ENJOY TOP-DOWN CRUISING IN STYLE
Sporty car has more than enough luxury and performance to please any driver
I own a convertible and 90 per cent of the time I’m behind the wheel, I’m getting my Vitamin D fix. Sun too bright? I put on my shades, baseball cap and, if necessary, don a lightweight, long-sleeve shirt. Too cold? This is Canada; that’s why toques were invented. Too rainy? The Miata goes in the garage and I drive something else. And I make sure the little soft-top is ready to roll from April to December. You simply can’t be having a crappy day while motoring al fresco.
I love my Mazda Miata; it’s a very simple sports car in what has become an increasingly complex automotive segment. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to step out in something larger, grander, quieter and more comfortable, with easy-to-tap power and a commanding presence. More to the point, a convertible that can be used year round — top up or down — no matter the weather conditions. Something like Audi’s S5 Cabriolet.
Redesigned for the 2018 model year, the four-passenger S5 softtop, more than its lower powered A5 sibling, has the overt athleticism to go with its cleanly styled looks. This latest generation weighs less, despite the car being slightly larger in most dimensions. Inside, there’s more front shoulder room and rear legroom. The multi-layer “acoustic” fabric soft top can be lowered in 15 seconds and closed in 18, all while the car is moving at speeds of up to 50 km/ h.
There’s nothing particularly wrong with the A5 Cabriolet, powered as it is with Audi’s ubiquitous 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, pumping out a robust 252 horsepower. Yet forking over another $10,300 for the performance-oriented S5 ($72,500 to start) completely changes the convertible’s character, thanks to the potent 354-hp, 3.0-L turbocharged V-6, mated to an eight-speed automatic. Though four-seater convertibles tend to be appreciated more for their boulevardier qualities — think about cruising Main Street on a warm summer evening — the S5 has more than enough zip to put a smile on your face when you get the urge. With 369 pound-feet of torque on tap at a mere 1,370 r.p.m., nailing the throttle will pin you to the seat, which is not half bad, considering the S5 Cabrio weighs an SUV-like 1,920 kilograms.
So, yes, the S5 is quick in a straight line. No surprise there. Far more impressive is that it will charm the socks off you when the road gets twisty, especially when the Dynamic drive mode is selected (the others being Comfort, Auto, Efficiency and Individual). It ramps up throttle response and holds the gears longer.
I’m sure the droptop is a solid performer even in box-stock form. But the Technik tester ($76,600 to start; $86,490 as equipped) had nearly $10,000 worth of options. They included a trio of performance-oriented features — S Adaptive Suspension ($1,000), Quattro sport differential ($1,900), and Dynamic Steering ($1,500) — that, in concert, make the magic happen.
The S5 has very direct steering, requiring very little movement of the wheel. And it corners as if on rails, in large part because of the sport differential, which actively over-speeds the outside rear wheel, thus “forcing ” the car into the corner so that it accurately follows the angle of the front wheels.
But back to cruising with the family or friends. Yes, the S5 is a four-seater. That, however, is entirely dependent of who’s sitting up front. Since I’m sixfoot-two, legroom is in extremely short supply for anyone attempting to occupy the seat behind me. Yet I saw another S5 on the road the other day and adults occupied all four seats. Furthermore, from the looks on their faces, nobody seemed to be in any discomfort.
The other thing I noticed was that all of the car’s windows were up, even at a relatively low 60 km/ h, an indication of the one downside about the S5: The higher the speed, the more air turbulence there is in the cabin. Unlike Mercedes’ E-Class convertible, which has things like AirCap to lessen the turbulence and the AirScarf neck warmer to keep passengers comfortable, the S5 has no such backups.
That said, the cabin itself is quite posh. The gorgeous Nappa leather quilted seats — with massage function — are a bold shade of red that complements the tester’s Daytona Grey paint. This S5 Technik comes with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit and a Bang and Olufsen sound system. Though nice, options such as the included head-up display and carbonfibre trim bits are unnecessary.
All convertibles are indulgent purchases. But if you enjoy cruising top down in style with performance and luxury — plus legit all-year capability — one of the best ways to do it is in an S5.