New BMW 4 Series Convertible vs Audi A5 Cabriolet: practicality
Audi and BMW are old hands at making classy four-seat convertibles that are refined enough to use all year round. Let’s see if BMW’s latest 4 Series drop-top can upstage its toughest rival...
Space and practicality
Front space, rear space, seating flexibility, boot
The BMW 4 Series Convertible gives front seat occupants slightly more leg room, while the Audi A5 Cabriolet has the edge for roof-up head room. But, in truth, both cars allow a couple of tall adults to stretch right out.
In addition, two people can sit in the rear of each, although things are tighter there; six-footers will be faced with having their head touching the rooflining of the 4 Series or their knees pressed into the back of the A5’s front seats.
As for luggage space, we found each car would take six carry-on suitcases with the roof up and four with it down. But while they go into the 4 Series easily, loading the A5 taxes your Tetris skills to the limit, because its boot is a less regular shape.
To help make up for this, the A5’s rear seats split and fold 50/50, meaning you can extend the load area and still carry one rear passenger, whereas the backrest of the 4 Series folds in a single piece.
The 4 Series counters by having a cubby behind its rear seats that lets you store its optional wind deflector vertically. By contrast, the A5’s takes up valuable boot space when not in use.
Boot space
BMW 4 Series
Boot 385 litres Suitcases 6
Audi A5 Cabriolet
