SECTOR: Convertible   PRICE: €32,200–€51,350   FUEL: 4.1–8.5l/100km   CO2: 108–199g/km

With over 130,000 sales globally, BMW’s old 1 Series Cabrio was the world’s biggest-selling premium compact open-top car. So while there’s a new badge on the boot of its successor, which falls into the 2 Series line-up, it hasn’t strayed far from a tested and popular part of the range.

The difference it has to face is a renewal of its closest rival. While Audi’s first A3 Cabriolet felt like an adapted version of the Golf, complete with the trademark short boot, the second generation is based on the A3 Saloon.

So, like the BMW, it has a long and elegant profile with a yacht-like rear deck. Audi offers more engines, but there’s very little price difference between comparative versions of the two cars, making Ingolstadt’s contender much tougher competition – a choice based largely on a preference for the BMW’s rear-wheel drive setup.

The 2 Series Cabrio gets a concise line-up, taking five engines from the Coupe of which only one is a diesel. Of these, the latest version of the 20d, now producing 190hp, is likely to be the big fleet seller in most markets. It never feels like a watered down version, lacking the narrow power band, clatter and front-end heaviness that older diesels might have brought, while still returning impressive real-world economy.

For maximum efficiency, BMW’s excellent automatic gearbox is a necessity. This adds €2,100 to the price, and another €440 on top of that for the Sport version, but it also cuts fuel consumption from 4.4l/100km to 4.1l/100km.

Petrols comprise the 326hp M235i, the 2.0-litre 220i and 228i, both under 160g/km CO2, and the 218i as the entry point to the range. This last version should be an interesting option for low-mileage drivers, and uses the three-cylinder, 1.5-litre engine from the MINI Cooper. It’s a shame that the equivalent diesel, offered in the refreshed 1 Series, isn’t also available.

Whichever engine is under the bonnet, the 2 Series

Convertible offers exactly the driver-focused driving experience BMW has become synonymous for. Wide tracks, large wheels and stiff suspension contribute to excellent agility without back-breaking ride quality and figure-hugging sports seats are standard across the range.

Open-top motoring, accessible in 20 seconds at speeds of up to 50kph, takes very little of the Coupe’s practicality or sharpness away. Scuttle shake is barely noticeable, even when covering rippled stretches of rural tarmac, wind noise through the heavily insulated fabric section is minimal even at high speeds and though the boot space is compromised by compartments containing the roof mechanism, it’s still large enough to be useful and there’s a load-through option.

Ultimately, all of these are qualities which the A3 Cabriolet can now contest, though. Choosing the right compact soft top really comes down to whether drivers prefer the sharp-edged futuristic styling and detailed design of the Audi, or the rear-wheel drive agility and driver-focused nature of the 2 Series. Neither of these excellent premium-class cabriolets will disappoint.

What we think

The 2 Series Cabriolet feels much closer to the equivalent 4 Series than its predecessor, a premium-class cabriolet with style, agility and surprising practicality on its side.