The Essentials

• Price from £20,890
• What Car? says:
• Fuel economy: up to 64.2mpg
• What is it? Soft-top version of the universally popular Golf hatch makes up in style what it loses in practicality

• Drive

  Not quite as agile as the standard car, but still fun to drive with some excellent engines

• Inside

  Very comfortable and couldn't be easier to navigate the controls

• Safety

  Comprehensive cover including pop-up rollover bars in case you get carried away

• Reliability

  Feels like a top-class product but VW Golf has been rated only average by owners

• Space

  A proper four-seat convertible with a small boot that can be extended by folding the back seats

• Standard and extras

  Air-con, alloys, Bluetooth and DAB radio are standard - we'd upgrade to SE for parking sensors and cruise control

• What's it like to drive?

  Without the rigidity enjoyed by its solid-roofed cousin, the Golf Cabriolet feels less stable and shudders over bumps. However it's still nimble and fun to drive. The 120bhp 1.4-litre engine offers the best balance between lively performance and affordable running costs. If driving enjoyment is top of your priority list we'd go for the GT or GTI versions which are more powerful and have lower suspension. Although the roof is made of fabric it shuts out most unwelcome noises, and with it lowered you're still reasonably well protected from the wind.

• What's it like inside?

  Simplicity is the secret here - all the controls are easy to find and use and there's enough adjustment for anyone to find a good driving position. The roof limits visibility over the shoulder so take extra care when reversing or overtaking on the motorway. Alternatively you can just fold it away in under 10 seconds - even if you're driving at up to 19mph. Four adults will fit inside the Golf Cabriolet, and both rear seats have Isofix child seat mounts, making it (almost) a practical family car. Folding the rear seats extends the small boot space and makes it easier to load  the aperture is tiny.

• How reliable is it?

  Although it feels well built and smart the Golf was rated only average for mechanical reliability in the 2012 JD Power survey. Safety kit is good, with plenty of airbags, active headrests to prevent whiplash, stability control and hoops that pop up if a rollover is likely. The Golf Cabriolet scored the full five stars in Euro NCAP's latest crash tests, with 96% for adult protection and 86% for child protection.

• Should I buy one?

  The Golf Cabriolet is cheaper to buy than an Audi A3 convertible or a Peugeot 308CC - and it's also cheaper to buy and run than VW's Eos convertible. High-mileage drivers will be tempted by the 1.6-litre Bluemotion diesel which claims to average more than 62mpg and sits in a low tax banding, making it an appealing company car.