When the sun’s out, you want to get your hood down and make the most of it. There’s no better way to enjoy a sunny day than cruising around in a convertible. But whether the roof is raised or lowered, your sun-seeker car needs to be not only fun to drive, but also practical and usable. Our Best Car for Sun-Seekers is brilliant for top-down driving, and living with day in, day out.
Retaining its place as the Best Car for Sun-seekers 2020, the Audi A5 Cabriolet demonstrates that you can achieve a true open-top feel without sacrificing safety or refinement. There are no compromises or over-engineered fixes for airflow; nor is the protection for occupants so extreme that it negates the purpose of buying a convertible in the first place – it’s brilliantly built, looks good roof up or down, and incredibly easy to live with come rain or shine. You can spec it for economy, or performance – all versions have room for four adults to enjoy wind-in-the-hair journeys in comfort, and it’s realistically priced without compromising quality.
Now in its third generation, the MX-5 remains true to the two-seater, sporting roadster ethos of simplicity and driver involvement. That’s not to say it’s basic, and Mazda has struck an impressive balance between 21st-century convenience and classic open-topped fun in the latest model. Better yet – the MX-5 remains the most affordable roadster you can buy, and a new 2.0-litre, 184hp engine makes the most of the engaging rear-wheel drive chassis for keen drivers as well as making motorway drives more comfortable. Few cars are as effective as a sports car for Britain’s roads, yet as easy to live with – and it’s priced alongside low-spec family hatchbacks.
Getting to the beach is one thing; being able to drive onto it in search of sun and surf is another. The Jeep Wrangler’s versatile hardtop provides a quick route to sunshine for the front passengers – but the real showpiece is the ability to remove the whole roof, the doors, and fold the windscreen down for off-road adventures in the open air. It’s also an exceptionally competent, well-equipped 4x4, with a cohesively rugged theme throughout and sensibly-designed interior for mud, sand and muck – whether working or playing. For people who love being outdoors and enjoying the countryside, the Wrangler ticks all the boxes.
