Open season

As temperatures (finally) start to rise stays cool thanks to Audi’s effortless rag-top

The weather’s getting warmer, honestly, and there are few ways to enjoy the summer more than wind-in-the-hair motoring. If you’re thinking about investing in a cabriolet, Audi’s A3 could be exactly what you’re looking for.

Cutting the roof off a car inevitably weakens the structure but there’s little evidence of flex or scuttle shake. The handling is predictable, and the steering can feel a little detached, but I doubt the majority of opentop motorists will be flinging their pride and joy through tight bends on a sprint crosscountry.

And if you are, stop it. That’s not how you get the best from this particular cabriolet. Slow down, take your time, savour every moment as the supple suspension smooths out those annoying surface imperfections and the flexible 2.0-litre diesel, which produces 148bhp, effortlessly propels you along.

There’s a 1.6-litre diesel which is marginally more efficient and marginally cleaner, but it’s significantly down on power, producing just 108bhp. There are two petrol options – 1.4 and 1.8-litre units – that offer improved refinement but if you opt for the larger capacity engine expect economy and emissions to take a significant hit.

There are four driving modes to choose from, Comfort, Efficiency, Dynamic and Individual. Dynamic, for example, adds a little more weight to the steering and sharpens up the throttle response for, well, a more dynamic drive. Comfort provides exactly what it says on the tin and Efficiency, well, that’s the preferred mode for us underpaid journalists.

The six-speed S Tronic dualclutch gearbox is perfectly suited to the nature of the cabriolet. Seamless, smooth and efficient, it encourages relaxed and carefree motoring.

Wind and road noise is not too intrusive, even with the roof down and, unless you’re travelling at illegal speeds, it’s entirely possible to have a conversation with the person next to you without having to raise your voice.

The roof, incidentally, can be raised and lowered in 18 seconds and at speeds up to 31mph. I’ve never been especially tempted to put that to the test so that’s something we’ll just to take Audi’s word for. The wind deflector is a £290 option and has to be installed manually. It’s a simple enough process but you can’t use it if you’re carrying some unfortunate souls in the rear.

And unfortunate they are because, while the front occupants are properly accommodated, all but the most vertically challenged will find space in the rear very much at a premium. Something that even the thrill of open-top, wind-in-the-hair motoring can’t compensate for.

The dashboard is relatively free of switchgear, although what there is feels substantial and beautifully damped. The fit and finish is first class, inside and out, and the cabin materials are sumptuous and tactile.

Audi’s superb multimedia interface (MMI) infotainment

system, complete with a large LCD screen that rises out of the dashboard, provides access to the excellent sat-nav. The top of Audi’s familiar control dial is touch sensitive, allowing you to program the sat-nav using handwriting recognition software.

Stylish, well-built and efficient, the A3 cabriolet is a sensible choice. Thrills are a bit thin on the ground but that’s offset by the impressive cruising ability and refinement.

Owning an A3 cabriolet is not about compromise, it’s about context, and in that respect, it’s premium open-top motoring at its best.