Audi has revitalised its second generation A3 Cabriolet. There’s a more advanced 2.0-litre petrol engine on offer, plus innovations like the Audi Smartphone interface and the clever ‘Virtual Cockpit’ instrument layout. All of this embellishing a classy, stylish and pretty practical basic package. You’d like one.

Exterior changes to this revised version are slight but the front looks a little more purposeful, courtesy of sharper lines for the familiar and now broader Singleframe grille. The headlights are flatter, with distinctive outer contours and can now be ordered in Matrix LED form, so they are significantly brighter and constantly adapt themselves to avoid dazzling other road users, plus of course they never need to be dipped. Equally subtle changes at the rear aim to accentuate the width of this car - with the horizontal illuminated graphics of the rear lights and the separation edge above the redesigned diffuser.

As before, the soft fabric roof is stretched over a magnesium-steel ‘skeleton’. The roof opens or closes electro-hydraulically in less than 18 seconds at speeds of up to 31mph. When retracted, the top - folded into three layers - rests in a tray that barely affects luggage capacity. A wind deflector and head-level heating for the front seats are also available.

A3 Cabriolet models get a wide choice of powerplants. The four-cylinder petrol line-up begins with a 1.4 TFSI variant with cylinder shut-off COD technology and 150PS on tap. The next step up is the new 2.0 TFSI 190PS unit, offered with either front wheel drive or the quattro 4WD layout. At the top of the petrol line-up is the desirable S3 Cabriolet model with an uprated 310PS 2.0 TFSI unit and quattro traction. This storms to 62mph in just over 5s. Diesel drivers get a 110PS 1.6-litre TDI unit at the foot of the range, then a 150PS 2.0 TDI variant. If you want to go further, this 2.0 TDI is also offered in 184PS guise, as long as you choose quattro 4WD and S tronic auto transmission.

In summary, it’s hard to see how you could be disappointed by what’s on offer here. The A3 Cabriolet has matured - got a little more Vorsprung durch Technik. And the compact convertible class has a strong benchmark.

CAR: Audi A3 Cabriolet range
PRICES: £27,395 - £36,925
INSURANCE GROUP: 18-36
CO2 EMISSIONS: 108-139g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0 TFSI S3] 0-62mph 6.2s Top Speed 150mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 TDI] 67.3mpg (combined)
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ESP, ABS with EBA, twin front, side and head airbags
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4423/1793/1409