Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet vs rivals

Sun worshippers have never had it so good – and the traditional fabric hood isn’t dead yet. The new Golf Cabriolet has lost none of the hatchback’s polish in the transition to drop-top form, and it’s all the better for its fabric roof.

Is it good enough to beat a bona fide premium machine and the latest CC-style model to hit showrooms? We think it is.

Given how closely it resembles the cheaper Audi, this has to go down as an upset, but the VW makes real sense. The £875 premium for the Golf SE includes lots of useful kit that you won’t find on the entry-level Audi. We also think the Golf’s superior rear visibility helps to give it the edge over its German rival. So it’s a one-two for the soft-tops.

The Peugeot is the odd one out here, but we think its folding metal roof demands too many compromises. Its complicated mechanism spoils the styling of the 308, is much slower to operate than its fabric rivals and doesn’t provide the same wind-in-the-hair thrills as the VW and Audi. It’s good value, but the 308 CC finishes in third place here by a distance.

The convertible Golf has made a real comeback. It’s neither as glamorous as the Audi nor as clever as the Peugeot, but the VW is still the standout performer here. Its neat design, polished cabin and well judged kit list make it our number one.

Second place is hard on the A3, as it undercuts the Golf on price and wears a more desirable badge. In the end, its sparse equipment count cost it victory. We could understand anyone being lured by the badge, but the next trim up costs an extra £1,890.

The Peugeot is clever, but it’s outclassed here, and its flawed pedal layout is a big problem. The hard-top provides few tangible benefits, yet dulls the thrill – the extended windscreen reduces the excitement of top-down motoring.