2022 Audi A5 Convertible

Based on the A4 sedan, but with fewer doors and the roof chopped off, the 2022 Audi A5 Cabriolet is a sumptuous drop-top powered by an uprated 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot for the new year. The power plant sends 261 horsepower to all four wheels as standard via Audi's quattro system. One can expect a spacious cabin swathed in premium materials regardless of the trim you choose: just one of the factors that ensure the Audi A5 cabriolet is an undeniably strong contender in the segment. This is despite healthy competition from the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Convertible and the all-new BMW 4 Series Convertible. It may not be the sportiest, but what it lacks in thrills it makes up for in comfort. If you wondered if the A5 Cabriolet deserves a spot on that shortlist of yours, it does. In fact, it belongs very near to the top.

The Audi A5 Cabriolet is one of the most attractive options in this segment. The front end's aggressive appearance is attributable to the large honeycomb Singleframe grille with razor-sharp LED headlights located on either side. Elegant lines direct us to the cabriolet's rear, where a set of chrome exhaust outlets mold perfectly into the diffuser. A pair of slim LED taillights include dynamic rear indicators. All three trim levels sit on a set of 18-inch V-spoke wheels as standard. There is no option of a hardtop for the Audi A5 Cabriolet, though, with the A5 wearing a standard black folding soft-top. With a clear focus on luxury over performance, there is no S line kit available for the A5 drop-top, but a range of paint colors is available to tailor the overall look.

The new Audi A5 Cabriolet is a similar size to its chief rivals in terms of exterior dimensions, with a length of 184.9 inches and a width of 79.8 inches with the mirrors included. Its low-slung profile is achieved by combining these measurements with a 54.4-inch height. All models have a 3,979-pound curb weight.

The A5 Cabriolet's turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine puts out 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque with the help of a mild-hybrid system. It is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with no manual option available and connected to a permanent quattro all-wheel-drive system. The A5 Cabriolet provides more than ample levels of performance. In terms of outputs, it's on par with its rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The cabrio makes the run from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds according to Audi.

The Audi A5 Cabriolet's quattro system is highly competent, meaning that you can put your foot down with loads of confidence regardless of the road conditions. This is a good thing for safety, but it may be a downfall for those who frequently take a stroll on the wild side. Of course, it's not lazy by any measure - it's perfect for a long drive on a sunny afternoon, but the lack of structural rigidity means it isn't quite as composed as the hardtop equivalent. The steering is excellently weighted and sharp, making it rather fun to chuck into corners if you know what you're doing. As for comfort levels, the A5 offers delightfully smooth power delivery, and the ride quality is great, too, provided you don't venture off the beaten track.

The A5 Cabriolet is a rather light sipper, meaning that you can enjoy quite a bit of power without wondering if you're racking up a monstrous fuel bill. The 2022 models return EPA estimates of 23/31/26 mpg. The Audi is almost on par with the 2022 BMW 430i xDrive convertible's figures of 23/33/27 mpg, but is more frugal than the Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC's 22/30/25 mpg estimates. When the 15.3-gallon tank is full, the A5 will manage a range of approximately 398 miles.

One of the Audi A5's biggest edges in the segment is its immaculate interior. Every inch is covered in top-tier soft-touch materials, and not a trace of cost-cutting is evident inside. Front seat passengers are welcomed with an abundance of space in terms of legroom, but rear passengers won't be as lucky. But, of course, it won't be as commodious as its 4-door sibling, the A4. As for headroom in both aspects, there's a really easy way to gain access to unlimited amounts of the stuff - simply drop the top. Eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating are standard across all trim levels.

Convertibles aren't known for cavernous trunks that embody practicality. The rear storage area of a cabriolet is usually violated by the roof that needs a place to go, and the A5 is no different. A mere 9.3 cubes are available for luggage or anything else you may want to store in the trunk, and it's certainly not the most generous in the segment. It's beaten out by the 2022 4 Series' 13.6 cubes but it bests the C-Class' 8.8 cubes.

In-cabin storage includes a decent glove compartment, generous door pockets and a storage bin underneath the center console will hold small items easily.

As expected at this price point, the A5 is decadent in all its forms. Starting with the base-level Premium model, push-button start is standard along with cruise control, three-zone automatic climate control, LED interior lighting, leather upholstery and eight-way power-adjustable front seats with four-way power lumbar support for the driver. The Premium Plus adds memory for the driver's seat and leatherette for the center console and armrests. The LED interior lighting plus package is reserved for the Prestige model.

Standard safety features on all models include a rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning and pedestrian monitoring. Premium Plus models add front and rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, vehicle exit warning, adaptive cruise control, active lane assist and a top-view camera system. The head-up display and traffic sign recognition are reserved for the Prestige spec.

Modern tech is bounteous in the A5 at most levels, but higher trims are upgraded significantly.

In its base form, the Premium has analog gauges with a seven-inch driver-information display between them and a 10.1-inch touchscreen that enables full smartphone integration through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth streaming. A 10-speaker sound system is standard. The Premium Plus adds an Audi Virtual Cockpit 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with three visual modes along with SiriusXM and wireless charging. Saving the best for last, the Premium Plus adds a 19-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system to the mix along with a navigation system.

The 2022 A5 Cabriolet hasn't been recalled in the USA as yet, but the 2021 model was recalled for potentially malfunctioning seatbelt locking retractors, rear-axle lock nuts that may break, and for missing taillight wiring-harness scuff protection. If reliability is a concern, Audi offers a four-year or 50,000-mile basic warranty, a 12-year corrosion warranty, and the drivetrain warranty is valid for the same time period and mileage limit as the basic warranty. Roadside assistance is standard for four years.

The NHTSA has not published a review of the A5 Cabriolet for 2022, and neither has the IIHS. But, the latter agency has rated the hardtop 2022 Audi A5 Coupe where it managed to bag impressive safety ratings of "good" in all crash tests. The standard airbag system includes front-impact, side-impact, and overhead airbags. Standard safety features at base level are inclusive of a rearview camera, lane departure warning, forward collision warning and pedestrian monitoring while higher trims add features like front and rear parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert.

The Audi A5 Cabriolet is an excellent car with very little to complain about. It offers decent performance, comes in at a slightly lower price than its rivals, and is loaded with luxury. Sure, it's not super exciting to drive, but it won't disappoint in the corners or deliver an unrefined experience. It does what a four-pot-powered luxury convertible is supposed to do, which is offer a plush interior and enough power to make a decent run from zero to sixty. Perhaps there could be slightly more safety features added to the base model and its trunk is quite a bit smaller than some rivals, but those are pretty much the only real gripes we can mention. The gorgeous interior is a massive plus for the A5, and so is its tendency to sip fuel considerately. The drop-top is a worthy contender by many measures and deserves your attention.

The cost to buy any luxury vehicle in the US is usually high, but the Audi A5 Cabriolet's price is decent compared to the competition. The entry-level Premium model has a starting MSRP of $51,800 while the mid-level Premium Plus bumps the price up to $56,700. You'll have to fork out $62,550 to get your name onto the Prestige model's ownership papers. All prices are exclusive of the $1,045 destination and handling fee.

There are three versions of the Audi A5 Convertible for sale; the Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. The best one to go for would likely be the mid-range Premium Plus, but we'd add a few goodies to make it an excellent all-rounder. We'd opt for the premium $595 Tango Red metallic paint for starters and continue with the $1,900 Warm Weather package that adds ventilated front sport seats with four-way power lumbar support and a neck-level heating system. This brings the final asking price up to $58,095, which is still more affordable than the top-tier Prestige model, but nearly as luxurious.

Straight off of the bat, you can tell that the C-Class is not as handsome as the Audi A5 Cabrio. But this is just our opinion, and both German-bred luxury cars have well-appointed interiors. The inside of the A5 is arguably more modern, but it's rather difficult to compete with an interior set-up from Mercedes-Benz these days. The two produce similar outputs from their 2.0-liter turbos, but the C-Class is significantly less fuel-efficient in comparison. The Audi A5 cabriolet's 0-60 mph run takes 5.6 seconds, half a second faster than the Merc's 6.1-second achievement. As for performance, both of them prioritize comfort over athleticism, which isn't exactly a bad thing. The Audi A5 is the better car with all things considered, one of them being that it just has a more progressive feel inside and out.

The brand-new BMW 4 Series Convertible addresses all the gripes related to the old model's advanced age and has a properly modern interior in terms of style and tech. The A5 offers slightly more power and it beats the 430i xDrive's 5.8-second sprint to 60 mph, but manages to nearly match it in terms of fuel economy figures. Both provide decent performance, but the A5 is the better car to drive, given the BMW's surprisingly soft suspension. Audi's drop-top runs the 4 Series close in almost every aspect, despite its complete redesign. It's a dead heat and if you don't mind the 4 Series soft approach to handling and the polarizing frontal styling, you'd be perfectly happy with it.