What_Car_UK_-_August_2020

whatcar.com^ August 2020 91

Thegoodnewsis thatbuyingeither

ofthesetwocarsmeansyou’llenjoy

premiumwind-in-the-hairmotoringfora

relativelymodestoutlay.

Wewouldn’tblameyouif youwere

seducedbythe4 Series’charms,but

ultimatelyit feelsdatednexttotheA5,

particularlyinside.TheA5isn’twithout

fault,either,butyou’llenjoydrivingit more,

thankstoitsmoreagilehandlingand

stronger,smootherengine,anditsclassier

interiorwillsealthedeal.Forus,theA5ticks

moreboxesfortheopen-topbuyer.

SAYS

Roofupordown,4 Series’bootis relativelysmallandanawkwardshape.Frontseatspaceis almosta matchforA5’s,andrearseatoccupantsgetmoreheadandshoulderroom

AudiA5Cabriolet

ForClassierinterior;strongeracceleration;

moreagile;morestandardequipment

AgainstTighterin rearseats;steeringfeel

couldbebetter;rmerride

BMW 4 Series Convertible

For Better steering; cheaper to buy and

run; better infotainment system

Against Coarse engine; awkwardly

shaped boot; AEB not standard

ECONOMY& EMISSIONS

BMW4 SERIESCONVERTIBLE

BUYINGANDOWNING

Costs,equipment,reliability,safetyandsecurity

Buyeitherofthesetwoatthreeyearsoldand

you’llbegettinganeatandplushconvertible

carforaverymodestamountofdosh.The

moreexpensiveA5dropsfromjustover

£46,000toalittleover£21,000,whilethe

4 Serieswasafractionover£43,000andisnow

justunder£20,000.Thismakestop-quality,

Audi A5 Cabriolet vs BMW 4 Series Convertible

open-topmotoringavailablefor manywho

wouldn’tbeabletoaffordsuch opulencenew.

Day-to-dayrunningcostsare a fractionlower

withthe 4 Series;it’scostlierto service,butthe

A5costsmoretofuelandinsure.

TheA5didn’tfeatureinthemost recentWhat

Car?ReliabilitySurvey,butthe 4 Seriesfinished

fifthoutof 10 carsinthecoupés andsportscars

category.Audiasabrandfinished in20thplace

outof 31 brands,withBMWranking21st.

Of cial average 43.5mpg Tank 58 litres

CO 2 emissions 151g/km

Of cial average 44.8mpg Tank 60 litres

CO 2 emissions 146g/km

EuroNCAPrating

Nottested

Euro NCAP rating

Not tested

BEST

REAR

SPACE

The A5 justifi es its higher price, both new and

used, by throwing in a few more luxuries and

by having automatic emergency braking (AEB)

as standard. Because BMW charged £370 extra

for AEB, it’s fairly rare to fi nd a 4 Series that has

it, despite its importance.

Neither car has been tested for safety by

Euro NCAP, but security fi rm Thatcham rates

both cars as equally good at resisting break-ins

and for guarding against being stolen.

880mm

680mm

1270mm

930mm

1110mm

1410mm

700-1400mm

870-1840mm

280-460mm

AudiA5Cabriolet

2.0TFSI 252 quattroS lineS tronic

Width 2040mm

BMW 4 Series Convertible

430i M Sport auto

Width 2020mm

4670mm

2770mm

690mm

1380mm

4640mm

2810mm

660mm

1380mm

STATS, SPECS AND RATINGS

CARSPICTURED

Audi A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI 252 S tronic S line with Tofana White paint BMW 430i Convertible M Sport auto with Alpine White paint

Weather conditions Wet

Engine 4cyl, 1984cc, turbo, petrol

Peakpower 249bhp @ 3800-4200rpm

Peak torque 295Ib ft @ 1600-4500rpm

Gearbox 7-spd automatic

Engine 4cyl, 1998cc, turbo, petrol

Peak power 249bhp @ 5200rpm

Peak torque 258Ib ft @ 1450-4800rpm

Gearbox 8-spd automatic

Acceleration

30-70mph in kickdown 5.5sec

30-50mph in kickdown 2.3sec

50-70mph in kickdown 3.2sec

Braking

30-0mph 9.5m 70-0mph 51.6m

Noise

At 30mph 63.4dB At 70mph 67.8dB

Acceleration

30-70mph in kickdown 6.1sec

30-50mph in kickdown 2.5sec

50-70mph in kickdown 3.6sec

Braking

30-0mph 10.5m 70-0mph 59.2m

Noise

At 30mph 64.2dB At 70mph 70.5dB

SAFETY

POWERTRAIN

PERFORMANCE

Top

speed

155mph

Top

speed

149mph

0-60mph

6.6sec

0-60mph

6.1sec