Audi A3 Cabriolet Review 2024
Written by Andrew Brady
- 2016
- Convertible
- Petrol, Diesel
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Quick overview
Pros
- Elegant and refined open-top car
- Punchy, refined and economical 1.4 and 1.5 engines
- Easy to drive and reasonably practical
Cons
- Can be expensive to buy
- Emphasis is on comfort, rather than dynamism
- Insurance costs are quite high
Overall verdict on the Audi A3 Cabriolet
"Compact convertibles with four seats are very thin on the ground, but one of the best of the bunch is the Audi A3 Cabriolet. It might have been quietly withdrawn from sale in 2020 but it remains an impressive car, demanding few compromises in terms of space or practicality despite the convertible roof. It's good looking and comfortable too."
The first Audi A3 Cabriolet was a rather dumpy-looking thing. Pleasingly, this version, which arrived in 2013, is much more elegant and a great cabriolet. Thanks to being based on the stretched Audi A3 Saloon platform, it’s longer, sleeker and more sophisticated than the awkward, hatchback-derived original, and seemed to win more fans by looking like a car from the sector above. The similarities with the desirable Audi A5 Cabriolet, even today, are obvious.
There are many who like small cabriolets such as this. Buyers seem to rate the combination of relative affordability, compact dimensions and distilled luxury car comfort. Audi has been a brand synonymous with attainable drop-top cabriolets for years – remember the ‘Lady Diana’ Audi 80? The A3 Cabriolet continues that tradition with aplomb.
Drawing from the excellent A3 range is a great place to start. It means the Cabriolet gets a really high-quality interior with a modern and contemporary layout, plus some neat tech highlights – including Audi’s innovative fully-digital instrument cluster with widescreen mapping.
Audi worked hard to make the boot more practical and commodious with this version, too. It’s still hardly mammoth, as there’s only so much you can do to enlarge a cabrio boot, but it was usefully bigger than before. The same goes for the rear seats – they’re far from lavish, but not quite as torturous as before.
As for the roof, it’s a folding soft-top with a proper (heated) glass rear window. It goes up and down in around 18 seconds – and can be operated at speeds of up to 31mph. That’s good news if you’re looking to grab some rays (or escape the rain) when the traffic lights change…
The extensive engine range is the familiar Audi fare. Think turbo petrols and turbo diesels. We like the entry-level 1.4-litre TFSI, which was gradually updated (and enlarged to 1.5 litres) over the years, while the 1.6 and 2.0 TDI diesels are familiar and effective. You can get a range-topping petrol with 190PS, but you don’t really need it, as the A3 Cabriolet isn’t really a sports car anyway. Leave that sort of stuff to the Audi S3 Cabriolet.
The set-up instead focuses on a smooth drive, with a serene ride quality, so long as you avoid the raciest models with the stiffest suspension and biggest wheel options. While it’s competent and effortless through corners, it’s not the sort of car you’ll take for a Sunday morning blast. Instead, it’s one you’ll prefer to take for a gentle cruise with the roof down, enjoying the wind in your hair and the solid reassurance of a robust, high-quality car beneath you.
Audi has stuck with the core model range through the A3 Cabriolet’s lifetime. There’s SE, Sport, S Line, and numerous add-on packs to boost features and value. The latter means looking at used examples can be a bit confusing, particularly as engine power output changed several times as well. But you can be safe in the knowledge there’s not a duffer amongst them – simply a range that evolved and improved through the years.
Now phased out, the Audi A3 Cabriolet remains a handsome and stylish machine. It’s a car that’s sold fairly well to a loyal customer base through the years, so there’s a good selection of used models on the market. We think this pretty car is worth a look, so here’s everything you need to know about buying an Audi A3 Cabriolet.
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Is the Audi A3 Cabriolet right for you?
Its lean and lithe appearance is one of the biggest reasons to like the Audi A3 Cabriolet. It’s a particularly attractive and elegant small convertible, one that looks good with the roof up, but particularly so with it down. That it followed on from such an awkward-looking machine as its predecessor simply reinforces what a good job Audi did with the design.
It’s an easy, laid-back car to drive, particularly the automatics, and all the engines feel sophisticated, with good pulling power. Even a base-spec A3 Cabriolet looks classy inside, and the level of tech that’s available both as standard and on the options list is tempting.
What really might make the A3 Cabriolet right for you is its accessibility. It’s not excessively expensive to buy new (while you still can), and value is slowly developing secondhand. A car that still looks good even seven years after launch, there’s a lot to like with this generation of drop-top A3. There is of course the rest of the Audi A3 family including the Audi A3 hatchback and the five-door Audi A3 Sportback.
What’s the best Audi A3 Cabriolet model/engine to choose?
We really would be perfectly happy sticking with the base 1.4-litre TFSI petrol engine. It’s surprisingly punchy and it even has cylinder switch-off technology so it can save still more fuel than its already fuel-sipping nature delivers. It’s smooth, quiet and even quite good fun to rev through the gears.
The TDI diesels are nice engines, but don’t work as well in a cabriolet like this. And we don’t think you need the extra power of the 1.8-litre TFSI and 2.0 TFSI engines either – the only proviso being if you want the added confidence of Quattro all-wheel drive.
SE trim is a good entry-point, with Sport offering a bit more style. We prefer it to S Line, which looks good but also has a stiffer and less well-suited ride quality.
What other cars are similar to the Audi A3 Cabriolet?
The Audi’s obvious rival is the BMW 2 Series Cabriolet. This is another car that was decidedly awkward-looking in original 1 Series Cabriolet guise but became like the proverbial ugly duckling that grew into a pretty swan.
Part of the charm of a MINI Convertible is that it’s not particularly elegant, especially from the rear, which has a resemblance to a pram. People like it for exactly this, although don’t expect it to be anything like as practical as the Audi. The now-defunct Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet will be, though, and it bears more than a passing resemblance to the Audi in terms of feel and ambience. No surprise, given how similar they are beneath the surface...
Other, less practical wind-in-the-hair choices include the Mercedes-Benz SLC, Mazda MX-5 and maybe even a leftfield cutie such as the Fiat 500C.
Comfort and design: Audi A3 Cabriolet interior
"Audi is well known for its sophisticated interiors, and the firm took a notable step up when it created the previous-generation A3. It's still one of the most high quality compact car interiors today."
The design remains clean and elegant-looking, with simple lines and a lack of fuss that contrasts with the ‘noisier’ designs of modern Audis. We like the elegance of it all, from the round and tactile air vents to the attractive steering wheel and simple climate control panel. It seems to suit an open-plan, open-top car very well.
Not all models get the fully-electronic instrument display, sadly. There’s nothing wrong with the regular dials, but the impact of the Audi Virtual Cockpit is not to be underestimated – particularly when you switch it into full-screen navigation mode. It has a real wow-factor.
The seats in standard SE-grade cars are OK, but we would err towards the sports seats in Sport versions. These are a more hip-hugging design, and have adjustable under-thigh support to perfect the most comfortable driving position. They also look good, with their multi-layered design resembling the seats in a full-fat Audi RS model. Well, we can but dream.
Another neat feature is the option of seat heating that extends right up to head level – so you can lean back and feel the warmth when driving roof-down in winter.
Perhaps the only design aspect of the A3 Cabriolet that looks slightly dated is the infotainment screen, which whirrs up from the dashboard. Most cars these days have freestanding screens, so it seems a bit odd for the Audi’s display to pop up and down. This has also limited how big Audi was able to make the screen during the car’s lifetime, too.
Quality and finish
Quality really is top-notch in the Audi A3 Cabriolet. You will have no complaints about the finish of the plastics, which have that premium feel, while the bits you can see are all low-sheen, soft-touch and tactile. Audi almost shows off with the attention to detail within, be it the rotating air vents, the silver strip set into the dashboard, the dished steering wheel, and even the soft rubber-style finish on the door pulls.
It looks good at night, with the soft red glow of all the switches contrasting with the white instrument illumination – or, for models with the Audi Virtual Cockpit, the bright and crisp TFT screen’s many different set-ups.
The drop-top A3 is a well-finished machine from the outside as well. Paint quality is impeccable, as is panel fit, and the folding soft-top roof looks tight and taut when raised. It also drops down cleanly into the body structure when folded, for a seamless and high-quality appearance.
Infotainment: touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the Audi A3 Cabriolet
All Audi A3s get the Audi MMI infotainment system fitted as standard. This features a 7.0-inch colour screen, which rises up and down from the dashboard and is controlled via a central MMI dial (it isn’t touchscreen as it's too far away). The standard system is MMI Radio Plus, which has an SD card slot, aux-in socket, Bluetooth and voice control.
Upgrading to MMI Navigation adds dual card readers, 4G wi-fi with hotspot and a comprehensive sat-nav system. This can be upgraded further with MMI Navigation Plus, which has swifter mapping and more onboard storage.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto came to the A3 Cabriolet after launch, further expanding the functionality of the infotainment system. The car has never been able to benefit from a larger screen than the original 7.0-inch item, though. If you want to get a more eye-catching display, you need to go for a model fitted with Audi Virtual Cockpit.
Space and practicality: Audi A3 Cabriolet boot space
As the Audi A3 Cabriolet is based on the longer saloon model, it means front-seat space and comfort are pretty good for a small car. We won’t exactly call it compact, though: the Audi A3 Cabriolet's exterior dimensions make it 4423mm long and 1793mm wide.
The driver has plenty of legroom and a highly adjustable driving position – and taller folk can position the seat low enough to get their heads fully below the windscreen header rail with the soft-top folded.
Unlike the previous A3 Cabriolet, the rear seats make a decent fist of accommodating adults. They are specifically shaped for two, but this is no bad thing as it means they can be nicely sculpted to support adults. There’s just about enough legroom, particularly if front-seat passengers are prepared to compromise, and headroom with the roof down is naturally endless.
With the roof up, however, it’s pretty claustrophobic. There’s not much light due to the thickness of the roof, and the side panels are flat and a bit stark. The backrests are a bit upright, too. There are no electric window controls in the back, as the windows go up and down as a function of the folding roof. At least rear-seat passengers get cupholders mounted in the centre of the seats, so they’re not completely forgotten.
The boot isn’t a bad size, although it’s restricted by the compact opening necessitated by the soft-top folding mechanism mounted above. There’s a divider that kicks in with the roof folded, restricting the Audi A3 cabriolet's boot capacity to 287 litres. If you’re happy to keep the roof up, it extends to 320 litres. Leave your rear-seat passengers at home and the space grows further, to 678 litres.
Handling and ride quality: What is the Audi A3 Cabriolet like to drive?
"The Audi A3 Cabriolet is an easygoing soft-top: comfortable, viceless and fuss-free. It uses contemporary underpinnings that feel sophisticated and assured, with handling proving to be precise and predictable despite the convertible roof. Sometimes, open-top cars feel sloppier than their hard-top alternatives, as the structure isn't as stiff, but there are few such qualms with the A3 Cabriolet."
Its steering is precise, and some models come with a ‘progressive’ steering system that varies the ratio. It’s ‘quicker’ at parking speeds, then more gradual at higher speeds. Saying that, neither system actually offers much feel.
There are three types of suspension – regular, Sport (lowered by 15mm) and ‘S Line Sports’, which is lowered by 25mm. We think the regular setup is best, with Sport being a decent balance. S Line is probably a bit too much, as the ride becomes choppier.
Core ride quality is actually very pleasant, with good compliance that feels well suited to a cruise-along car such as this. It’s why, even on Sport models, we’d probably go for the no-cost option of regular suspension, and enjoy the extra smoothness.
Audi also fits its Drive Select system, to vary the weight of the steering, the response of the accelerator and other parameters (including gear-change shift points in automatics). Again, it’s a button you’re not likely to use all that often, as the regular setting is just fine. The steering is good as it is: certainly, it doesn’t need any more weight.
What engines and gearboxes are available in the Audi A3 Cabriolet?
The main engine is the Audi A3 Cabriolet 1.4-litre TFSI. Originally, this produced 140PS, with Audi soon upping it to 150PS. A four-cylinder turbocharged engine, it is beautifully smooth and refined, with ample pulling power in reserve.
You really don’t need any more – and if you do, the later replacement for this engine, the 1.5-litre TFSI (now renamed 35 TFSI), is even better, with 0-62mph in less than nine seconds. Both engines feature clever ‘cylinder on demand’ tech, cutting off two cylinders when you’re cruising. It’s imperceptible but really does save fuel.
The 2.0-litre TFSI (now renamed 40 TFSI) engine is unnecessary unless you want hot hatch acceleration (and the ability to choose Quattro all-wheel drive). Diesel engines somehow don’t seem so fitting in a sophisticated cruiser such as this. Saying that, both 1.6 TDI (116PS) and 2.0 TDI (150PS or 184/190PS) choices are responsive, particularly the larger engine, and deliver excellent fuel economy. Again, you can also get the larger 2.0 with Quattro all-wheel drive.
Manual gearboxes are light and slick-shifting, with an easygoing and precise clutch pedal. A crisp accelerator makes them easy to drive in town. The alternative automatic gearboxes are called S Tronic, and are a DSG dual-clutch design with seven speeds. It’s an excellent set-up, with swift and super-smooth gearshifts, plus an uncanny ability to always be in the right gear at the right time.
Refinement and noise levels
With the roof up, the Audi A3 Cabriolet is hardly noisier than a hard-top model – particularly Sport and S Line versions with the acoustic soft-top roof, which has more layers of noise-isolating material. You could have this as an option on the base version.
Special mention also goes to the roof mechanism itself, which whirrs up and down very quietly. Some convertible roofs can make an awful racket, but the A3 Cabriolet is much more impressive in this regard, with the smooth operation of a much larger, more luxurious machine.
With the roof down, wind roar is kept at bay at normal speeds, and Audi offers a wind deflector to cut turbulence at higher speeds (although it does eat up rear-seat space). You can get premium sound systems, too, which have the power to offer good clarity even with the roof folded. It’s like your own mobile Glastonbury.
The only thing that can spoil it is the slight clatter of the diesel engines, which you’ll notice when driving around town with the roof down. That’s why we prefer the sweet little 1.4-litre turbo petrol, which is near-silent in use and a very pleasant partner in the A3 Cabriolet.
Safety equipment: How safe is the Audi A3 Cabriolet?
Reassuringly, Audi stresses how much the windscreen surround has been strengthened in the A3 Cabriolet, for extra rollover protection. There are also safety hoops in the rear deck that automatically pop up during the (very rare) incidence of the car tipping over.
Euro NCAP didn’t crash-test the A3 Cabriolet, but did award the regular Audi A3 hatch a five-star rating in 2012, with an impressive 95% for adult occupant protection, 87% for child safety, 74% for pedestrian protection and 86% for safety assist features. Airbags include the regular front and side bags, plus a driver’s knee airbag, although it’s not possible for curtain airbags to stretch rearwards, due to the car’s soft-top design.
Audi offers some useful optional safety gadgets on the A3 Cabriolet. These include autonomous emergency braking that, at city centre speeds, warns the driver if it detects an imminent front-end collision and, if they don’t react, automatically stamps on the brakes. It works with both other cars and pedestrians. Audi Pre Sense is another feature, which automatically shuts the windows and pre-tensions the seatbelts if it detects a crash.
MPG and fuel costs: What does a Audi A3 Cabriolet cost to run?
"The open-top Audi is also a fuel-efficient machine. Our favourite 1.4-litre TSI engine officially averages up to 58.9mpg, according to the older (and admittedly more lenient) NEDC fuel-economy test. Even S Tronic automatics return over 55mpg. The later 1.5-litre version is just as efficient despite its extra power – and both motors offer potential additional real-world savings thanks to their ‘cylinder on demand’ technology."
For a while early on in the A3 Cabriolet’s life, Audi sold a 1.8-litre TFSI with 180PS, but this is much less efficient than the 1.4-litre. Even according to NEDC testing, it only averaged 42.8mpg. You’re better off with the 2.0 TFSI if you need more power – surprisingly, it’s a lot more efficient than the 1.8 motor.
On paper, the 1.6-litre TDI manages over 72mpg, while a 2.0 TDI 150 is said to achieve over 67mpg. You won’t see this in real-world use, but diesels are still very fuel-efficient, particularly for higher-speed, higher-mileage use. If you cover lots of miles, a diesel will keep fuel costs down.
How reliable is the Audi A3 Cabriolet?
Audi as a brand has a good reputation in terms of reliability, with a score of 9.12 out of 10 in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index.
As for the A3 Cabriolet itself there are no specific issues to note, although if you are looking at a car with the 1.5-litre 35 TFSI there have been reports of hesitation at low engine speeds. Audi issued a fix for this in 2020 so check to see if this has been carried out.
Insurance groups and costs
As it is an open-top car, the Audi A3 Cabriolet will cost a little more than a regular A3 to insure, due to its higher insurance groups. A regular 1.4-litre TFSI starts at Group 22 (out of 50), for example, with the lower-power 1.6-litre TDI coming in from Group 21.
Later, more powerful 1.5-litre TFSI versions pushed insurance up to group 27, while more powerful petrol and diesel motors ease into group 30 and beyond.
VED car tax: What is the annual road tax on a Audi A3 Cabriolet?
The A3’s low CO2 emissions pay dividends when it comes to VED (road tax). Most 1.4-litre TFSI and 1.5 TFSI versions fall into the £30-a-year band, with the 1.6 TDI taking it down to just £20 a year.
Larger diesels aren’t bad, and the 2.0-litre TFSI is liable for £150 a year. Just watch that 1.8-litre TFSI, though, which can cost up to £205.
How much should you be paying for a used Audi A3 Cabriolet?
"The earliest 2016 cars are now under £15,000 or less, but it's worth bearing in mind that there aren't a huge number on the market so it's worth being patient and looking around. The better cars start at around £16,000, which will serve up a good selection of desirable 1.4-litre TFSI Sport versions, with low mileage and wearing 2016 registrations. Some are even fitted with optional sat-nav."
Sport models are by far the most commonplace grade of Audi A3 Cabriolet, with more S Line versions arising as you move your budget up closer to £20,000. This will also get you into a 2018 1.5 TFSI Sport, which looks like a very safe bet to us. Look out for used cars fitted with desirable extras, such as the Virtual Cockpit instrument display.
Trim levels and standard equipment
The Audi A3 Cabriolet trim levels are nice and simple: SE, Sport and S Line. Even the basic car comes with a good amount of standard equipment, including 16-inch alloys, air-con, MMI infotainment display, DAB and Bluetooth, automatic lights and wipers, and USB connectivity.
Audi A3 Cabriolet Sport models get the lower suspension and 17-inch alloys. The acoustic roof is also fitted, which is well worth having, particularly as it’s combined with other nice Sport features such as more bolstered seats.
Audi A3 Cabriolet S Line versions start with 18-inch alloys and a more stylish S Line makeover outside and in – think a distinctive bodykit and special S Line-branded upholstery. The S Line suspension is also available as an option, which lowers the car further.
Ask the heycar experts: common questions
Is there a new Audi A3 Cabriolet?
How much is an Audi A3 Cabriolet?
Is the Audi A3 Cabriolet discontinued?
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