking new Audi A5 Cabriolet comes with a narrower engine line-up than the rest of the A5 range, but the choice is simple, since both petrol and diesel are of identical size (2.0-litres) and output (190PS).

Each is paired with Audi's slick twin-clutch S tronic transmission, which drives the front wheels of the 40 TFSI petrol but sends power to all four corners on the 40 TDI diesel, using the brand's ubiquitous quattro system.

They're both excellent performers, with punchy in-gear acceleration and smooth power delivery - especially in the petrol model - but if you're after a wider choice of powertrains the pre-facelift A5 has got you covered.

The entry-level four-cylinder petrol gave you the choice of a precise six-speed manual gearbox, while there was also a quicker 2.0-litre petrol with 245PS and four-wheel drive that provided excellent all-weather speed.

While slightly more expensive to run, the 3.0-litre V6 models are uniformly excellent, pushing you into the back of your seat with their punchy mid-range acceleration, but perfectly civilised when you're just cruising.

Our choice from the old range would be the 3.0 TDI with 218PS and four-wheel drive. It surges forward on an effortless wave of diesel torque, feels a tad smoother than the 40 TDI, but could still do 600 miles on a tank.

At the top of the performance tree is the Audi S5 Cabriolet. Its turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 packs a serious punch and is paired with an eight-speed conventional automatic to cope with its extra grunt, but it's quite a muted motor.

The Audi A5 Cabriolet is one of the most civilised convertibles you can buy, especially paired with petrol power. 

All the engines are very smooth and quiet, but the TFSI is incredibly hushed, particularly at lower speeds.

Diesel models are more muted than the four-cylinder units in rivals such as the BMW 4 Series Cabriolet and Mercedes C-Class Convertible, but do rumble when pushed, and send subtle vibrations up into the cabin.

Still, the Mercedes hits back with powered wind deflectors and neck-level heating vents; the A5 has neither.

Both engines are paired with an S tronic automatic gearbox that's smooth, and eager to swap through all its seven forward ratios as quickly as possible, so at a 70mph cruise you'll be ticking over at barely 1500rpm.

As with its premium rivals, the folding roof is cloth instead of metal, but that means less creaking with it up. It has three separate layers of fabric and soundproofing, so the rush of wind noise at motorway speeds with it closed is barely any louder than in the A5 coupe, and it folds away in 15 seconds, at speeds of up to 31mph.

While you've got the wind in your hair, buffeting is kept under control as long as you keep the side windows up, and it's calm enough (in the front at least) to hold a conversation without raising your voices too loud but rivals do a better job of keeping your hairstyle looking the same when you arrive as when you first set off.

In fact, the Audi A5 Cabriolet is so good in this area that our only issue is with the excessive tyre roar on cars fitted with the largest 20-inch wheels and low profile rubber. We'd avoid these for the most relaxing A5 driving experience.

The Audi A5 cabriolet shares a lot of its mechanical parts with the A4 saloon, which got a full five-star rating from crash testing safety body Euro NCAP back in 2015, with high scores for both adult and child protection.

While this rating is shared with the A5 Coupe and Sportback, it doesn't cover the Audi A5 Cabriolet, due to its higher weight. It should still perform well in a crash, with six airbags, a stiffened body shell, and rollover protection.

Fundamental safety features are all present and correct, with electronic stability control, a hill-hold assistant to get you going on steep junctions without rolling back, seat belt monitors, all-round parking sensors, plus a reversing camera with guiding lines and visual aids for helping you back up into really narrow parking spots.

Audi doesn't stop at the bare minimum though, with cruise control (including a speed limiter) and Pre-sense City also standard across the range. The latter is an autonomous emergency braking system, which will scan the road ahead and below certain speeds apply the brakes for you if the car senses an imminent collision.

In previous models, you could cherry-pick extras like blind-spot monitors and traffic sign recognition, but it's now part of an eye-wateringly expensive £2700 bundle called the Driver Assistance Pack. You can't add this to entry-level Sport models, but it does include a range of the very latest cutting-edge active safety systems. 

It adds auto-emergency braking protection from the rear, helping protect you further against low-speed city shunts, radar-guided cruise control that will brake to a standstill and then accelerate again. This system also comes with Traffic-jam Assist, a semi-autonomous setup that will effectively drive for you in long tailbacks.

The latest version of the Audi A5 Cabriolet is still quite a new car, so few problems have been reported. As a brand Audi found itself in the middle of the pack, placing 21st out of 30 manufacturers ranked in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index.

One point to note is that in older examples excessive oil consumption has been reported on some TFSI petrol engines, so it may be worth paying closer attention to this if you're considering a used example.

As you would expect of any swift, expensive drop-top from a premium brand, the Audi A5 Cabriolet is expensive to insure, with even the cheapest version to cover - the front-drive 2.0-litre petrol in SE spec - in Group 35.

That's seven groups higher than an identical Audi A5 Coupe from the same year, and also several bands up from where the most affordable versions of its main rivals the 4 Series Cabriolet and C-Class Convertible start.

The 2020 A5 range is in Group 38 and goes up to Group 44 for the four-wheel drive diesel in Vorsprung trim. In fact, it's only one group lower than the pre-facelift S5 Cabriolet, which had 350PS and a 3.0-litre V6 engine.

Every new version of the A5 Cabriolet costs over £40,000, and is therefore subject to the government's premium road tax rate of £355. That's on top of the standard flat rate of £165 for all diesel and petrol cars, making your annual VED bill a total of £520 for the first five years of ownership after it's first registered.

You also have to pay a first-year tax charge calculated on your car's CO2 emissions, usually this is rolled into the on-the-road price you'll pay at a dealer. Most of the current line-up will cost £585 but be careful, since the high-spec petrol models on the largest wheels creep up another tax band, and will cost you £945 instead.

Buying an Audi A5 Cabriolet is an expensive business, but Audi won't leave you wanting for kit. Early cars came in SE, Sport and S line flavours, but it's impossible to find one that feels short on luxury, since heated leather seats, three-zone climate control and all-round parking sensors were fitted as standard across the range.

Audi recently updated the A5 Cabriolet however, and the newer models look even sportier than before, and are stuffed with even more technology as standard. 'Entry-level' Audi A5 Cabriolet Sport models now have bright LED headlights, sat-nav, and the brand's slick 'Virtual Cockpit' digital dials, cruise control, and a larger set of 18-inch alloy wheels.

That trim has everything you could possibly need, so upgrading to the Audi A5 Cabriolet S Line, or Edition 1 models is about enhancing the sporty styling more than expanding your specification. The former gets 19-inch alloys, a beefy body kit, and fancier LED headlights with scrolling indicators and adaptive anti-dazzle beam technology. 

The latter adds electrically adjustable seats, softer Nappa leather, and laser headlights, while the flagship Audi A5 Cabriolet Vorsprung model includes almost every optional extra and is therefor palatial but also poor value for money.

We like the fact that the specification is now so generous you don't need to part with a single extra penny, but the Comfort & Sound Pack bundle is still likely to prove popular with A5 buyers. For an additional £1395, you get a superb 19-speaker premium Bang & Olufsen Hi-Fi, 360º parking camera, and hands-free boot opener.