Car reviews

The A3 Cabriolet is an upmarket small convertible that is more affordable than the A4 Cabriolet and more practical than the TT Roadster. It took some time coming, though – the A3 hatchback on which it’s based was launched in mid-2003, while this Cabriolet didn’t appear until early 2008. But it was worth the wait. It’s a feel-good open top that’s well built, good to drive and available with some excellent engines. It isn’t a flawless car – the boot is extremely awkward to access and base cars don’t come with a fully automatic roof. But these are minor faults in what is overall a very good car. In 2009 the TDI engines were improved with a start-stop system which significantly lowered emission and boosted fuel economy.