Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet

The Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet is based on the standard hatchback, so the cabin is identical, which means excellent build quality, use of some very durable materials and plenty of practical storage cubbies. There's room for four adults inside, and from behind the wheel there is very little to tell the Cabriolet from the normal hatch, with only large bumps making the suspension feel unsettled. Front and rear LED lights are fitted as standard, which enhances the car's upmarket feel. The electric roof takes only 9.5 seconds to open, and it can do this at speeds of up to 18mph. With the canvas roof folded down, rear passengers are slightly exposed to the elements and boot space becomes limited to 250 litres. There are three engines available: 1.2 and 1.4-litre turbo petrols and a 1.6-litre diesel, which comes with fuel-saving BlueMotion Technolog. While not cheap to buy, the VW Golf Cabriolet will hold its value better than most rivals, making it both fun and sensible. This is why we named it CarBuyer's Best Cabriolet for 2012.

Volkswagen Golfs are very well suited to the TSI petrol engines. Turbocharging and supercharging results in smooth, quick progress while delivering tax-friendly emissions, impressive economy and a rewarding noise. Available with the popular 1.2 and 1.4 TSI engines the Cabriolet also comes with a diesel option in the form of the 1.6 TDI BlueMotion, a torquey and very economical choice. On open roads, the soft-top Golf really impresses, and it's very easy to think you are driving the normal hatchback, so good is the ride and handling. If you want more power, 2.0-litre TSI and 2.0-litre TDI engines will be added to the range,at a later date.

Smooth, upmarket and elegant are all words that could easily be used to describe the Golf Cabriolet's cabin. The seats provide good support and can be adjusted to suit all sizes, and the controls all feel well made and chunky. On rough roads the suspension is well balanced to provide stability in corners but also smothers bumps better than most other cabriolets of this size.