2009 Car of the Year: Convertibles

Late October might not seem like the ideal time to evaluate new convertibles, but a single day of warmer weather revealed the true charm of al fresco motoring: the open sky above, the warmth of the sun, the scents and sounds of fall in the air.

Today's convertibles manage airflow well enough to extend the season considerably, and one of this year's entrants, the Benz, offers the four-season comfort of a retractable hardtop. Another, the Audi, brings all-wheel drive traction to the table.

What's Mitsubishi's ace in the hole? A price more than $25,000 lower than the next least expensive Audi, within a few dollars of enough to buy this year's Best New SUV/CUV (under $35,000) – the Subaru Forester – to tackle the drudgery of winter's slop.

There may be faster, more practical vehicles out there, but few can capture the pure essence and joy of driving better than a well-sorted droptop; these are as much emotional purchases as intellectual.

Winner: Audi TTS

Audi's TT Coupe competed in last year's Best New Sports/Performance Car (over $50,000) category, eventually losing to its big brother, the Audi S5.

That TT Coupe used a 200 hp version of Audi's 2.0 L direct-injected turbo four-cylinder engine and front wheel drive; the 2.0 L turbo four in this year's soft-top TT huffed out an angry 265 hp through all four wheels, earning it Audi's top-rung "S" designation, the respect of all who drove it, and eventually a class win.

Audi's chassis tuners did a commendable job of imbuing the TTS with a good balance of ride quality (firm but far from punishing, aided by magneto-rheological adjustable shock absorbers) and handling adroit enough that the TTS's limits could only safely be explored on the test track at the Niagara Drive Centre.

Handsome styling and Audi's commendable build and tactile quality – both inside and out – rounded out this two-seater ragtop's list of virtues.

Price as tested: $64,900

Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

The sole hardtop in this group, the SLK brings an extra measure of security, top-up visibility and four-season comfort that the others couldn't match.

A comprehensive mid-cycle refresh brings this rear-drive roadster revised styling and significant improvements in power (up 33 hp to an even 300), delivery and handling. Equipped with the SLK 350's available AMG Sport Package, the three "Iridium Silver" SLKs on hand not only looked the part, but proved highly capable both on-track and off, with the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission demonstrating just how well this kind of gearbox can work – almost telepathic, in fact.

Although beautifully built and clearly boasting multiple talents, the Benz's highest as-tested price and compromised trunk space were among the factors that allowed the Audi to claim the title in this class.

Price as tested: $73,575

Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

Knife to a gunfight? It might have looked that way on paper, pitching the Eclipse against two established premium-market contenders.

Yet the Eclipse brought more than just a low-for-this-group MSRP and the only back seat – by name, if not definition – to the table. Indeed, had Mitsubishi seen fit to equip this generation of Eclipse with all-wheel drive, it would have had a good shot at class winner.

As it was, the front-driven Eclipse simply couldn't make the most of its hearty, sweet-sounding 265 hp 3.8 L V6, hard acceleration at lower speeds resulting in aggressive traction control intervention and pronounced torque steer.

Pity, because the Eclipse was surprisingly good on the track, with powerful brakes and handling limits that seemed contrary to its comfortable on-road ride quality.

Noticeable cowl shake (the tendency of convertibles to twist lengthwise as individual wheels encounter bumps) and some evident cost-cutting measures probably countered the Eclipse's power-operated soft-top, good storage space, and slick-shifting six-speed manual tranny.

Price as tested: $39,043