Insurance Group: 39
MPG: 47.9
CO2: 154
0-62 Mph: 6.3 secs
BHP: 242 BHP
Range: 643 miles
The 2.0 litre diesel engine is much more economical and still performs well.
PROS: An immensely powerful engine in a good-looking open top from Audi. The four-wheel-drive improves handling and stability.
CONS: The 3.0 litre engine means higher running costs than the 2.0 litre engines and the S line is more money than it is really worth, plus the sport suspension is very uncomfortable.
The A5 is a powerful cabriolet even with the smaller engines in the range, but the car handles really badly and the drive is very shaky. The car has good grip, especially with the four-wheel-drive option, but the suspension can mean it is not as controlled on bumpy roads. Although the option of S line suspension is firmer and handles such road with more stability, it also makes the ride quite uncomfortable.
The engine is 2968cc and uses diesel fuel with a fuel tank capacity of 61 litres. There is a seven-speed S Tronic automatic gearbox, which provides smooth acceleration.
The engines (both diesel and petrol) are quiet and refined, but there is quite a lot of wind noise even with the roof down.
The 3.0 TDI Quattro S line has a 242bhp engine delivering 368lb-ft of torque at 1400-3250rpm and reaches 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds with a top speed of 155mph.
The interior of the A5 is well-designed and high-quality, but some slightly cheap looking features on the dashboard are a bit of a disappointment. Otherwise, the car looks as an open top Audi should – stylish and sporty.
The roof is cloth as opposed to the currently popular metal roof. The acoustic version comes with the S line and S5 models and is optional on SE trims, but there is still a lot of wind noise.
The seat and steering wheel adjust comfortably, although the pedals are set off to the right, which can be a bit uncomfortable over long distances and the clutch is in a recess in the floor which makes for awkward control. Rear view visibility is fine even with the roof up.
The 3.0 TDI Quattro S line comes with leather seats, power steering, climate control, stability control, alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth, MP3 connectivity, and stereo as standard, with optional extras including cruise control for £225, metallic paint for £615 and satellite navigation for £1620.
For fuel economy, the A5 has a start/stop system and electromechanical power steering as standard, which allows for great efficiency and low CO2 emissions.
The A5 comes with all the safety equipment you would expect in a high-quality cabriolet including driver, passenger and front side airbags, alarm and immobiliser as standard, but the cloth roof is not as secure as a metal one would be. It also has stability control to prevent accidents and anti-lock brakes. There are front and back ISOFIX child seat mounting points and options to fit adaptive xenon headlights, lane-departure, a rear-view camera and blind-sport warning systems.
In the past few years, Audi’s reliability rating has suffered, but the A5’s mechanical reliability received an average rating in the 2011 JD Power survey.
The boot is sizeable offering 380 litres with the roof down and 750 litres with the roof up. The A5 cabriolet has got enough room in the front and back for passengers, but the rear seats are a little cramped for long journeys.
The running costs are good with the A5 and CO2 emissions are fairly low. The 3.0 TDI Quattro S line model costs £43,355 and has a combined economy of 47.9mpg and CO2 emission rate of 154g/km.
The diesel engine is much more efficient than the petrol version, but is worth the extra cost only if you make up enough miles to justify the price and the rising diesel prices. It will also save for company car drivers on tax due to the low CO2 emissions. The 2.0 litre engine is one of the best diesel options for value for money and the level of performance combined with low running costs. The 3.0 litre engine is a very powerful option, but the economy suffers as a result and the four-wheel-drive has the same result.
The SE trim is much better value for money than the S line, as it comes with all the same equipment as the pricier S line trim, which only adds the firmer sport suspension and a few style changes.
The resale value on the A5 cabriolet is great so it is a worthwhile investment. Audi promise good service and reliability as well.
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