► Fourth-gen MINI gets a soft-top variant
► Two petrol engines on offer, but no manual gearbox
► Priced from £26,200 with first deliveries in April 2025
It’s hard to out-MINI the MINI Cooper Hatch, but this latest Cooper Convertible variant surely manages to do just that. Cute, reasonably priced and packed with everything you need in a compact four-seat convertible it’s sure to be a hit for fully paid-up members of the vast MINI fan club.
You know the drill – take the Hatch, lop the metal roof off and replace with a stylish fabric equivalent, then make a few choice tweaks throughout while keeping everything else the same. It’s a recipe that’s worked well for MINI in the past and Oxford’s finest have done the same again here.
True rivals are few and far between. The Fiat 500C is much smaller and far less dynamically capable, while the VW T-Roc Cabriolet is more of a mini-SUV than hatchback. If you want to go really left field, the Mazda MX-5 mixes drop-top goodness with a RWD powertrain but it’s not as versatile as the MINI Convertible and a strict two-seater. Has this latest variant nailed the brief? Keep reading to find out.
At a glance
Pros: Brilliantly stylish, great cabin, easy roof-down experience
Cons: Firm ride, no gearshift paddles as standard on S model
What’s new?
Look at the new MINI Cooper Convertible from the front and it’s almost identical to the latest MINI Hatch. The newly designed front grille and circular LED headlights (available optionally with three customisable light signatures) come together to form a face that’s unmistakeably MINI – yet there’s clear evolution from the previous model.
Move around to the rear, however, and it looks suspiciously similar to the previous model with MINI having elected not to match the rear end for the convertible version. In particular, the rear lights differ significantly to the Hatch.
As for said folding roof, it’s fully automatic and can be opened in 18 seconds (and closed in 15 seconds) while travelling at up to 19mph. Hidden behind the headrests at the rear of the car, is MINI’s integrated rollover protection system that activates automatically as soon as the vehicle detects a risk of turning over.
The MINI Experience Modes – of which there are seven – also make their way onto the convertible. Users can choose between Core, Green, Vivid, Timeless, Balance, Personal and Go Kart Mode, with changes to the driving dynamics and interior lighting colour scheme across each preset.
What are the specs?
The MINI Convertible comes with a choice of two petrol engines. The Cooper Convertible C gets a 1.5-litre three-cylinder with 161bhp, while the Cooper Convertible S uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder with 201bhp. Both variants use a seven-speed automatic transmission (there’s no manual option, sadly) with front-wheel drive.
Customers can choose from three trim levels – namely Classic, Exclusive and Sport. Classic gets a black-trimmed front grille, 16-inch square spoke alloys wheels and the smart-looking dashboard knit interior trim as standard.
Meanwhile, Exclusive gets a Vibrant Silver front grille, 17-inch U spoke grey alloy wheels, a tasteful British Racing Green body colour and Nightshade Blue Vescin seats. Finally, Sport trim gets a redesigned front and rear look featuring a high gloss hexagonal patterned grille surround and front and rear apron. Black brake calipers with JCW badging are also offered as standard, while JCW Black Vescin/cord combination seats feature inside.
Strangely, only the Sport trim variant gets the shift paddles on the steering wheel allowing manual override without having to remove your hands. Therefore, it’s possible to get a MINI Cooper Convertible S that does not come with gearshift paddles. Hmmmm…
How does it drive?
Our time in the MINI Convertible was very limited and we’ll update this review as soon as we get an extended drive on UK roads. We got behind the wheel of an S spec car and the good news is that the sense of fun that’s so crucial to the MINI’s charm is even more prevalent in the convertible version.
Roof down on a decent day, the experience of driving the car is hugely enjoyable and helped by a cabin design that – unlike many cars – feels like it gets better with every generation.
The four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine offers enough performance to deliver a 0-62mph time just under the seven-second mark, yet we noticed that without Go Kart mode engaged the seven-speed transmission could be slow to respond. And, since paddles weren’t fitted to our non-Sport spec car, the override option wasn’t as easy to reach as we’d like.
Roof down, the four-cylinder engine has a nice, raspy tone with hints of turbo whoosh – all of which deliver the requisite character you’d expect from a MINI. Allow it to settle down however, and refinement from the engine is perfectly adequate. At lower speeds, there’s little to no wind buffeting with the top down. Climb above 50mph and you’ll begin to notice the elements, yet it’s still quiet enough to enjoy a conversation.
In fact, our main gripe from a comfort point of view is the ride quality. In order to accommodate the additional weight of the Convertible, MINI has had to change the chassis settings from the Hatch. This means you’ve got a firm ride that crashes through larger bumps with a jarring feel. Smaller undulations and imperfections are dealt with better, but you’ll want to avoid any significant blemishes in the road surface.
The flip side is that the MINI Convertible feels tight and agile to drive. We didn’t get to push it to its limits on our test drive – and we suspect most owners won’t, either – but from the fast cornering we did subject it to the chassis held up well and showed off a pointy and precise front-end. There’s torque steer under power – just like in the Hatch – but nothing that cannot be managed.
What’s the interior like?
Really excellent. MINI’s designers have done a fantastic job adding life and character to the car’s cabin while still maintaining the requisite levels of tech and functionality. The textile surfaces made from recycled polyester add texture without resorting to pricier, less durable materials while the control panel (complete with physical switches) below the central screen is a welcome splash of tactility.
Said screen – a 9.5-inch display – now works far better after struggles in previous additions to get the round design to properly display third party apps such as Apple CarPlay. It’s still not quite perfect, but along with the various graphic themes (available as you scroll through Experience Modes) it’s a joy to use.
Having the temperature controls take up a permanent place on the side of the screen also helps usability, as does the nice, chunky physical steering wheel buttons – ideal if you’re wearing gloves.
Before you buy
Whichever version of the MINI Cooper Convertible you go for, you’re getting a well-priced, premium-feeling car with huge of amounts of style and quality design. However, if you do fancy the Cooper Convertible S version, bear in mind that it’s not quite the same as the warm-hatch experience you get in the Hatch variant.
The Convertible is heavier and – while it handles well – does feel less sporty. The extra power is no doubt useful, but don’t expect to find a roofless hot-rod. And, of course, if you want to having steering wheel-mounted gearshift paddles, make sure you opt for the Sport trim.
We’d also recommend optioning the head-up display as while the central screen works well, it feels a little unnatural looking over to see the speedometer and other crucial driving info.
Verdict: MINI Cooper Convertible
Our time behind the wheel was brief, but initial impressions suggest the MINI Convertible fills the fun, stylish and usable convertible brief with aplomb. The cabin design is blessed with flair, there’s more than enough tech, the roof-down experience is accomplished and the handling is enjoyable. We’ll save our final recommendations for the UK drive but, for now, we reckon the new MINI Cooper Convertible is a winner.