Instrumented Test
When we recently reviewed the 2015 Audi A3 1.8T cabriolet, we concluded that its leather-lined, fashionably extroverted, dynamically adequate package made it the spiritual successor to the VW Cabriolets and E30 BMW 3-series convertibles that roamed college campuses at the behest of well-heeled coeds through the late 1980s and early ’90s. We’ve now strapped our test gear to the more powerful 2.0T version and discovered a slightly more grown-up side of the handsome droptop. Consider this the post-graduation A3 cabriolet.
The key differentiators between the two automobiles are 186 cubic centimeters of displacement, a not-insignificant 50 horsepower and 58 lb-ft of torque, all-wheel traction, and $3000 in price. Both cars were equipped with the Premium Plus package, exactly the same wheels and tires, the sportiest suspension, and Audi’s lovely six-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic.
Along with the stronger engine comes standard Quattro all-wheel drive, and thus equipped, the A3 2.0T cab feels more like a car for a grown-up—less sorority girl and more graduated professional. The sport-tuned suspension (part of the $800 Sport package) is taut and the steering is wonderfully tactile, but 250 pounds of additional weight and all-season tires that felt slippery on the road played a role in reducing grip levels. The 3634-pound 2.0T returned a Toyota Corolla–like cornering figure of 0.82 g (0.04 lower than the 1.8T) before sliding off its line with mild understeer. The car’s braking performance was okay, at 174 feet, but that’s 8 feet longer than its sibling’s.
Although the cabriolet is nearly 300 pounds heavier than the 2015 A3 2.0T sedan we tested, the droptop’s chassis is set up more or less the same. We think that fitting the A3 sedan’s Continental ContiSportContact summer tires would do wonders to liven up the droptop driving experience—the four-door stopped 18 feet shorter and pulled a seriously impressive 0.94 g on the skidpad.
The primary reason to spend the extra coin on the 2.0T, of course, is to have a quicker car than the 1.8T. And the stronger mill does not disappoint, slashing the zero-to-60-mph run by a second and a half to 5.7 seconds (just 0.3 off the pace of the 2.0T sedan), with a big hat tip given, of course, to the additional launch traction afforded by the AWD system. As always, Audi’s six-speed dual-clutch automatic is fantastic, and the Sport package’s Drive Select controls allow you to liven up the throttle response and add heft to the steering, either in concert with more aggressive transmission calibrations or individually.
In other regards, the A3 2.0T cabriolet remains as eminently enjoyable as the 1.8, one that gets even lovelier when the temperatures are affable and the sun is visible. The rear seat remains tight for standard-size humans, but kids are fine back there (and at least one dog loved it). The interior materials and design remain a cut above those in most cars of similar price, and using the retractable MMI screen with its touch-pad-topped dial interface has become second nature to us; the Google Maps navigation feature is particularly slick. Only with the top raised did we find much to gripe about, specifically how the small rear window, thick “C-pillars”, and rear headrests compromise rearward vision. That said, the A3 convertible is very quiet at speed with the top up, registering just 67 decibels at a 70-mph cruise.
The A3 cabriolet is swift and stylish, but not even Audi’s sweet 2.0-liter can turn it into a true performance machine. Until it gets a little more grip, this car will remain more of a responsible adult than wild child.
