It’s not a great time to like convertibles unless you’re rich. Maybe it’s just not a great time in general unless you’re rich. Either way, forget pondering economic disparity, we’re here to talk about drop-tops. It wasn’t so long ago when you could get a freaking Range Rover Evoque convertible, but now, if you want a somewhat reasonably priced four-seat convertible that isn’t built to tackle Moab, you have two options. The first is the Ford Mustang. The second is this new Mini Convertible, and it looks like it would be rather nice to live with.
Well, it’s new-ish. Yes, this is the 2025 Mini Convertible, but thanks to the sheer abstraction of the Mini range, some level of clarification is necessary. It’s updated, but much like the current Mustang, it isn’t a fresh start. This is really just an extensive rework of the old Mini Convertible, meaning it’s not some all-new electric thing, instead riding on the same UKL platform with the same family of modular engines Mini fans know and love. However, that’s not a bad thing.
For instance, the fundamental two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine also offered in the old car is plenty, especially with two available states of tune. The standard Cooper C convertible makes 161 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque, while the Cooper S convertible takes those numbers up to 201 horsepower and 221 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s plenty to have fun with, and even though the only transmission on offer is an automatic, two pedals ought to make slogging through city traffic a bit easier.
On the outside, the big story is all up front, where grafting the new Mini styling language onto what is essentially the old car results in an amusingly surprised facial expression, but also a more resolved look than the goatee of the outgoing car. It looks like it needs a coffee before you can process the information you just told it, and if you can anthropomorphize styling of a car like this, that means it’s at least somewhat successful.
As for the proportionally enormous soft top, you have to be travelling below precisely 18.6 mph to open it on the go, but that should still prevent you from holding up traffic at the lights. Like in the outgoing model, you can slide back just a portion of it to have an enormous soft sunroof, and the assembly still folds back atop the deck, meaning you have a small yet useable cargo hold when on the go that expands ever so slightly when the top’s up.
Speaking of spaces beneath the sheet metal, the new Mini Convertible gets the circular OLED screen all next-generation Minis get, which means that although displaying Apple CarPlay is a bit weird, some of the built-in gimmicks are quite entertaining. It comes with a virtual dog, and you can scratch records on it, plus it keeps enough critical functions docked so as to not appear a nuisance. It’s also easy to dig the knit textile on the dashboard like a jumper’s been laid over it.
Perhaps best of all, when I wrote that the new Mini Convertible is reasonably priced, I really did mean it. The base price rings in at $34,945 including freight, some $6,670 less than the cheapest new Mustang convertible. Granted, that 161-horsepower base model won’t be as quick as a Mustang Ecoboost, but it should feel more luxurious, and if you’re looking for something nice to take in the views of the city with, that’s more of what you’re craving, right?
Expect the new Mini Convertible to roll into showrooms this coming January, which sounds like odd timing for a convertible in much of the country, but actually, it’s perfect. There’s something both exposing and intimate about driving a bubble of heater-blasting warmth with a stream of frigid air just a few inches above your scalp, and it’s something everyone should experience at least once if they can. The future of the convertible is uncertain, so if you’ve ever wanted one, buy one while you can.
(Photo credits: Mini)
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I don’t mind the overall styling and I really like those wheels for some reason.
But I cannot abide by them removing the display behind the steering wheel. If I want to be annoyed with an overly minimalistic interior with a singular display, I’ll (/vomit) get a Tesla.
Dead horse take: If it’s a critical function that needs to be permanently docked on the screen, it should be permanently mounted as a physical control instead.
Just got my first convertible this year. And I am sold on the life, as long as I can afford to own a 3rd “fun” car it will for sure have a removable top.
I’ve always been tempted by a Mini Convertible but it’s hard to justify a new one when I can get a used one with a manual
As a convertible owner I will agree that I’d rather drive with the top down and heat on when in the 40s than drive with the top down in the upper 90’s.
I always say you can dress up for cold, but there’s only so much you can take off for heat.
It would be really cool as an EV, but no one seems to want to make a small convertible one.
I would give my left arm for an affordable EV convertible
Mini did a concept but it never reached production 🙁
It looks like it is on the way…
https://www.mini.co.uk/en_GB/home/mini-news/mini-electric-convertible.html#:~:text=Zero%20driving%20emissions.,that%20all%2Delectric%20feel%20good.
That would be fantastic. I’d rock an EV convertible as a daily no question
I’m still annoyed that they discontinued the roadster. This one is… too practical.
I’m far more annoyed that they killed the manual. Mini is supposed to be all about the fun, and that’s exactly why I like manuals! I know they are slower and less efficient, but I don’t care. They are more fun and I need fun more than I need speed.
Does the white-shirted back-seat passenger have, you know, *legs?* Because I’ve sat in the back seat of Minis and I would not describe them as roomy.
That’d be Bosco and he doesn’t like being referred to as a dummy.
“…you have to be travelling below precisely 18.6 mph to open it on the go…”
Which makes more sense when you realize that’s just under 30kph.
And there are other affordable choices – such as CPO C and E Class, 4 Series, A5/S5s…
…and the maintenance of those won’t be much more than the Mini – being they’re all German.
“…if you want a somewhat reasonably priced four-seat convertible that isn’t built to tackle Moab, you have two options. The first is the Ford Mustang. The second is this new Mini Convertible…”
Miata is the answer, even with two less seats.
Still, it’s odd to me, having grown up in the 00’s, that coupes and convertibles are going away. Kind of sad, honestly.
It’s also $5k more than a new Miata
And less fun.
What is going on with that picture where three adults are “pictured” riding in the Mini?
The guy in the back seat appears to be a pretty poor Photoshop/AI job. His shoulders are in front of the front seatbacks!
Glad I’m not the only one who sees that. Although I *think* his shoulders are behind the seats his legs must be spread wiiiiide or absent entirely. Which, hey, good on them for including different bodies in their adverts.
He seems to be interested in the girl in red, but she only has eyes for the traditionally handsome mini driver/owner.
No love for the third wheel is what I see.
Ugly, dead fish face and no manual option. I really hate what BMW has done to this car. It used to be a favorite, but that ended around 2015. If this had been the first design dropped back in the aughts, the cult of new Mini would’ve been DOA. At least call it something else, like Nini. Based on the prevalence of other ugly car designs out there, I’m sure there will be disagreements with my position. So be it, but Mini remains dead to me.
This is a terrible time to be in the drop top market, especially if you’re a fan of Japanese cars like myself. It’s nice that options like this exist though; if my situation were different where rear seat passengers weren’t a consideration, I’d put a Mini convertible on the short list.
As much as I love my Solara convertible, it’s not going to last forever and eventually costs will creep in that are way more than what the car is worth. Unless perhaps it starts entering classic car territory lol.
Toyota’s only offering is the fantastic, but expensive, Lexus RC at the low low price of ~$100k starting.
I now live in a world where $34k cars are reasonably priced and $60k mass market brands are a “good value”. I done went and got old. In my day we rolled down the windows with manual cranks and by golly we loved it!
We did not really love it, we just endured it. Aftermarket AC was pretty prevalent in many of the budget cars my mother ended up buying. Once she could find the money and a place that did the addition of course.
It’s one of the reasons why car prices outpace inflation. Inflation looks at prices for the same goods — but the cars of today all have way more features than those of a few years ago. You can’t buy a new car with crank windows, for example.
It’s a shame, because modern ragtops are so much better than in the past. The crappy sealing and lack of sound insulation just isn’t a thing anymore.
Most definitely, and since pretty much every modern top is a multi-layered affair, newer convertibles aren’t nearly as susceptible to holes in the top as convertibles of old.
Even on my ’06 Solara with original molding and top, not a single drop of water gets in when it rains. However, what does happen is if I open up a window, water will drip in since there’s no system to route the water away like on a traditional car.
I’ve never really had an issue with sound insulation either. Sure, you can hear more ambient noise even with the top up, but with the stereo on you don’t even notice it.