Audi A3 1.8 TFSI Sport

 

What‘s it? The new – and rather excellent – cabrio version from the Audi A3 1.8 TFSI Sport, complete with what Audi claims is that the fastest operating electric hood inside the world. It will take only one touch of the button and nine seconds to collapse the fabric roof. A BMW 1-series cabrio’s hood takes over twice as long to undergo its motions, and coupe-cabriolet models are likely to take nearly three times longer. Once open the A3 cabrio is very a looker, even when the way in which the hood itself stows straight into the rear bodywork leaves a teeny bit to become desired ; unlike the 1-series (or most other cabrios ) you are able to still see many of the mechanical gubbins on either side because there isn‘t any extra flap to cover them from view, which is really a pity. Apart from this There‘s much to like in regards to the A3 cabrio, and never much to dislike.

What’s it like? The cabin draws the majority of its cues coming from the hatchback early on with a couple of extra touches, for example the instruments and dash trim on Sport and S-line models taken coming from the S3. You receive a six speed manual gearbox as standard upon the 1. 8 TFSI, and it’s a very good gearbox ; light of touch, crisp, and fitted having a near-perfect group of ratios that enable you in order to make full use from the turbocharged petrol engine’s useful spread of power. Audi opted to not result in the Audi A3 1.8 TFSI Sport cabriolet a CC-style hardtop, however the conventional canvas roof keeps a heated glass rear window. The advantage of the set-up is noticeably more boot space than CC rivals, having a decent 260 litres beneath the tailgate. Rear seat space is likewise not as compromised as it could happen to be having a folding hard top. The bench seat could be a tad flat across its base but there‘s useable room for four full size adults within the A3 cabrio, hood up or down, and that’s a genuine one-up on its CC rivals. Despite adding a couple of pounds compared using its hatchback sibling because of various (successful ) attempts to stay it rigid, the A3 cab still feels perky, agile and surprisingly brisk on an open road.

You sense almost no flex inside the chassis, even over rough roads, and also the steering remains every bit also resolved as that from the hatchback. Which suggests it’s slightly detached in outright feel, perhaps, but simultaneously accurate, virtually kickback-free and impressively precise through quick corners. The engine lacks a little bit of sparkle inside the aural department : it’s an effective-but bland motor that displays neither enthusiasm or objection towards being revved. However it certainly delivers when it comes to bald performance, endowing the A3 with acceleration not far in need of the more costly, heavier BMW 125i cabrio. Economy and CO2 emissions are decent, too – 37. 2mpg and 174g / km. Should I buy one? If you wish the way in which it‘s then it’s hard to discover why not. The A3 cabriolet is an effective car to drive, and refreshingly free of the vices that normally afflict small chop-tops. The BMW 1-series cabrio has a really serious rival – or should that be another way round?