Review of the new Audi A4 Cabriolet - Final Report

Fast forward back to the Summer of 2002 and Audi's A4 Cabriolet was the coolest car you could be seen in. It says much for this car as it reaches the end of a distinguished production run that it still looks as classy and desirable as ever.

We've been running one on our long term test fleet for the last year and the keys have always been in demand, not least because our example was fitted with Audi's fast, yet frugal, 3.0-litre TDI diesel engine. So this was a car that was fun for a blast to the pub. Yet also a good choice for a long distance motorway jaunt.

Forget the A4 badge, this Cabriolet is very much a model in its own right, sharing not one single panel with the A4 saloon. Inside, there's space for four adults - but they'd better not have too much luggage: there's 246 litres with the roof down or 315 litres with the top up: enough space for two golf bags in real terms.

Unlike many convertibles of its type, it doesn't have one of those silly and cumbersome metal folding roofs, so the fabric hood folds up neatly in the boot leaving you a decent amount of space for your luggage. The interior is typically well constructed and the hood is folded away neatly and without fuss at speeds of up to 20mph by holding a switch next to the handbrake. It's a beautifully-lined three-layer affair, hiding away beneath an aluminium-trimmed solid tonneau cover when not in use. Electrically operated of course, it opens or closes in 24 seconds and there are no fiddly manual latches to break your nails on before you can press the button. The whole thing can also be done from the outside of the car by using the remote control keyfob.

A nice option that we appreciated was a wind deflector (essential if you want to comfortably drive with the roof down at speed) though in use, it effectively reduces your car to a two-seater. The rear window is a proper heated glass affair and there is the option of an optional hard top, for more comfortable day-in, day-out winter motoring.

"It's been more of an all-rounder than we ever expected it to be, combining desirability with surprising day-in, day-out practicality.."

Under the bonnet, all our testers have, as I suggested, been impressed by the 230bhp 3.0-litre TDI diesel. What's not to like? It's virtually as fast as the 3.2-litre V6 FSI petrol engine and yet returns average fuel economy figures that are superior to the weedy entry-level 1.8-litre Turbo. Better still, it's packing 450Nm of torque between 1,400 and 3,250rpm which is more than the 4.2-litre V8 in the S4 cabriolet. This engine gives the A4 Cabriolet the aforementioned effortless cruising ability, with vast waves of torque washing around the mid-range to surge you through overtaking manoeuvres and devour the severest of inclines. It's the perfect engine for a Cabriolet in many ways, relaxed and powerful but with good fuel economy to inject a degree of commonsense that's not usually prevalent in this sector of the market.

Available only with the four-wheel-drive quattro transmission system, the 3.0-litre TDI A4 Cabriolet comes with a six-speed manual gearbox but can be specified with the 6-speed tiptronic set-up fitted to our test car if you so desire. I haven't found the automatic option to be particularly fluent but for more image-conscious customers than me, it'll mean a hand free more of the time for waving nonchalantly at passers-by. Standard equipment is fairly generous with the 3.0TDI getting a 6-CD autochanger and satellite navigation but if you want to make more of a visual impact, there are Sport and S-Line packs which add bigger wheels and all sorts of styling accessories.

The ride is smooth as a cabriolet's should be, although the S-Line models do firm things up a touch for buyers wanting a sportier experience. Most of the feedback that reaches the driver comes through the suspension as the steering feels quite dead but there's plenty of scope to press-on and have some fun.

And safety? Well, behind the rear seats are two retracted bars that deploy if sensors detect an imminent rollover and the windscreen and frame are claimed by Audi to be exceptionally strong. A canvas hood can't offer the same sort of protection as a metal roof, but all elements of its structure are designed to form a "survival zone" that will remain intact. As a family man, I appreciated the fact that all the passenger seats have Isofix child seat mounting points (and there's an airbag cut-off switch for the front passenger seat). Plus you get standard equipment that also includes ESP stability control with brake disc-cleaning, front and side airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners and belt-force limiters.

Overall, we're sorry to see the Audi go. It's been more of an all-rounder than we ever expected it to be, combining desirability with surprising day-in, day-out practicality. There may be more modern prestigiously-badged convertibles out there but few will stand the test of time as well as this one.

If you're looking for a secondhand drop-top that will be as beautiful to own in five years' time as it is now, I can think of no better home for your money.