I’m a large fan of Minis, each literally and figuratively. I’m 6-foot-8 and own a four-door 2017 Mini Cooper S hatchback, and anyone who knows me knows how much I like my automobile. In the fashionable profit-driven automotive market, automakers are consolidating product lines and simplifying option packages, often resulting in more practical but more boring cars. Sure, the recent herd of vehicles from Mini have grown a bit, but they still ooze character and sacrifice some practicality for the sake of caprice. The recently unveiled fourth-generation Mini Cooper Convertible takes the brand new Mini recipe of more power, more cuteness and streamlined looks and raises the roof on the equation. In a sea of incredibly logical, often dull cars, the 2025 Mini Cooper Convertible is a rare bundle of silly fun.
Full Disclosure: BMW flew me out to South Carolina, put me up in a stunning hotel, and fed me a lot of delicious Southern food at its annual Test Fest. I previewed the brand new Mini Cooper Convertible, meaning I drove it for about half-hour, in addition to a slew of other vehicles. I got a glimpse into the long run of the BMW group and I’m grateful for the chance.
As with the remaining of the 2025 Mini Cooper lineup, the convertible now gains a normal turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 that routes 161 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels, while the Mini Cooper S has a 2.0-liter turbo 4 that cranks up the facility to 201 horses and 221 torques. Each those numbers are higher than the outgoing automobile, and the bottom Cooper now produces almost as much power because the outgoing Cooper S. Sadly there are not any more manual transmissions offered, making the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic standard equipment.
I briefly drove a Cooper S Convertible and am comfortable to report it made me giggle almost immediately. Chopping the highest off of a automobile obviously compromises its structural integrity, and whereas some modern droptops are still impossibly stiff, the Mini’s structure still jiggles and shimmies a bit greater than expected. Its handling characteristics aren’t as responsive as its hardtop siblings, but you don’t buy a convertible for those who’re looking for unparalleled dynamic prowess. You purchase a convertible because you’re willing to sacrifice some practicality with the intention to harvest some sweet, often elusive serotonin at any time when you drop the highest. That top is similar because the outgoing automobile, so it retains the dual-position retractable “sunroof” that only opens the front section, or it folds entirely away in 18 seconds at speeds under 19 mph.
In comparison with the outgoing Cooper S, the more powerful recent automobile definitely feels peppier, especially when you’re already on the move. Try launching the brand new Cooper S from a standing stop and also you’ll find traction issues and pretty significant torque steer, but when you’re moving, the 221 pound-feet of torque feel plentiful on this diminutive droptop. The chassis flex makes it feel less buttoned-down than hardtop Minis but still more responsive than many cars on the road, and quick steering retains the automobile’s agile demeanor without feeling darty.
Is there any room within the trunk for groceries? In the event you live alone, then yes! If it is advisable shop for a couple of or two, you’ll likely need to fold down the back seats. Are those back seats spacious enough for the entire family? Unlikely, unless your loved ones is vertically challenged. Is it a logical purchase decision? Absolutely not, nevertheless it sure is amusing. Putting the highest down in a Mini is a very unique experience. For the reason that windshield is kind of vertical and much in front of the driving force, there’s a virtually unparalleled amount of open air between the highest of the windshield and the driving force’s field of view. Where other convertibles have sweeping styling that causes the highest of the windshield to principally sit at the driving force’s head, the Cooper Convertible feels more open air than other open air cars, and I friggin’ like it. Plus, I fit comfortably behind the wheel despite standing nearly a foot taller than the common man.
Latest Mini interiors are centered around a circular OLED touchscreen that now replaces a physical gauge cluster altogether, just like Tesla products. Mercifully, Mini made the once-optional heads-up display standard equipment on the brand new automobile, so buyers could have to get used to the plexiglass screen with speed projections as an alternative of physical gauges or perhaps a driver’s display. Frustratingly, Mini also did away with the outgoing automobile’s physical climate control knobs and most radio controls, in order that they too are all buried within the central screen. This consolidation has resulted in a fairly complicated infotainment ecosystem. It takes a minimum of two taps to get to anything you need to change, even fan speed. There’s a small bar of physical controls at the bottom of the middle stack that houses the gear selector toggle, the faux old timey key-shaped starter toggle, the drive mode selector and the quantity knob, but those are truly the bare minimum for analog controls.
The brand new interior design frees up some space for small item storage up front, and there are a lot of recent features that appear on the Cooper for the primary time ever including optional power seats with a massaging driver’s seat, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control with lane centering, and surround view cameras. These systems are all welcome additions, and work well. The updated interior also has playful mood lighting and a pleasant use of colourful fabric trim
Expect to see the brand new 2025 Mini Cooper Convertible in showrooms early next 12 months. The usual model could have a base price of $34,945 including $995 destination, while Cooper S Convertibles will start at $38,195. Each of those prices are literally barely lower than the outgoing model. There ain’t many inexpensive convertibles around anymore; only the magnificent Mazda Miata and the muscular Ford Mustang exist anywhere near the marvelous Mini’s price tag. In the event you want 4 seats in your inexpensive convertible, it’s either the Mini or the Mustang, and I do know which one I’m taking.
This Article First Appeared At jalopnik.com
