Elegant exterior styling and a well-crafted interior are the big draws for the A5. The convertible version is lovely and offers some clever features. Both coupe and convertible are rewarding to drive and feel solid. The Audi A5's agile handling also makes it fun to drive. Ride quality is firm, yet absorbent and steady.
The turbocharged four-cylinder engine is amply powerful, but when stretched it can sound a bit raspy and unbefitting of the image of the car. The S5 comes with a punchy, effortless and invigorating supercharged V6.
The convertible's roof is effectively insulated against noise and temperature extremes and can be operated while the car is moving, which is a trick retractable hardtops can't match. Another benefit of the soft top, as opposed to a folding hardtop, is the trunk is not consumed by a folded metal roof when the top is down. The A5 convertible also uses different temperature and seat heater settings for open top cruising. Unlike several other convertibles, the body is completely shake free. And there aren't a lot of all-wheel-drive convertibles to choose from.
While the rear seat is cramped compared to other convertibles, it's one of the roomiest and will hold two adults. Rear access is as clever as can be without the need to dodge the seat belts. On the other hand, the controls aren't initially straightforward and require a learning curve, but ultimately prove logical.