Audi / A5 / 2.0 TFSI quattro cabriolet
Overview
WITH the A5 Cabriolet, Audi is in an enviable position of offering Australian convertible buyers with a bit of disposable income to spare an attractive and practical droptop with ample performance and plenty of refinement.
But, guess what?
The base model tested here – the 2.0TFSI quattro – is the best of the bunch because of its sweet and spirited four-cylinder turbo powerplant, balanced handling, supple ride on the standard 17-inch wheels and relatively affordable pricing.
In this particular configuration, we reckon the Ingolstadt brand has a real winner on its hands.
Model release date: August 2009
Previous model
THE third modern Audi Cabriolet was based on the B7-series A4 sedan and replaced the first (B6-series) A4-based Cabriolet in Australia after just three years, in July 2006.
It was launched with a 120kW 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbocharged and 188kW 3.2-litre V6 petrol engines, mated to six-speed Multitronic CVT transmissions.
The latter was discontinued in October 2007, when S-Line versions of the 3.2 FSI quattro V6 and newer 2.0TFSI direct-injection turbo-four became available alongside the entry-level 1.8T.
Like its A5 Cabriolet successor, the B7 A4 droptop continued with the classic cloth roof design, rather than going for the increasingly popular – but flawed because of weight and packaging issues – folding hard top variety.
Nevertheless, this Audi was not without its detractors, with a hard ride on cars with low-profile tyres and some scuttle shake on irregular road surfaces, proving to be the most pressing.
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iSelect's Motor Monthly Your monthly motoring magazine; sometimes irreverent, always creative and not afraid to have a good time.
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