EMMW Blog

The only major change for the 2012 Audi A5 Convertible is the new standard 18-inch wheels featuring 15-spokes. This is not a large surprise considering the larger exterior treatments planned for the 2013 car.

Carrying over is a gas-saving 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which gets about 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Even though the engine may be small, and the numbers it generates are not enormous, the power plant felt peppy and more than suitable for the ins-and-outs of traffic during our test drive. We do wish the car had a little more oomph, but this little gas saver will save you some money at the pump, getting about 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Audi?s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder produces 211 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The only major difference in the 2012?s performance compared to the 2011?s is that the manufacturer officially shaved a few ticks off the car?s 0?60 time, bringing it down from 7.2 seconds to 6.7 seconds. With no changes to the drivetrain, we consider the new numbers to be simple revisions of the old numbers.

The Premium model of the 2012 A5 Quattro Cabriolet is considered the base model and starts out at 44,700. Moving up the A5 tiers, the Premium Plus model starts out $48,600,and the Prestige model starts off at $53,900. The base price difference between the years is about $500.00, give or take, and the improvement in acceleration is what makes this worth the extra cost.

The rounded styling and low, aggressive stance has stayed the same and the soft top still has an exceptionally fast opening time. Last year, we quoted a time of 17 seconds to open the top, but it felt faster in our 2012 test car; we have no official numbers to back up that claim. You can also lower the roof at speeds up to 30 mph, a commendable attribute for any cabriolet.

There are multiple package options available on the A5 Premium and Premium Plus models such as the new Cinnamon Brown Milano leather, which was on our test car and found to perfectly suit the classy car.

Our only complaint with the 2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet is its somewhat unresponsive steering. This is not the first time we found disfavor with the A5?s steering. In 2011, we said the changing ratios of the A5?s Servotronic electric steering were noticeable; it is just something we haven?t been able to grow accustom.

By Tabitha Baez

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