2019 Audi A5 Convertible Review: Best Drop-Top In Its Class

The 2019 Audi A5 is a competent luxury coupe that offers good performance, comfort and cutting edge tech in an understated, yet charmingly handsome package. Having recently undergone a full redesign, the A5 looks and feels better than ever before, but for those who aren't content with under the radar luxury cruising, Audi has chopped the roof off of their A5, so you can now enjoy a slightly more conspicuous view of the world. The A5 Convertible comes with all the features found on an A5 coupe, including Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system and a potent 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, mated to a seven-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission. The A5 Convertible is priced competitively against its main German rivals; it undercuts the BMW 4 Series and the C-Class Convertible from Mercedes while offering an incontestably better package.

A5 Convertible Exterior

For this year, LED headlights sit at the top of the appearance changes made to the A5 Convertible which also includes LED tail lights with integrated turn signals. The standard wheel size across the range is 18 inches. Power adjustable and heated side mirrors and heat-insulating glass round up the exterior of the clean-cut A5 Convertible. Premium Plus and Prestige models can opt for the 19-inch Design line wheel package which sees the addition of 19-inch wheels wrapped in 255/35 summer tires and is connected to a sportier suspension setup. Of course, a power-retractable soft-top is what grants the A5 it's 'cabriolet' status.

Dimensions

The Audi A5 Convertible uses the same 108.9-inches of wheelbase as the coupe and shares the same length and width as its roofed sibling at 184 inches and 79.9 inches respectively, but is 0.4 inches taller at 54.4. The biggest distinction between the A5 Convertible and Coupe will be the weight difference. The A5 Convertible weighs a generous 385 pounds more than the coupe, tipping the scales at a portly 3,990 pounds.

A5 Convertible Performance

Engine and Transmission

Audi offers the A5 Convertible with one engine only, but it's a good one. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produces 248 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque and does a good job of hauling the A5 around town. Low to mid-range torque delivery is strong and the engine revs cleanly up to the limit. The A5 Convertible makes things a little harder for the four-cylinder thanks to a nearly 400-pound weight penalty over the Coupe. This extra weight means that the convertible can't brag about a sub-six second 0-60 time (It now takes six seconds on the dot) and in-gear tractability also suffers. The good news is that the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission makes up for the extra weight by exploiting every last drop of power on offer from the engine, and thanks to brisk shifting, the engine never drops out of its meaty mid-range powerband.

Handling and Driving Impressions

The A5 in standard coupe form is more of a relaxed cruiser than an outright performance car, and that applies to the convertible even more so. The 2019 A5 Convertible offers a composed and comfortable ride that suits its laid back and unflashy persona. When the A5 is pushed hard through corners it remains composed and shows minimal body roll, which for a heavy mid-sized convertible is a remarkable achievement. Sadly there is minimal enjoyment to find when driving hard; there's limited steering feedback and it feels disconnected. The sweet spot for the A5 Convertible is at cruising speed, where it shows off its comfortable yet surefooted nature. The optional 19-inch Design line wheel package and sport-tuned suspension don't compliment the A5 and only serve to over-harden the suspension without tangibly improving handling or road feedback. The Convertible uses the same brakes that do service on the A5 Coupe, and despite the weight difference still provides good initial bite and stopping power.

A5 Convertible Gas Mileage

The A5 Convertible is no gas-guzzling German muscle car, but thanks to a torquey engine that doesn't need a lot of throttle input to get things going, it manages to keep things relatively frugal. The 2019 Audi A5 Convertible will return numbers of 23/34/27 mpg (city/highway/combined). According to Audi, the extra 400 pounds doesn't have an adverse effect on the A5 Convertible's fuel consumption numbers.

A5 Convertible Interior

The Audi A5 Convertible's interior is, as you can expect from an Audi, extremely well put together and as with so many of their other models, could be compared to cars in classes above. Seats are comfortable but not overly supportive, although if you're looking for something a bit cozier, Audi supplies sportier seats as an option. Front seats in the Premium Plus and Prestige are adjustable in eight different ways and come with a memory function for the driver's seat. Tall drivers won't have any issues getting comfortable behind the steering wheel as there is plenty of room for adjustment. Occupants in the front get 41.3 inches of legroom, and surprisingly enough, the convertible offers 0.4 of an inch more rear legroom than the Coupe. Even then, only kids and smaller adults will feel comfortable in the rear, especially with the roof up. There are three interior inlays available: Aluminum Trimaran, Dark Brown Walnut wood, and Natural Gray Oak. Leather colors include a sumptuous Nougat Brown and a timeless Atlas Beige.

A5 Convertible Trunk and Cargo Space

Practicality isn't the A5 Convertible's forte, not by any stretch of the imagination, so prospective owners shouldn't be put off by the rather minuscule 9.3 cubic feet of trunk volume. The BMW 4 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Convertible are slightly better at 13.1 cubic feet and 12.6 cubic feet respectively. The A5 Convertible's trunk opening is conveniently square, however, making loading and unloading simpler. Trunk space is compromised when the roof is folded down. 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats open up some decent space for when you need to haul those new flat-packed shelves to the beach house.

Features

Even in Premium spec, which is the base model for the 2019 A5 range, the list of standard features is impressive. The exterior sports LED headlight, 18-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable and heated side mirrors as well as an S-line body kit which adds a sporty touch to the exterior styling. On the inside, Audi offers heated and power-adjustable front seats, three-zone climate control, keyless entry and start as well as a reverse camera as standard. Moving up to the Premium Plus and Prestige sees the addition of premium features such as seat memory, wireless phone charging, parking assistance, and a head-up display. Additional assists are added from the mid-tier Premium Plus, with features like side assist and rear cross-traffic alert, Audi's virtual cockpit, and even wireless device charging.

Infotainment

Audi's MMI infotainment system comes standard across all trim levels and features a seven-inch display screen mounted high on the dashboard. Functions are controlled by a dial that sits between the two front seats. Navigation is simple and intuitive and easy to get the hang of in a short amount of time. It's one of the best infotainment systems in its class. Other features include three-zone climate control. The Prestige trim gets a head-up display with navigation and a Bang & Olufsen sound system with 20 speakers.

A5 Convertible Problems and Reliability

Now in a new generation, reliability remains to be proven for the Audi A5 Cabriolet. Although the previous generation was part of a few recalls, this advancement of the same platform should yield better reliability than the already trouble-free previous iteration. In its year and a half on sale so far, the new A5 Cabrio has not been recalled. Audi backs its products with a basic four-year/50,000-mile warranty and a one-year/10,000 mile service warranty.

Warranty

A5 Convertible Safety

The 2019 Audi A5 Convertible hasn't been tested by either the IIHS or the NHTSA. The Coupe, however, scored well overall on the IIHS rating scale, obtaining a score of Good in most metrics, which should carry over to the mechanically similar convertible. Standard safety features on the A5 Convertible include a rear-view camera and blind-spot monitoring. The Premium Plus and Prestige get Audi's side and rear collision avoidance system called pre sense.

Verdict: Is The 2019 Audi A5 Convertible A Good car?

By relinquishing its hard-top, the A5 takes the junior grand tourer attitude of the A5 Coupe and gives it a sun in your face, wind in your hair makeover that perfectly suits the A5's nature. The A5 still drives well with the roof down and won't bite when you push it a bit too hard; instead, it delivers predictable handling and is a truly accomplished cruiser. The turbocharged four-cylinder has enough oomph to carry around the bulky Convertible with convincing pace. Inside you'll find peerless build quality and refinement, exactly what we've come to expect from Audi. The MMI infotainment system is class-leading, and there's enough tech to keep you busy for a good while. The A5 Convertible might seem like a car with a singular purpose, but it will surprise you with its practicality, everyday liveability, and superb balance.

What's the Price of 2019 Audi A5 Convertible?

The Premium trim base model starts off at $51,200 excluding registration, licensing and a $995 destination charge. The comparable BMW 430i Convertible costs $53,100 and the Mercedes-Benz C300 Cabriolet comes in at $51,850. The mid-range Premium Plus goes for $54,100 and the range-topping Prestige costs $57,800, both of which receive substantial price cuts compared to the 2018 model.

What Audi A5 Convertible Model Should I Buy?

The price difference between the Premium and Prestige model is $6,600, a warranted amount when you consider the added safety and infotainment features you get on the Prestige. The Premium, on the other hand, loses out on some serious safety features and other nice-to-haves that you'd come to miss once you start to live with the car. What we are left with then is the Premium Plus that, for a premium of $2,900 over the base model gets all the pre sense safety equipment of the Prestige along with a host of tech features such as MMI navigation, Audi's virtual cockpit information display and wireless charging. The Premium Plus is a good compromise between the trims on the opposite ends of the spectrum, and with an impressive list of features, it should stay relevant for years to come.

2019 Audi A5 Convertible Comparisons

2019 Audi A5 Convertible vs BMW 4 Series Convertible

BMW's 4 Series is a direct competitor to the A5 Convertible and shares a lot of the same numbers. Both cars use turbocharged two-liter four-pot engines that produce exactly 248 hp, although the Audi kicks out more torque, and they both get 27 miles per gallon. Both are priced close to $52,000 and their dimensions are almost mirrored. So what are the differences? For starters, the 4 Series sends its power to the rear wheels while the A5 turns all four wheels. The 4 Series is more of a driver's car, and enjoys a bit more of a tussle in the turns, while the A5 Convertible enjoys laidback cruising more. Both are packed with standard features and safety tech. The BMW is more in your face, both in terms of driving and design. On the other hand, the A5 is a mature cruiser that has no need to boast about its accomplishments.

2019 Audi A5 Convertible vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class Convertible

The Mercedes-Benz C300 Cabriolet poses a serious risk to the A5's dominance in the small luxury convertible market. On the technical side of things, the Merc's turbo four-cylinder produces slightly more power than the A5, and its traditional nine-speed auto helps it accelerate faster. On the road, the C300 is the more comfortable car to drive, especially with the top down, where the A5 suffers slightly from wind noise. The A5 Convertible has a better infotainment system, but the C300 comes with a few tricks up its sleeve, such as its Airscarf system that keeps your neck warm when driving with the top down in cold weather, matched only optionally on Audi's Luxury Package. The Audi is better through the bends and is cheaper, but the Mercedes C300 Cabriolet is better at being a comfortable small luxury convertible.