Audi A5 Cabrio and BMW Serie 3 Cabrio, road test (Exterior design, interior and finishes)

We already know our two protagonists, as well as their engines. On one side there is the three-cylinder diesel with 204 CV fitted to the Audi A5 Cabrio and on the other the three-litre six-cylinder petrol engine with 218 CV that powers the BMW Serie 3 Cabrio.

After talking about their engines, handling and consumption, now it is time to look in depth at the design section. For this we have two very different options, the fabric roof or the hard top. But this is not the only difference between our two protagonists, so stay with us in this comparison and we will tell you everything about these two premium convertibles.

Exterior design, sportiness and elegance

Whenever we talk about BMW people tend to think of a brand that bets on sportiness, and in some respects even its design leans that way. Meanwhile, the presentation of the Audi A5 Cabrio, with its black fabric roof, favours the elegance of traditional design.

And since they are convertibles, we begin our design analysis with the feature that defines them. The Audi A5 Cabrio, having a fabric roof, offers a mechanism that can be operated on the move as long as we do not exceed 50 km/h, and a well-achieved insulation of the cabin, both thermally and acoustically.

BMW offers a perhaps somewhat more versatile vehicle, since we have a Serie 3 Coupe and a Cabrio practically in the same car, but this has two disadvantages. The first is the loss of boot capacity, the hard top takes up more space than the fabric roof, and the second is that we must come to a complete stop if we want to lower or raise the roof of the car.

Now that we know the advantages of each roof, we continue with the review of the design. In the case of the Audi A5 Cabrio, it benefits from a small restyling it received recently, while the BMW is close to receiving the design of the new Serie 3 generation (a new front end will not take long to appear).

Both favour LED daytime running lights, each in its own way reinforcing the brand image. Audi opts for LEDs that outline the headlight and BMW for its typical circles, which are now white thanks to LEDs. Bi-xenon and automatic high beams are two features available on both convertibles, with an almost identical list of optional extras.

At the rear again the same technology: LED rear lights for both the Audi and the BMW. In the end the differences between the two lie in the exterior design and the roof, since the technology is similar in both models, whether standard or optional.

Interior design, space and quality of materials

Here there is a point to consider that may be decisive when buying one convertible or the other: the space in the rear seats. This is the differentiating element between the two models, the Audi A5 Cabrio having more generous rear seats than the BMW Serie 3 Cabrio.

In front, the space is similar in both models and you can travel comfortably at the wheel of either convertible. Meanwhile, the dashboard design follows the typical conventions of both brands.

On one side we have the already familiar dashboard of the Audi A5 (similar to that of other models in the brand), and in the case of the BMW the main feature is the sobriety of its design. Both have a high level of finish, to the point of having soft-touch plastics on the upper part of the windscreen or across the entire door panel.

The seats deserve a separate mention, because on one side the Audi had an optional extra: micro-perforated heated and ventilated seats. The ventilation system is appreciated in a convertible and worked really well. Meanwhile, the BMW fitted the “Individual” package with leather seats of supreme quality; you could spend hours touching the seats and headrests, the impressive feel.

Storage spaces and boot

Both had plenty of storage spaces both at the front and in the rear seats. And in both models we could see that the central rear seat had a generous glovebox for leaving our things (well, in the case of the BMW three glove compartments and in the Audi one with a cupholder).

The difference lies in the front doors: the glove compartments in the BMW were smaller and could be opened to leave things, and when closed they sat neatly within the door. Barely a small notepad would fit, due to their shallow depth. The Audi’s were slightly larger.

And of course, the greatest difference lies in the capacity of the boot. The A5 Cabrio has a capacity of 320 litres with the fabric roof (three layers) stored in the boot; this figure is lower than the 210 litres offered by the BMW, also with the roof stored in the boot (roof down).

We have told you both alternatives from the point of view of the design of both cars; now, as always, the choice is yours. And there is no doubt that tastes play an important role when deciding on one model or the other, regardless of the pros and cons each has. In the third part of the comparison we will discuss equipment, price and our assessment of both models.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira and collaboration from the test team

Technical specifications of this car

SedanBMW Serie 318 versions · from 50,200 €