Can You Drive a Convertible All Year Long? The Audi S5 Cabriolet Says Yes!
Scotty Reiss
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If only every day were the perfect Spring day…
You see her whizzing by in traffic. Her car’s top is down with her scarf flowing in the breeze, and you think, “My next car needs to be a convertible.”
And then, it snows. In fact, both of those could have taken place in a short time span with all these freezes and storms as we roughly transition from Winter to Spring. Ask me how I know.
However, I spent a week in the 2022 Audi S5 Cabriolet (the fancy French name for a convertible car) and found that yes, in fact, I could make a car like this work for me all year long: hot Summer days, cold Winter nights, surprise snowstorms and perfect Spring days, and everything in between.
Here’s why this $73,000 car would work all year, and what I loved about it during my test drive:
The front of the Audi S5 Cabriolet, with the S5 badge. Photo: Scotty Reiss
It has standard all-wheel drive
Audi calls this quattro, and most models carry the technology standard. This is a great thing! As we live through changing weather patterns and intensifying storms, all-wheel drive helps drivers in all types of challenging weather, from rain-slicked roads to snow and slush.
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Taking the family for a spin was easy. The rear seat is roomy, and getting in and out is pretty easy. Photo: Scotty Reiss
A roomy rear seat and easy access
This is probably the biggest negative for convertible owners: The rear seat is often unusable by anyone other than your dog and your handbag. Not so in the Audi S5 Cabriolet.
Not only was there a good amount of legroom (not oversized or large, mind you), but even with the top up it was easy to climb in after folding the front seat forward. Just pull the loop on the side of the seat and it slides and folds forward. There’s also an adjustment button on the side of the headrest, so rear seat passengers can give themselves a bit more legroom.
Related: Going Topless: What’s Your Convertible Car Style?
The trunk is smallish, but still fits all the key ingredients. Photo: Scotty Reiss
The trunk is reasonably large
This makes all the difference in the world. Here’s why: Often, convertible tops fold into the trunk space or, by the nature of the convertible (especially the two-seat type) the trunk is naturally small.
The Audi S5 Cabriolet has a normal-sized trunk that is reduced in size by about a third when the top is down. Essentially, the top stores flat in the trunk compartment, taking up the top of the space. You still have access to the full trunk floor, but can only lay things flat in the space. I was able to slide my Away carry-on roll-aboard bag into the space on its back, but not on its side when the top was down.
Is there enough space to fit four adults and their luggage for a road trip? Yes, but encourage everyone to pack lightly. You can probably get three small roller bags in the trunk and still have room for a couple of tote bags.
Related: Oh, Soft-Top Convertibles, You’ve Changed!
The automatic convertible Audi S5 Cabriolet. Photo: Scotty Reiss
The automatic top is a true luxury
Push the button, and the top retracts. A panel on the rear of the car opens, and the top folds into its space. If you push the button again, the panel opens and the top folds back into place over the Audi’s cabin. This isn’t new technology, but it sure is fun. Plus, it makes putting the top up or down an easy task. And we all know, if it’s inconvenient to put the top down, you’ll rarely do it.
The Digital Cockpit in the Audi S5 Cabriolet is stunning, day or night. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Audi’s digital cockpit ups the game
We love this feature for the daily driving fun and the high-tech feel. Both the driver’s information screen and the multimedia screen are clear, crisp and bright. Also, the navigation system offers a satellite image that is easy to interpret. Normally I prefer a standard paper-map style look, but Audi’s satellite image maps are a delight on the road. Plus, they just look really good.
The S5 badge on the Audi. Photo: Scotty Reiss
That S performance puts even more wind in your hair
This diminutive version of the A5 sedan carries a powerful V6 engine that produces 349 horsepower, more than plenty even without popping the car into sport mode. Though, you can do that, and it’s fun. Just tap the drive mode button below the climate controls, and you’ll instantly feel a bit more power underfoot and more wind in your hair.
A view of the front seat from the rear. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Luxury on every level
The A5 Cabriolet has a starting price of about $54,000. It offers some nice features including leather seats, elegant wood inlays on the dash, the power folding top, a 4-cylinder 263 horsepower engine, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
Upgrade to the S5 performance engine for about $9,000. This adds more than just the extra powerful engine. You’ll also get Nappa leather sport seats with S badges, 19” wheels and carbon fiber inlays.
Our model added on more goodies, including massaging seats, a premium Bang & Olufsen sound, a surround-view camera system, Audi Virtual Cockpit driver information and media system, advanced navigation, head up display and 20” wheels, as well as the specialty paint color. In all, these packages added up to about $9,500 and took the MSRP of our test model to $73,540.
The tail lights on the Audi S5 Cabriolet. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Color is everything – for good and bad
I was surprised and a bit delighted at the District Green Metallic color of our test model. I like the unusual military green color, which has an earthy, modern feel.
I also really liked the Rotor Gray leather interior, though I would prefer a beige or white interior for a convertible. In a black interior, you’re basically an egg in a frying pan on a sunny day. A color that reflects rather than absorbs light is best.
The gray color is probably (in my opinion) the best choice for this car. The other choices are black or red (though there is beige in the A5 Cabriolet models). The gray was not quite as hot and created an elegant environment with the top-up.
I definitely felt privileged and special in this car. The S trim added to that, but even at the base model you’ll feel pampered, and so will your passengers. Every day of the year, even the nice ones.
Disclosure: Audi provided the S5 Cabriolet for this test drive; all opinions are my own.
A convertible makes a ride with a friend all the more fun. Photo: Scotty Reiss
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