Overview

Since 2004, you’ve been able to choose between the regular MINI Hatch or a MINI Convertible. Taking one of the best small cars and lopping off its roof was always going to make for a popular product, and the MINI Convertible’s combination of four seats, cute looks, a versatile yet simple fabric roof and great, fun driving dynamics has endured with every new generation.

Direct rivals for the MINI Convertible are few and far between. The Fiat 500C might call itself a convertible, but it’s more of a big sunroof than a full fabric top. The Mazda MX-5 is one of our favourite convertibles, and it’s small and inexpensive – but it’s more of a sports car than the MINI, with only two seats and a more focused driving experience. The closest might, perversely, be the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet, which offers four seats and a useful boot, even if it is based on an SUV rather than a hatchback.

Otherwise, if you want one of the best convertible cars, you’ll need to spend a lot more money on something much larger or much sportier.

The MINI is a premium product, and feels it on the inside where everything you touch is high-quality. You can choose from three powertrains – Cooper, Cooper S, or John Cooper Works – and four trim levels, named Classic, Sport, Exclusive or Resolute. All models come with a fully electric soft-top, LED headlights front and rear, an 8.8-inch infotainment screen, rear parking sensors and Apple CarPlay.

Sport adds some additional styling features while Exclusive turns up the luxury. Resolute, meanwhile, is the range-topper and comes exclusively in green with bronze detailing.

There’s even a limited-run MINI Electric Convertible, though this is offered as a swan-song to the current generation of MINI. It’s priced in excess of £50,000 and severely limited to just a few hundred examples, so don’t expect to see many on the road.

Whichever MINI Convertible you opt for, you’ll get an electric fabric roof. It opens or closes in just 18 seconds at speeds of up to 19mph, and sits behind the small rear seats without impact boot space. You can also operate the first 40cm of the roof without taking the top off fully – this in effect creates a large sunroof and can be operated at any speed.

Keep reading to see what we make of the MINI Convertible’s practicality, interior, running costs and driving dynamics, and whether we reckon you should buy one.