Audi S3 Cabriolet 2014 Review

Like the A3 Cabriolet on which it's based, Audi's first topless S3 has no peer – not until BMW wheels out an M version of the new 2 Series Convertible it will launch here next February, anyway.

Until then, the S3 Cabriolet's closest rivals appear to come from within the Audi family itself.

Audi says it won't produce an RS 3 version of its smallest convertible so, until the RS 3 Sportback and sedan arrive, the range-topping A3 Cabriolet ($69,300 plus on-road costs) is either side of $10,000 pricier than the hottest A3 sedan and hatch.

And with MY15 versions of the $59,990 (plus ORCs) S3 Sportback and $62,200 (plus ORCs) S3 sedan now sharing the cabriolet's more powerful 210kW/380Nm (up from 206kW, but still well down on the 221kW S3s sold in 'cold climates') they continue to offer better performance and efficiency.

While the S3 drop-top Cabriolet is claimed to consume 7.1L/100km and hit 100km/h in 5.5 seconds, making it pretty quick in anyone's language yet still reasonably frugal, both hard-top S3s consume 6.9L/100km and hit the national highway limit in just five seconds.

That's largely because of the extra weight of the convertible's body reinforcements and folding soft-top fabric roof, which like the standard A3 Cabriolet's can be opened or closed in 18 seconds but comes standard with a noise-reducing acoustic lining and the choice of black, grey or brown colours.

As with all A3 cabrios, it does a good job of reducing cabin noise – almost to the level of a folding hard-top – and maintains decent boot space (285 litres with the roof up). Conveniently, it can also be operated at speeds of up to 50km/h (although the S3 Cab's top speed is five times faster than that), and wind noise and buffeting is acceptable anywhere below highway speeds.

But despite employing a magnesium/aluminium framed soft-top, the 1620kg cabrio weighs a whole 175kg more than the sub-1450kg S3 hatch and sedan – representing a significant penalty for the privilege of open-air motoring. Of course, like other A3 soft-tops, it also offers only four seats.

Naturally enough, apart from being a little thirstier, the lardier S3 cabrio also feels slightly slower than its four-door namesakes, both in a straight line and in corners, where it's impossible to escape the fact this is a heavy little car.

That said, at just a tenth slower to 100km/h than the bigger S5 Cabriolet, it remains a spirited steed and still sounds the business as it pops and crackles while you work the paddle shifts of the standard dual-clutch auto (six-speed, not seven, as in most other Audis). Unlike the S3 hatch and sedan, no manual transmission is available.

The A3 Cabriolet's body remains surprisingly free of flex and rattles too, despite the S3's firmer and 25mm lower suspension, which makes it far more focussed than lesser A3 cabrios without significant reduction in ride quality, while Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system maximises traction in all conditions.

Extra standard features over the top-spec A3 Ambition quattro cabrio include Fine Nappa leather trim, heated front seats, xenon headlights, MMI navigation plus, MMI touch and dual-zone climate-control.

As with the two other S3 models, there's an S performance pack option priced at $4990 and including full LED headlights, S sport front seats with diamond-stitched Fine Nappa leather trim, magnetic ride dampers ($2200 separately), a Bang & Olufsen 705-Watt 14-speaker 15-channel surround sound system ($1750 separately) red brake callipers and, in this case, 19-inch alloy wheels.

All the same, while it might be stating the obvious, we doubt anyone in the market for a hot hatch will consider the roofless S3, yet in its attempt to be both performance car and open-air cruiser, the S3 Cabriolet still falls short in comparisons with other convertibles.

At $69,300 (plus ORCs), the drop-top S3 is $14,400 pricier than the $54,900 (plus ORCs) A3 1.8 quattro Ambition convertible on which it's based, and within about $10,000 of the cheapest A5 Cabriolet and other mid-size convertibles including the Lexus IS 250C.

It's also about $30,000 dearer than Volkswagen's Golf Cabriolet, $20,000 more expensive than the VW Eos coupe-convertible and, closer to home, just $2500 less than Audi's own entry-level TT Roadster.

All of those might be front-drive models with less performance, but when you consider Mazda's lighter, lither new rear-drive MX-5 will start at around $40,000, it's easy to see why Audi expects its hottest A3 Cabriolet to fetch less than 15 Australians in the market for a small performance convertible every month.

In contrast, Audi's second-generation S3 sedan and hatch models have attracted almost 750 buyers in Australia this year, so as a niche model the S3 Cabriolet is right up there.