I’m a large fan of Minis, each actually and figuratively. I’m 6-foot-8 and personal a four-door 2017 Mini Cooper S hatchback, and anybody who is aware of me is aware of how a lot I like my automotive. Within the fashionable profit-driven automotive market, automakers are consolidating product strains and simplifying possibility packages, typically resulting in extra sensible however extra boring vehicles. Positive, the new herd of autos from Mini have grown a bit, however they nonetheless ooze character and sacrifice some practicality for the sake of caprice. The just lately unveiled fourth-generation Mini Cooper Convertible takes the brand new Mini recipe of extra energy, extra cuteness and streamlined seems and raises the roof on the equation. In a sea of extremely logical, typically boring vehicles, the 2025 Mini Cooper Convertible is a uncommon bundle of foolish enjoyable.
Full Disclosure: BMW flew me out to South Carolina, put me up in a beautiful lodge, and fed me plenty of scrumptious Southern meals at its annual Take a look at Fest. I previewed the brand new Mini Cooper Convertible, that means I drove it for about half-hour, in addition to a slew of different autos. I bought a glimpse into the way forward for the BMW group and I’m grateful for the chance.
As with the remainder of the 2025 Mini Cooper lineup, the convertible now features a normal turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 that routes 161 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque to the entrance wheels, whereas the Mini Cooper S has a 2.0-liter turbo 4 that cranks up the facility to 201 horses and 221 torques. Each these numbers are greater than the outgoing automotive, and the bottom Cooper now produces virtually as a lot energy because the outgoing Cooper S. Sadly there are not any extra guide transmissions supplied, making the seven-speed dual-clutch computerized customary gear.
I briefly drove a Cooper S Convertible and am pleased to report it made me giggle virtually instantly. Chopping the highest off of a automotive clearly compromises its structural integrity, and whereas some fashionable droptops are nonetheless impossibly stiff, the Mini’s construction nonetheless jiggles and shimmies a bit greater than anticipated. Its dealing with traits aren’t as responsive as its hardtop siblings, however you don’t purchase a convertible in case you’re trying to find unparalleled dynamic prowess. You purchase a convertible since you are prepared to sacrifice some practicality so as to harvest some candy, typically elusive serotonin everytime you drop the highest. That high is similar because the outgoing automotive, so it retains the dual-position retractable “sunroof” that solely opens the entrance part, or it folds completely away in 18 seconds at speeds below 19 mph.
In comparison with the outgoing Cooper S, the extra highly effective new automotive undoubtedly feels peppier, particularly when you’re already on the transfer. Attempt launching the brand new Cooper S from a standing cease and also you’ll discover traction points and fairly vital torque steer, however when you’re transferring, the 221 pound-feet of torque really feel plentiful on this diminutive droptop. The chassis flex makes it really feel much less buttoned-down than hardtop Minis however nonetheless extra responsive than many vehicles on the street, and fast steering retains the automotive’s agile demeanor with out feeling darty.
Is there any room within the trunk for groceries? If you happen to stay alone, then sure! If you should store for multiple or two, you’ll seemingly should fold down the again seats. Are these again seats spacious sufficient for the entire household? Unlikely, until your loved ones is vertically challenged. Is it a logical buy determination? Completely not, but it surely positive is fun. Placing the highest down in a Mini is a really distinctive expertise. For the reason that windshield is sort of vertical and much in entrance of the motive force, there’s a nearly unparalleled quantity of open air between the highest of the windshield and the motive force’s area of view. The place different convertibles have sweeping styling that causes the highest of the windshield to mainly sit on the driver’s head, the Cooper Convertible feels extra open air than different open air vehicles, and I friggin’ like it. Plus, I match comfortably behind the wheel regardless of standing almost a foot taller than the typical man.
New Mini interiors are centered round a round OLED touchscreen that now replaces a bodily gauge cluster altogether, just like Tesla merchandise. Mercifully, Mini made the once-optional heads-up show customary gear on the brand new automotive, so consumers should get used to trying on the plexiglass display screen with pace projections as an alternative of bodily gauges or perhaps a driver’s show. Frustratingly, Mini additionally did away with the outgoing automotive’s bodily local weather management knobs and most radio controls, in order that they too are all buried within the central display screen. This consolidation has resulted in a reasonably sophisticated infotainment ecosystem. It takes a minimal of two faucets to get to something you need to change, even fan pace. There’s a small bar of bodily controls on the base of the middle stack that homes the gear selector toggle, the fake previous timey key-shaped starter toggle, the drive mode selector and the quantity knob, however these are actually the naked minimal for analog controls.
The brand new inside design frees up some house for small merchandise storage up entrance, and there are many new options that seem on the Cooper for the primary time ever together with non-compulsory energy seats with a massaging driver’s seat, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise management with lane centering, and encompass view cameras. These programs are all welcome additions, and work properly. The up to date inside additionally has playful temper lighting and a pleasant use of colourful material trim
Anticipate to see the brand new 2025 Mini Cooper Convertible in showrooms early subsequent yr. The usual mannequin may have a base worth of $34,945 together with $995 vacation spot, whereas Cooper S Convertibles will begin at $38,195. Each of these costs are literally barely decrease than the outgoing mannequin. There ain’t many reasonably priced convertibles round anymore; solely the magnificent Mazda Miata and the muscular Ford Mustang exist anyplace close to the marvelous Mini’s price ticket. If you need 4 seats in your reasonably priced convertible, it’s both the Mini or the Mustang, and I do know which one I’m taking.
