MINI Convertible

The MINI Convertible provides the driving enthusiast with a unique combination of fun-to-drive performance, engineering and unconventional open-top attitude for four.
The Convertible is available in three different trims: the Cooper with a 121-hp 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine, the Cooper S with a direct-injection, 181-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, or the John Cooper Works with a 208-hp version of the Cooper S turbo engine. All trims are mated to either a six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic transmission. Standard safety equipment includes four airbags, automatic pop-up roll hoops, electronic traction and stability control and anti-lock brakes. A wide variety of interior trim materials and colors are available, as well as features such as bi-xenon headlights, sport suspension, Dynamic Traction Control, navigation system, harman/kardon audio, parking sensors, and satellite radio. Bluetooth and HD radio are standard equipment.
For 2013, Bluetooth and the USB/iPod adapter are now standard, and an automatic transmission is being offered on the JCW for the first time.

 Review Summaries

What reviewers liked most about the MINI Convertible:

The deft suspension and the always-there brakes have no trouble managing the Mini's minuscule mass.
-- Car and Driver
The pinstriped cloth seat's bunwarmers fry your derriere if you keep them on "high" for more than two minutes.
-- Motor Trend
The toggle switches and the stalk switches for the headlights and turn signals are pleasing to look at and offer a satisfying feel in use, clearly benefiting from the BMW touch.
-- New Car Test Drive

What reviewers liked least about the MINI Convertible:

In spite of a much lower top stack and the use of pop-up roll hoops in place of the old fixed ones, rear vision in the new Cooper convertibles is still pretty lousy.
-- Car and Driver

MINI Convertible Comparisons:

The Mazda MX-5 Miata and Volkswagen Eos book-end the Mini's price point and offer retractable hardtops, but the former only has two seats and the latter isn't nearly as fun.

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MINI Convertible review

Cloth-top MINI Convertible adds another dimension to MINI ownership, but at the expense of practicality

For those who put an emphasis on style and fun over practicality and handling, the MINI Convertible is an excellent choice. It doesn't offer the space of bigger rivals like the VW Golf Cabriolet or Audi A3 Cabriolet, or the quirky sardine-tin roof from the Fiat 500C, but it blends MINI's universal desirability with an excellent range of engines, plus handling that's almost as sharp as the hatch. Now, you can even buy it with a diesel engine for lower running costs.

Styling

4.2

The transition from MINI hatchback to convertible is well executed. With the fabric roof in place it shares the same silhouette as the hatchback, and with it folded on the rear deck it has a classic convertible profile. A huge range of colours, wheel designs and graphics are available making the Convertible as easy to personalise as the rest of the range. The Convertible was facelifted in summer 2010, which included a new front bumper and LED rear lights. Inside, the dash is lifted straight from the hatch, so features the same trademark central speedometer and high-quality switchgear.

Driving

4.7

The big news from last year's mid-life refresh was the addition of a Cooper D model to the line-up. Its BMW-developed 100bhp 1.6-litre diesel returns fuel economy of more than 70mpg and is sufficiently refined, but due to the convertible's extra weight it can feel under-powered at low revs. We'd recommend the 181bhp Cooper S for its energetic turbocharged engine and tuneful exhaust, which suits the convertible's sporty nature better. There's still a hint of flex in the chassis over broken surfaces, but for the most part its every bit as fun to drive as the hatchback. However, the price you pay for that fun character is very stiff ride that thumps and crashes over bumps.

Reliability

4

The standard hatch received the full five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating and, although the convertible hasn't been specifically examined, it features the same safety kit and adds pop-up roll hoops that deploy in the event of an accident. Until that time they are safely stowed and don't restrict rear visibility. BMW's build quality and reputation for reliability suggest little is likely to go wrong, but be aware that any damage to the fabric top can be costly to repair.

Practicality

3.2

Practicality is not the MINI Convertible's strong point. There's plenty of room for passengers up front, but what little rear room there is in the hatchback has been squeezed further to make room for the folding roof. That means the rear seats are really only suitable for small children, and the tiny 125-litre boot will only fit a pair of small bags. As a result, the rear seats become a useful area for carrying large items - rather than additional passengers. Being able to fold the roof back either partially, or all the way, at the touch of a button, makes this MINI more enjoyable during the summer months. The roof can be operated at speeds of up to 20mph, and takes nearly 20 seconds to fully open. That's slower than the DS3 Cabrio's roof, which can be operated at speeds of up to 75mph. At higher speeds buffeting is kept to acceptable levels thanks to the upright front screen, while an optional wind deflector can be added across the back seats.

Running Costs

4.8

There's no getting around the fact that the MINI Convertible is pricey for what you get. The equivalent cabriolet costs almost £2,500 more than the hatchback, and it's also more expensive than its nearest rival, the Citroen DS3 Cabrio. Efficiency is impressive though – even the Cooper S, which completes 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds, emits just 139g/km of CO2, thanks to standard-fit stop-start. The most efficient option is the Cooper D, with CO2 emissions of 105g/km and claimed fuel economy of 70.6mpg.

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