Sometimes motoring journalists, even amateur ones like me, find themselves putting their lives on the line in order to bring readers the most comprehensive and accurate reviews humanly possible.

As you will both be aware the sun has been beating down on ol’ Blighty for the last couple of weeks, bringing with it a liberal sprinkling of harmful ultraviolet radiation. However, despite the very real risks to my health I have been putting the Audi A3 cabriolet through its paces.

During my week with the car I’ve discovered many things, the most important being that it’s still perfectly possible to get a singed scalp even with a full head of hair.

I’ve also discovered that the cabriolet is very much like all the other A3s in the range, just without a roof. That would be a problem if Audi didn’t have a clue how to build cars but, fortunately, the opposite is true and the cabriolet, like every other car that rolls off the production line is beautifully put together.

It drives pretty well too. Cutting the roof off inevitably weakens the structure but there’s little evidence of flex or scuttle shake. The handling is predictable, and the steering can feel a little detached, but I doubt the majority of open-top motorists will be flinging their pride and joy through tight bends on a sprint cross-country.

And if you are, stop it. That’s not how you get the best from this particular cabriolet. Slow down, take your time, savour every moment as the supple suspension smooths out those annoying surface imperfections and the flexible 2.0-litre diesel, which produces 148bhp, effortlessly propels you along.

There’s a 1.6-litre diesel which is marginally more efficient and marginally cleaner, but it’s significantly down on power, producing just 108bhp. There are two petrol options – 1.4 and 1.8-litre units – that offer improved refinement but if you opt for the larger capacity engine expect economy and emissions to take a significant hit.

There are four driving modes to choose from, Comfort, Efficiency, Dynamic and Individual. Dynamic, for example, adds a little more weight to the steering and sharpens up the throttle response for, well, a more dynamic drive. Comfort provides exactly what it says on the tin and Efficiency, well, that’s the preferred mode for us underpaid journalists.

The six-speed S Tronic dual-clutch gearbox is perfectly suited to the nature of the cabriolet. Seamless, smooth and efficient, it encourages relaxed and carefree motoring.

Wind and road noise is not too intrusive, even with the roof down and, unless you’re travelling at illegal speeds, it’s entirely possible to have a conversation with the person next to you without having to raise your voice.

The roof, incidentally, can be raised and lowered in 18 seconds and at speeds up to 31mph. I’ve never been especially tempted to put that to the test so that’s something we’ll just to take Audi’s word for. The wind deflector is a £290 option and has to be installed manually. It’s a simple enough process but you can’t use it if you’re carrying some unfortunate souls in the rear.

And unfortunate they are because, while the front occupants are properly accommodated, all but the most vertically challenged will find space in the rear very much at a premium. Something that even the thrill of open-top, wind-in-the-hair motoring can’t compensate for.

The dashboard is relatively free of switchgear, although what there is feels substantial and beautifully damped. The fit and finish is first class, inside and out, and the materials throughout the cabin are sumptuous and tactile, providing an inviting ambience.

Audi’s superb multimedia interface (MMI) infotainment system, complete with a large LCD screen that rises out of the dashboard, provides access to the excellent sat nav. The top of Audi’s familiar control dial is touch sensitive, allowing you to program the sat nav using the excellent handwriting recognition software. It’s a much more satisfactory system than using the jog wheel to select letters from an on-screen circular interface.

Stylish, well-built and efficient, the A3 cabriolet is a sensible choice. Thrills are a bit thin on the ground dynamically but that’s offset by the impressive cruising ability and refinement. Owning an A3 cabriolet is not about compromise, it’s about context, and in that respect, it’s premium open-top motoring at its best.

Audi A3 Cabriolet 2.0 TDI Sport

Price: £29,770

As tested: £38,070

Engine: 2.0 TDI

Transmission: 6-speed S Tronic dual clutch

Power: 148bhp

Torque: 340Nm @ 1,750rpm

Maximum speed: 139mph

Acceleration (0-62mph): 8.8sec

Urban: 52.3mpg

Extra urban: 67.3mpg

Combined: 60.1mpg

Emissions (CO2): 122g/km

For more information about Audi cars click here.