► BMW M235i wins the best drive
► Audi A3 wins the overall battle
► Vaxuahll Cascada… urm, no.
BMW’s 2-series ups the ante among the premium small cabrio elite, making Vauxhall’s extraordinarily audacious bid to join the club look an increasingly big ask. We test all four contenders in this summery segment.
What’s the story?
Volkswagen Golf cabriolet… Volkswagen might mean the ‘People’s Car’, but the Golf cabriolet is shorthand for ‘Posh People’s Car’. The ubiquitous droptop for the world of Daily Mail outrage and kids at public school, and as timeless as a Laura Ashley tablecloth.
BMW M235i convertible… new 2-series cab is wider, longer and more sharky looking than the 1-series it replaces, and six-cylinder 322bhp M235i is expensive but blisteringly fast. A convertible in a muscle vest. 181bhp 220i M Sport is far cheaper and almost as fun.
Audi A3 cabriolet… transport for the Tatler set, Lady Di’s gym-tripper gets a modern makeover with this MQB-based car, which is larger and intended to have a more distinctive personality than the last version. Meaning it’s no longer just an expensive Golf.
Vauxhall Cascada Elite… effectively an Astra saloon (yes, they do exist, somewhere in Europe) with the ceiling pulled down, the Cascada is a big, long car at nearly 4.7 metres and a heavy one too. Vauxhall claims it is an A5 rival. It’s not.
Chopping the roof off: has it worked?
Volkswagen Golf cabriolet… puppy-cute with the roof up thanks to the stubby boot, it’s less agreeable with roof down because it messily stows like a badly packed kebab. Rather drab-sided, loafer profile not the sexiest eithe
BMW M235i convertible… the ungainly looking fabric roof retracts with a gentle stretch and a long yawn, taking 20 seconds, although you can do it at over 30mph. Stows neatly too, not needing a big box to drop into.
Audi A3 cabriolet… if you see rain coming, better get ready early: the roof takes a long time to do its thing (18 seconds against the Golf’s 10), but it cleverly resides in a tray that means the 275 litre boot isn’t affected much.
Vauxhall Cascada Elite… rocking an ’80s theme, the Farah Stay-Press burgundy-and-black fleck roof isn’t the most contemporary colour, but the return to cloth from the metal bridgework of the Astra Twin Top is welcome. It stows pretty quickly but loses 100 litres of bootspace in the process.
Will they blackball me at the tennis club?
Volkswagen Golf cabriolet… no chance. You’ll be head of the social committee in no time. Popular and coquettish without being too loud, politically steering a neutral course through the machinations of the end-of-season ball.
BMW M235i convertible… showy and loud, with sexy angular lines and a glittery grille, the BMW is far more flash than the Golf or A3 – more Sandbanks or Surrey than Middle England. Scandal no doubt awaits with the club captain.
Audi A3 cabriolet… lager shandies all round in the clubhouse: the A3 is stylish and oozes class in every one of its finely trimmed and brushed details. In the A team in no time, and the leery tennis coach will be all over you like a rash.
Vauxhall Cascada Elite… there might be some raised eyebrows due to the Vauxhall badge, for this is a market where badge snobbery oneupmanship is rife, but the Cascada’s rarity might swing it. Expect to be playing doubles in the D team though, with Clive the bottom fondler.
Drop-top flip-flop slip-slop load of plop?
Volkswagen Golf cabriolet… notably more shuddery than the Audi, with bird poo-resistant wipe-clean harder cabin materials, it does feel a step down. The stiff suspension is clearly trying to mitigate for some flex, but makes the ride a bit brittle
BMW M235i convertible… stiffer than a triple G&T, the BM’s wheels hang off a structure that seems to have no flex whatsoever. Cabin has none of the Audi’s sleek artistry, and the metallic door pulls look like nightmarish gynaecological instruments. Well made though
Audi A3 cabriolet… with the roof up, other than a bit more road/wind noise, you’d never know you were in a cabrio, and the cabin is coolly styled and made with precision. The only shudders come from your cold arse – no standard heated seats.
Vauxhall Cascada Elite… creaking like an arthritic octagenarian getting out of their wingback, Vauxhall’s usual solid build quality has literally been pulled apart at the seams. Every panel joins in the cacophony, and the wing mirrors flop like Dumbo’s ears.
Hacking about or a fine drive down the middle?
Volkswagen Golf cabriolet… bimbling along humming Club Tropicana is the Golf’s thing. Not exactly powerful, it needs to be chivvied through each gear, although the light steering is nicely direct. Over-servoed brakes will have passengers spilling their Cornettos if you’re not careful.
BMW M235i convertible… the best car to drive by a mile, and with the roof down sounds like somebody has put dynamite in a French horn. But it’s not near the coupe or hatchback, even if the numbers suggest it is: near 1.7-tonne weight has turned the 2 from bolter to bloater.
Audi A3 cabriolet… the 1.4 TFSI engine needs a good poke at the top end to garner any performance and it makes a noise as beefy as an electric toothbrush. But it steers and corners like a standard A3, which isn’t orgasmcially exciting, but does the job.
Vauxhall Cascada Elite… with the structural rigidity of rice pudding skin, it has nervous breakdowns on rough roads and delivers steering weight that varies on how the chassis twists. But the excellent engine is powerful, fruity and responsive and it’s a comfortable cruiser if strolling along.
Do we still need Derek’s Saab estate?
Volkswagen Golf cabriolet… yes. Even a Calais tunnel migrant might baulk at trying to sneak into the Golf’s tiny boot. If they’ve got long legs, they might even struggle in the rear seats too. For once even the magical MQB platform can’t free up enough space.
BMW M235i convertible… the cabin narrows sharply after the front seats meaning adults in the back better be good friends, and it’s more a practical sports car than laidback sunlounger. But with the roof down on a great road, sod practicality.
Audi A3 cabriolet… yes. You’ll never take the garden rubbish to the tip in this finely leathered cabin, but it’s just about a four-seater and the boot is okay, if nothing on the Vauxhall’s deep swallow. Cylinder on demand makes it by far the most efficient too.
Vauxhall Cascada Elite… easily the most commodious of the cars here, with a deep boot and big comfy chairs, and lots of kit as standard such as heated leather, dual-zone climate control, and HiPER front struts from an Insignia VXR. For what, we’re not sure.
Verdict
Volkswagen Golf cabriolet… nice, fresh and inoffensive like cucumber sandwiches, the Golf is a very lovely way to travel about on a sunny day. Ideal for the quietly smug.
BMW M235i convertible… great fun and the open air accentuates glorious engine noise, but chuffing expensive for a compromised drive compared to the hard-roofed versions. Do you want melanoma that badly?
Audi A3 cabriolet… roof down driving should be easygoing, indulgent, and if you’re going to be seen, make sure they’re a bit envious too. The A3 delivers everything you could want in a convertible.
Vauxhall Cascada Elite… heard the pub bore say ‘there’s no such thing as a bad car these days’? Well, he’s probably not driven a Cascada. Size and power can’t make up for its rattly, pricey shortcomings.
And the winner is: the Audi A3 Cabriolet.
Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet GT 1.4 TSI 160
Price: £27,405
Engine: 1390cc 16v turbo 4-cyl, 158bhp @ 5800rpm, 177lb ft @ 1500-4500rpm
Gearbox: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Performance: 8.4sec 0-62mph, 134mph, 44.1mpg, 150g/km
Weight: 1419kg
On sale: Now
Rating: ****
BMW M235i Convertible
Price: £36,445
Engine: 2979cc 24v twin-turbo 6-cyl, 322bhp @ 5800rpm, 327lb ft @ 1300-4500rpm
Gearbox: Eight-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Performance: 5.0sec 0-62mph, 155mph, 35.8mpg, 184g/km
Weight: 1675kg
On sale: Now
Rating: ****
Audi A3 Cabriolet S line 1.4 TFSI CoD 150 (the winner)
Price: £28,990
Engine: 1395cc 16v turbo 4-cyl, 147bhp @ 5000rpm, 182lb ft @ 1500rpm
Gearbox: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Performance: 8.9sec 0-62mph, 138mph, 55.4mpg, 122g/km
Weight: 1365kg
On sale: Now
Rating: ****
Vauxhall Cascada Elite 1.6T
Price: £28,715
Engine: 1598cc 16v turbo 4-cyl, 196bhp @ 5500rpm, 207lb ft @ 1650-3000rpm
Gearbox: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Performance: 8.2sec 0-62mph, 146mph, 41.5mpg, 158g/km
Weight: 1658kg
On sale: Now
Rating: **