Written by Ted Welford Published: 12 February 2025

Overview

If you’re looking for a fun, stylish and more affordably priced convertible, we have long pointed you in the direction of MINI. And it’s a popular choice with Brits, too, as it’s the biggest global market for this drop-top, even despite our inclement weather. 

It’s now back for a new generation and has a new name – now called the MINI Cooper Convertible, following on from the launch of the Cooper hatchback in 2024. Though all components of this new drop-top are new, aside from the front doors, this is very much an evolutionary approach. 

Mini dabbled with the idea of an EV model with the limited-edition 2023 Mini Electric Convertible, but it was a bit of a flop and the firm has now pushed back the idea of an electric model. It means the new MINI Cooper Convertible is instead available with a choice of three petrol engines – called the Cooper C, Cooper S and John Cooper Works. 

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The new model features similar updates to the hatchback model, including a newly designed front grille and fancy new lighting, optionally available with three customisable light signatures. The interior is all-new too, and centred around MINI’s new circular infotainment screen that looks great, while there’s a big push for sustainability. 

While there was a time not so many years ago when most manufacturers sold convertibles, these days there are few available at the cheaper end of the scale. The Fiat 500C is the cheapest new convertible available, though lacks the quality and sportiness of the Mini. The Mazda MX-5 sports car is worth a look if you don’t mind only having two seats and is an absolute joy to drive.

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Two wildcard convertibles worth a look at are the SUV-styled Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet and the Abarth 500e Convertible.

But do we recommend the new MINI Cooper Convertible? Read on to find out and visit our how we test cars page if you want to learn more about how we reach our decisions. 

What’s it like inside?

The interior represents the biggest change between this new car and the previous MINI Convertible. As with the rest of this firm’s revived line-up, it’s dominated by a new central 9.5-inch OLED infotainment display that controls most of the car’s key features. It can be daunting at first but the screen is excellent as it’s well laid out and super responsive.

There is no instrument cluster as such, though, meaning you are reliant on the central screen for seeing the speed. For this reason, we strongly recommend you choose the Level 1 options pack as this includes a useful head-up display. 

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There are still some physical buttons for changing the drive mode and navigating the driver assistance features menu, too. We also like the toggle switch bar below the screen, which harks back to the original Mini. There are some lovely details, throughout, from the textured fabric dashboard to the excellent sports seats, which vary in upholstery depending on the trim level. We particularly like the blue artificial leather finish on the Exclusive model. 

As with any MINI Cooper, the Convertible isn’t the most practical of cars. It does get four seats, unlike a Mazda MX-5, but rear legroom is tight – that said, the boxy convertible roof shape means headroom is never a problem with the hood raised. But the rear seats are best reserved for children, and there are two sets of Isofix sockets easily accessible for fitting child seats. 

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As with the previous MINI Convertible, the tailgate opens downward like a pick-uo talfare, and there’s 210 litres of boot space with the roof up or just 165 litres with the roof down. It does have a useful feature where you can lift the roof up slightly with a special mechanism to enable you to fit larger items in the rear, such as bigger suitcases. The back seats also fold down, though again, the room available is pretty minimal. 

Engines

The engine choice mirrors that of the petrol hatchback, with a choice of Cooper C, Cooper S and John Cooper Works models. All come with a seven-speed automatic transmission sending drive to the front wheels, with no new MINI now available with a manual gearbox – a real shame. 

We’ve only driven the Cooper S so far, which will account for the majority of Convertible sales. It uses a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit developing 204hp and 300Nm of torque (pulling power), with 0-62mph dispatched in 6.9 seconds and it would reach a top speed of 147mph. For more performance, there is the John Cooper Works. It uses the same basic engine block but is tuned to produce 231hp and 320Nm of torque, dropping the 0-62mph time to 6.4 seconds. 

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If you’re not as fussed about performance, the Cooper C uses a 163bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that allows for an 8.2-second 0-62mph time. 

Running costs are similar on paper for all versions, with MINI claiming between 39 and 43mpg, and CO2 emissions varying between 147-161g/km CO2 emissions, depending on car. 

What’s it like to drive?

Fun has always been part of the MINI Convertible experience and this new model is no different. The roof is fully electric and takes just 18 seconds to open and 15 to close, and can be operated at speeds up to 19mph. You can also partly open it by 40cm like a sunroof, which is another cool feature and gives it more scope for use all year round.

It’s good fun to drive, with engaging handling and a pointy and precise front end. At the upper limits, it does start to run out of grip and understeer but for the best part you can throw it into a corner and it will stick. While unsurprisingly heavier than the Cooper hatchback, it still feels nice and light, and a nice compact size for nipping in and out of traffic. 

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The engine of the Cooper S is a good one, too, and makes a raspy tone with hints of turbo whoosh that all add to the character. Refinement is generally good, with a wind deflector across the rear seats helping to reduce wind noise. Even at motorway speeds with the roof down it’s quiet enough to hold a conversation, though visibility out the rear, whether the roof is up or down is compromised. MINIs generally have quite a stiff ride but the Convertible especially so as it’s had to be strengthened to deal with its lack of roof and extra weight. We suspect it could prove quite jarring when we try it in the UK.

A final note on the automatic gearbox, which unless you opt for a John Cooper Works or a Sport model (which both get a revised transmission) is compromised. It’s too hesitant in its standard setting but then far too keen in ‘Go Kart’ mode when it holds onto gears for too long with no option to change gear manually. We found it quite annoying on our test drive so we recommend a Sport model as this comes with gearshift paddles that can override this problem. 

What models and trims are available?

Opt for a Cooper C or Cooper S and there’s the choice of three trim levels – Classic, Sport and Exclusive – as is the case across the MINI line-up, as well as the John Cooper Works at the top of the range. 

Standard features on all are pretty generous, with every Convertible getting full LED lighting, the 9-5-inch touchscreen, dual-zone climate control and blind spot monitoring. The Classic is the most basic-looking version with its small silver alloy wheels and black grille. The Sport gets the look of the John Cooper Works with a redesigned front and rear end and sports seats. 

The Exclusive aims to be a more luxurious-looking model, getting stylish silver detailing and a blue artificial leather interior. 

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MINI then offers three options packs called Level 1, 2 and 3. 

Level 1 costs £2,000 and brings adaptive LED headlights, keyless entry, heated front seats, a head-up display and wireless smartphone charging. The £2,700 Level 2 pack adds the same but brings a Harman Kardon sound system too. The Level 3 pack is a fully kitted out, bringing electric front seats, adaptive cruise control and an augmented reality feature within the satellite navigation.