Review: Tastefully Topless Audi A3

I have to say it, even though I risk sounding like a grouch: spring is the most loathsome of seasons. I tolerate the birds and the bees — just not the rampant allergies.

But, alas, we at IgnitionLIVE have a job to do. So when my editor chucked me the keys to the new Audi A3 Cabriolet, I blew my nose, popped some antihistamines and hit the road in the name of consumer journalism. The previous iteration of the topless Teuton was fairly well received by our market, although it never attained the success of its rival, the BMW 1 Series Coupé.

Things got even tougher for it when the Volkswagen Golf 6 Cabriolet joined the fray. Underneath it was nearly identical, but it cost less. Much has changed since that first-generation model debuted. The new A3 hatchback shook the game up with its faultless new platform and bulletproof build quality. And it is an excellent foundation for the creation of a roofless springtime chariot.

Audi has adopted a three-box design with this one and, without that squashed rear end, it looks more substantial than its predecessor. The Cabriolet is elegant without being flashy, which has always been a hallmark of cars wearing the famous inter- linked circles emblem. Our test vehicle looked classy in its denim-blue hue and contrasting traditional black top, but you can pick, mix and specify meaner styling accoutrements if you want to stand out.

Inside, the cabriolet is identical to its hardtop brethren. The clean and functional fascia layout rates high on the user-friendliness scale. Everything is where you expect it to be. With the top up, sound intrusion compared to the standard A3 is negligible. The well-insulated canvas and thick window seals expel wind noise superbly, even at freeway speeds.

The Cabriolet takes its occupants from claustrophobic to agoraphobic in 18 seconds. And the roof can be raised or shed at speeds of up to 50km/h, which is ideal when you’re crawling in traffic on the N1 and decide to let the afternoon sun shine in. Now, you already know about the dynamics problems that plague convertible versions of cars that began life with a fixed roof.

Chopping off the top equals a loss in rigidity. And spawns ungainly characteristics such as “scuttle shake” — where vibrations and shudders are amplified because of the weaker structure. Remarkably, however, the A3 feels as taut and granite-hewn as its standard two-door and Sportback siblings. You can rough-handle it through the squiggly bits of road without being deterred by unnerving chassis flex or feelings of flimsiness.

Audi did a stellar job of reinforcing the foundation to guard against that. But the resulting added heft can be felt in the performance of the A3. On test here is the 1.8 TFSI derivative with 132kW and 250Nm of torque. It is by no means slow, but it does not feel as fast as you might think. Expect a calm, progressive increase in pace instead of a strong shove towards the horizon.

The A3 Cabriolet manages the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.8 seconds, which the equivalent hatchback version does in 7.2 seconds. But this car is not about setting the tarmac ablaze and leaving your hair a dishevelled mess. That will be the duty of the S3 Cabriolet.

This model is all about leisurely cruising. With the sky as your ceiling and the soothing voice of Michael Franks through the audio system, it is easy to be happy behind the wheel. Even if your nasal floodgates are opened and pollen-induced tears are streaming down your face. One always thinks of the Audi A3 as the motoring equivalent of the girl next door: wholesome, respectable and dignified. Now she has decided to go topless, but she does so in a most tasteful manner. It is pretty much peerless for now. But with the roofless BMW 2 Series set to strut into South Africa early next year, we can expect an interesting catfight.

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-Brenwin Naidu