MINI Cooper Convertible review – more modern, but just as fun as before

Verdict – is the MINI Cooper Convertible a good car?

The MINI Cooper Convertible is a lot of fun, and our time with it reminded us just how good it is. It’s closely-based on its predecessor, but that’s no bad thing because that car was one of the best convertibles you could buy. It’s great to drive and now its funky interior has been brought up to date with the rest of the lineup. We would certainly not call the MINI Cooper Convertible practical, but it doesn’t fare too badly compared to its few rivals.

MINI Convertible models, specs and alternatives

We in the UK love our convertibles, so it makes sense that the latest MINI Cooper is offered as a convertible model, like before. There’s currently no electric Cooper Convertible, despite the previous generation having a limited-run of electric versions – an EV variant will arrive, we’re told, but is slated for a 2026 release.

The latest petrol-powered MINI Cooper, and thus the Cooper Convertible, is actually a very different car to the EV underneath the surface, and is essentially a heavily-facelifted version of the old petrol car. While the hatchback petrol Cooper’s new styling makes it hard to distinguish between the latest electric Cooper, the Cooper Convertible retains the same rear lights as the previous generation, rather than the new triangular ones on the latest hatchback models. The boot mechanism is completely new, though – it now hinges from both the top and the bottom and splits, providing a new, more practical way to access the boot.

The best convertible cars on sale 2024

On the inside, you get MINI’s latest futuristic, minimalist interior as featured on its other recent models. There’s a sharp, circular OLED infotainment screen in the centre, mimicking the placement of the speedometer of the original classic MINI, and the dash is finished in high-quality fabric.

There are three petrol engines for buyers to choose from, all of which centre around a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit. The entry-level model is badged the Cooper Convertible C, and it produces 161bhp, while the next step up is the S model with 201bhp. There’s also a sporty John Cooper Works version which is the most powerful with 228bhp.

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Like the rest of the MINI range, there are three versions of each model offered, known as Classic, Exclusive and Sport. These are offered with different degrees of equipment, but the most notable difference is between the exterior styling. Classic keeps things relatively basic, while Exclusive gives the MINI Convertible a more elegant, upmarket look. Sport, as you’d guess, gives the MINI Convertible a more aggressive bodykit for a racier look. On top of these options you also get the MINI ‘Levels’ packs which bundle in different options like another layer of trims.

There’s no electric version of the latest MINI Cooper Convertible, despite the fact there was a limited run of electric Convertibles with the previous-generation car. We’re told an EV will arrive in 2026, but until then you’re stuck with petrol power. 

Still, you get the option of three different versions of the 2.0-litre petrol engine to choose from, so if you want to prioritise fuel economy, you’d be best off with the 161bhp Cooper Convertible C. That said, there’s only a very marginal sacrifice to fuel economy if you go for the Cooper Convertible S with the extra 40bhp, as it’s just 0.7mpg less economical, which shouldn’t make a big difference in the real world.

Even the least economical of the bunch, the punchy John Cooper Works model with 228bhp, is able to get up to 40.9mpg, so fuel economy is pretty uniform across the board. The biggest impact you’ll have on your fuel bill is how well behaved you are behind the wheel.

How much will the MINI Cooper Convertible cost in tax?

The MINI Cooper Convertible will cost the annual standard rate in VED (road tax), which currently stands at £190 per year. Be aware that if you add options to the MINI Cooper Convertible and it goes over £40,000, you will also be liable for the luxury car surcharge from years two to six of the car’s life. That equates to £410 in 2024, and will rise to £425 in 2025.

What will the MINI Cooper Convertible cost to insure?

The latest MINI Cooper Convertible is yet to get official insurance groupings, but we’d expect them to stay largely similar to what they were before, given how the new car is so closely related to the old model. That car sat between groups 21 and 22 out of 50 in base specification, while the Cooper S spanned groups 27 to 28 and the range-topping JCW was in group 29.

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The latest MINI Cooper Convertible is based on the same underpinnings as the outgoing car, and that was a hoot to drive. This time, MINI has tweaked the suspension, steering and gearbox to make it even better. 

Twisty B-roads are where the MINI Cooper Convertible shines, and it feels planted through every corner, while the steering is well weighted. There’s lots of grip on offer and the Cooper Convertible offers lots of body control, while we enjoyed the playful, burbly exhaust and occasional whistle from the turbo which both added some theatre to the experience.

Our test model was the mid-spec Cooper S, which has a decent amount of power for most, and feels punchy where it counts. In its default setting the gearbox can feel a bit slow to respond, but change from Normal and into Go-Kart mode and you get an enthusiastic ‘woohoo!’ from the speakers, while everything, including the transmission, is sharpened up for a nippier, more involving drive.

This really is the MINI’s forte, but it comes at the expense of ride comfort, which is incredibly firm and results in a jiggly ride over uneven roads. Find yourself a smoother surface and it’s a comfortable cruiser and it’s surprisingly quiet with or without the roof down at higher speeds.

Petrol models

The MINI Cooper Convertible is currently only available as a petrol model based around a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. It comes in three power outputs, but all are pretty punchy for a car of this size. We think the mid-range Cooper S will be powerful enough for most buyers, while still offering plenty of fun. For the sportiest option there’s also the John Cooper Works.

Electric models

MINI says an electric version of the Cooper Convertible is set to arrive in 2026 – it’s unclear yet as to whether this will build on the underpinnings of the latest electric Cooper hatchback, or whether it will stick to the outgoing Convertible’s underpinnings, as that car had a limited run of electric models, too.

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While the latest MINI Cooper Convertible may be heavily based on the old model, the interior is one area where there’s a complete overhaul. In line with the rest of the brand’s cars, the latest Cooper Convertible gets a new minimalist cabin which makes extensive use of fabrics on the dash, and sports a large circular central infotainment screen.

Is the MINI Cooper Convertible infotainment and sat-nav system easy to use?

The latest MINI Cooper Convertible gets the same interior as the Cooper hatchback, so that means there’s a new 9.4-inch central OLED display which looks the part and pays homage to the classic MINI’s central speedometer. It displays all the usual driving information such as your speed, but it’s also where you control your climate controls, infotainment and navigation. Naturally, we’d prefer if the climate controls were physical as it would be easier to tweak them on the move, but at least the soundsystem gets a dedicated knob for the volume, pause/play and skip forward and back.

The OLED display is very crisp with bright, sharp graphics which are easy to see even in bright sunlight. It’s simple to use, although some of the swiping gestures to skip to different options need some calibration – it seemed like we needed to move our finger a long way to move to the next page.

One neat unique feature of the Cooper Convertible is the ‘Always Open Timer’, which tells you how long you’ve driven with the roof down. It acts as a sort of charming incentive to keep the roof down and use the Convertible as it was intended, but it could arguably be a little frustrating if you want to up your top-down time through the rainier and colder months of the year.

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Your main priority won’t be practicality if you’re looking to buy a MINI Cooper Convertible – interior and boot space is slightly down on the hatchback Cooper because the Convertible has to accommodate the folded roof. That said, there have been some improvements to boot access in the latest model. 

Does the MINI Cooper Convertible have a big boot?

The MINI Cooper itself isn’t known for having a particularly big boot, and the extra space needed to store the soft top means the Convertible has even less space for luggage. There’s just 215 litres of boot space on offer with the roof up, while this decreases to just 160 with it down – drop the rear seats and you get up to 665 litres of space. The good news is that access has been improved with this latest model – whereas the boot was just hinged at the bottom on the outgoing car, the new one also features an additional panel hinged on top, making the opening wider.

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While the MINI Cooper Convertible specifically hasn’t featured in our Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, the outgoing MINI hatchback with which it shares many parts came in an impressive fifth place out of 50 cars in 2024. Unsurprisingly, buyers love its retro exterior design and interior (though the latter has changed significantly since). Handling, which is similar to that of the Cooper Convertible, is ranked in an impressive second place, while practicality is very poorly rated – that’s likely to be even worse for the Convertible.

MINI as a brand doesn’t perform particularly well in terms of owner satisfaction, with the brand coming in 20th place out of the top 32 manufacturers. That said, it’s still way ahead of rival Fiat, which came in 31st place. MINI’s safety systems and usability are also ranked pretty poorly.

There is some good news, though – MINI gets a pretty impressive score for reliability, with just 12.7% of owners reporting an issue with their car in the first year. Perhaps surprisingly, Fiat actually does better in this area despite its cars not satisfying customers as much overall, with just 11.8% of owners reporting an issue in the first year.

Like every other model in its lineup, the MINI Cooper Convertible is covered by a three-year/unlimited-mile warranty. While that was the industry standard until recently, many other manufacturers are going above and beyond to vouch for their cars with longer warranties, so it’s a shame not to see a longer period of warranty cover.

How safe is the MINI Cooper Convertible?

Safety is a bit of a grey area for the latest MINI Cooper Convertible, because the Convertible has yet to be tested and the hatchback was last put through its paces in 2014, when it scored just four stars. Euro NCAP’s testing has since become much more stringent, so it’s unclear how the MINI Cooper and the Cooper Convertible would fare now, given they’re based on that older platform. It’s worth noting that the Convertible does get a rollover protection feature like before that deploys hoops behind the rear seats in the event that the car thinks it will roll over, helping to protect the occupants.

As standard, the MINI Cooper Convertible gets cruise control, a reversing camera, autonomous emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition and lane-keep assist. Adaptive cruise control and a parking assistant can be added with the Level 3 options pack, but it’s quite pricey and only available on higher-spec cars.

Should you buy a MINI Cooper Convertible?

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We loved the previous MINI Convertible, so it’s good to have it back with a fresh interior and updated finish. It’s still very closely related to its predecessor, but that’s no bad thing, because that car was a regular winner of Best Convertible in the Carbuyer Best Car awards.

The new interior brings it right up to date, while the circular central infotainment screen is quirky and different, harking back to the interior design of the classic car, and its graphics are sharp and modern. MINI has injected some extra fun factor into the latest Cooper Convertible, and that’s evident with the car’s new ‘Experience’ modes – there’s a playful charm about the way the speakers let out a ‘wahoo!’ when you go into ‘Go-Kart Mode’, and the Convertible’s ‘Always Open Timer’ that eggs you on to keep the roof off is a neat and cheeky feature.

What is the Carbuyer pick of the MINI Cooper Convertible range?

For the best balance between fuel economy (though marginal), equipment levels and punchy performance, we think most buyers would be happiest with the mid-range Cooper S Convertible. 

MINI Cooper Convertible alternatives

Gone are the days when every manufacturer seemed to be building a convertible version of one of its hatchbacks, and there just aren’t so many drop-tops to choose from now. Still, the similarly-retro Fiat 500C is one of the MINI Cooper Convertible’s closest rivals, though production of the petrol version is ending and only the electric version will remain for now. Elsewhere there’s also the Mazda MX-5, though it’s only a two-seater and build from the ground up as a roadster, so it’s less practical

• Fiat 500C
• Abarth 500C
• Mazda MX-5

How we tested the MINI Cooper Convertible

We drove the latest version of the MINI Cooper Convertible in Cooper S specification in Spartanburg, South Carolina in the USA in November 2024.