Vauxhall Cascada SE

If you’re after a handsome, well built and roomy four-seat convertible, then the Cascada is worth considering – particularly in attractively priced entry-level guise. However, it’s not inspiring to drive, while it looks a little ungainly with the hood in place. It also suffers poor residual values.

Vauxhall has gone soft with its latest addition to the fashionable four-seater convertible class. Unlike the Astra TwinTop that it replaces – which had a folding metal hard-top – the new Cascada uses a traditional fabric roof.

It’s also bigger than the old car, both inside and out, which puts it squarely in the sights of premium convertible rivals such as the Audi A5 and BMW 3 Series. Yet with prices starting at £23,995 for the entry-level SE tested here, the Vauxhall significantly undercuts these upmarket cars.

Fortunately, it doesn’t look like a cut-price special. A sleek nose, boldly sculpted flanks and plenty of chrome trim help it stand out, while all versions get 18-inch alloys as standard. It’s not all good news, though, because the Vauxhall’s combination of slightly ungainly fabric roof and wedge profile means, from some angles, it looks like the unloved Chrysler Sebring convertible, last seen in the UK in 2009.

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Wait 15.9 seconds for the powered roof to lower, and matters improve. Not only does the Cascada look more attractive with the top down, passers by also get to appreciate the surprisingly classy interior. Most of the materials have a high-quality look and feel, while neat touches include the stitched artificial leather covering the top of the dashboard and red ambient lighting for the gearlever surround. And while the buttons for the infotainment system are far too small and fiddly to use, the rest of the layout is attractively designed, and the driving position is spot-on.

All Cascadas have Bluetooth, a digital radio and air-conditioning, but you’ll have to upgrade to the Elite model to get a wind deflector as standard – it’s a £255 option on the SE-spec car. The top-of-the-range version also adds heated leather seats, automatic high-beam assist and climate control.

Like the Beetle and RS5, the Cascada is a strict four-seater, but adults in the rear get a decent amount of head and legroom. Plus, the large side windows mean it doesn’t feel too claustrophobic in the back when the roof is raised. Elsewhere, the cabin is littered with useful storage places, including a deep cubby in front of the gearlever for mobile phones and portable music players.

Unusually for a fabric-roofed car, the Vauxhall’s boot capacity shrinks when the roof is lowered, with the available space reducing from 380 litres to 280 litres – that’s only 30 litres more than the cheaper VW Golf Convertible’s. Still, if you need to carry more, then you can simply fold down the 50:50 split rear seats to increase the load capacity to a maximum 750 litres.

The Cascada is offered with a number of punchy petrol and diesel engines, but the entry-level 138bhp turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol suits the car’s laid-back character. It’s smooth and eager at low revs, and is the perfect companion for lazy, roof-down cruises. However, the smallest engine gets a little harsh and strained at high revs and needed 10.6 seconds to haul the heavyweight Cascada from 0-60mph.

The Vauxhall’s relaxing personality extends to the handling, which is safe and predictable – grip is strong, but there’s not much feedback through the major controls. The trade-off for this lack of dynamic sparkle is a composed and supple ride, which does a good job of shrugging off bumps and potholes – although you can feel and see the body flexing over really rough roads.

Even without the wind deflector, there isn’t much buffeting with the top down, while the fierce heater helps you enjoy the open air even on a chilly day. Road noise is well suppressed with the roof raised; it’s not as quiet as an Audi A5, but you can add a triple-layer hood for an extra £300. Still, our entry-level test car undercuts the base A5 by nearly £8,000.

Yet despite its price advantage, the Cascada isn’t a cut-price premium rival. It can’t quite match the class leaders for cabin quality, while its driving dynamics are a little lacklustre. It’s also hobbled by weak residual values and high CO2 emissions of 148g/km.