Audi A3 Cabriolet 40TFSI

We’ve ruminated on the concept of “compact luxury” in issues past, and the world has moved on even in that short period of time. not that we’re surprised. We’ve known from the get-go that the audi a3 Cabriolet would be coming to india, as also the mercedes-Benz CLa, Within a span of a couple of years, we have a new product category and already, segmentation within it.

Who’s the a3 drop-top for then? the sedan makes a good entry point into the audi stables. a second or third car to run errands in, for the very well settled. a reasonable statement for the up-and-coming MNC golden boy. take away the top and the diesel motor, add significantly more to the sticker price and what do you have? all those sensible cases are out the window. to be fair, the a3 cabriolet still ends up being one of the cheaper convertibles you can buy in india, outdone only by mini, and i’ve seen a few of those around. it occurs to me that the market for the cabriolet is the same as the one for the mercedes a-Class, which sold only for its looks and panache. if there’s one thing that attracts more attention than a sports coupe in india, it’s a drop-top.

And that top drops in 18 seconds, while on the move. us hacks may be jaded by it, but it never fails to elicit at least a few mobile videos from passers-by. Once you roll all the windows down, all four of you in the car can use individual selfie-sticks for your twit-facing. it’s got to be worth at least a hundred likes. the group will have to pack light, though; the top takes up a bit of the boot, so you’re left with 275 litres. never mind. Just buy what you need in Goa. remember to take plenty of breaks though; the rear accommodations aren’t as friendly as the a3 sedan, which was tight in itself. this is thanks to the 42mm reduction in wheelbase (the same as the a3 Sportback). You’d think that this translates to a different driving dynamic, but for the most part, it doesn’t.

Which brings us to the driving. the cabriolet is about 135 kilogrammes heavier than its hard top brother, and the suspension appears to have been tweaked to compensate for the different weight distribution as well. Where the A3 was competent, the cabriolet is downright soft. Sure, if you push it hard enough like some of the rally drivers in the team, it’s going to feel wallowy and vague, but thanks to the soft springs, this is a car you can drive fast and not think about crashing through every minor imperfection in the road. this is a more important issue than most would give credit for. the 177bhp 1.8-litre turbo four is silky smooth and takes the cabriolet from 0 to 100kmph in 7.8s, about half a tick slower than the sedan. Keeping it in sport mode provides reasonably quick shifts from the 7-speed DSG ’ box and there generally seems to be enough power in reserve for most maneuvers.

The cabrio hits 100kmph in 7.8s, about half a tick slower than the sedan

Steering is characteristically light, and while not sports car sharp, you can generally tell where the wheels are pointed. if you’re in the market for a sporty driving experience, then it’s best you look elsewhere. this is a leisure vehicle derived from a front-wheel drive compact platform. it’s not going to give you anywhere near the thrills of a BmW Z4 or even the erstwhile 330d convertible.