Since we generally know all details on a car before testing it, the chances of us being truly, wildly surprised by it once we do test it are slim. Though we can’t say “wildly” in the case of the Audi A3 Cabriolet, we are genuinely and pleasantly surprised. Pity it’s not coming to the States, though we understand why on the business-case side.

This is not a car that people were clamoring for on any continent, so we approached the little droptop with a lackadaisical attitude. Not even the designers on hand could drum up an impassioned explanation as to why this car was made, but they did present an interesting scenario.

According to designers, there was a strong urge within the company to make the A3 Cabriolet happen. The reason for this was that the A4 Cabriolet has never been affordable for regular folks, and now that the new A4 is so much larger and more luxurious, regular folks can wave bye-bye to their A4 Cabrio dreams forever. There was a need for a new summertime feel-good car to sell to life-lovers on a budget, and the A3 is it.

CLICK HERE to continue reading this review of the 2009 Audi A3 Cabriolet.

Magazine Issue: Winding Road Issue 31