Put the Top Down And Soak up the Sun: The Mini Cooper Convertible is Back!
“Though she be but little, she is fierce,” Helene said of her friend Hermia in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. We might say the same of the refreshed, face-lifted but easily recognizable, and now optionally topless Mini Cooper and Cooper S.
This story is 100% human researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. No AI was used.
A Foldable Roof for this Quirky, Fun Little Car
The last time the Mini Cooper or Cooper S was offered for Americans was in 2015, and it was removed as an option due to slow sales and high production costs. However, the BMW-owned automaker heard the cries of fans and revived the Mini Cooper convertible.
The Cooper and Cooper S will follow what the company calls an “Always Open” mantra with a folding soft top or hardtop, which is rumored to be able to unfold in just 18 seconds and can be opened to 15.7 inches, regardless of how quickly you’re moving.
Read: The 2025 Mini JCW Countryman: Bigger, Bolder, and Built for Family Adventures
A Big, Sunny Personality at a Competitive Price
In America, the only small cars with convertible tops are the Fiat 124 Spider and the Mazda Miata MX-5. Competitors to the Mini Cooper or Cooper S, like the Fiat 500, Mazda 3, or Volkswagen Golf do not offer a convertible top – making it the only small car that will have an optional folding top.
Both Minis have an MSRP under $40,000, with the Cooper starting at $33,950 and the Cooper S starting at $37,200 – making them an affordable, spacing-saving spirited driver.
Both Minis Will Have Plenty of Power Under the Pedal
The standard Mini Cooper will have a 2.0-liter turbo four under the hood (or should we say “bonnet”), making a respectable 161 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. In a car this small, that feels quite fast as you scoot along close to the road.
The Cooper S has the same engine, though it’s been tuned to produce 201 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, moving the ol’ chap more than a shade faster.
A Compact Car With Sizable Safety Features and Technology
Both Minis are chockablock full of our favorite creature comforts, but our favorite is the voice command prompt being, “Hey, Mini” so, if you had the top down and you wanted directions to Disneyland, the people in the car next to you might assume you forgot you weren’t Mickey Mouse.
Other than that, it has helpful features like lane departure warning and steering assistance, as well as adaptive cruise control and cooperative steering. According to Mini, this model’s infotainment screen is designed to mimic the swiping motions and user interface of a smartphone, making it as familiar as it is fun.
In addition, the round, center screen adapts to the level of brightness in the vehicle, so the screen is always visible – even with the top folded.
This Mini Has Go-Kart Mode!
Both convertibles will come with seven ambient modes, or “Experience” modes, that are meant to accentuate different parts of Mini’s pedigree. Go-Kart mode, for example, changes the interior ambient lighting to red and anthracite to pay homage to the brand’s racing history. It also changes the center infotainment screen graphics and colors to complement John Cooper Works.
If none of the seven other modes tickle your fancy, Personal Mode allows you to fully customize the display and interior lighting colors and brightness.
The design is uncomplicated and easily recognizable
Whenever anyone hears “Mini Cooper,” the charming little car from England with round headlights, a short wheelbase, and a hatchback comes to mind. And, of course, the fact that it’s quintessentially British. To keep the image alive, the roof bears the Union Jack flag on the roof.
The flag is also on the taillights of both models, which Mini has been featuring since 2014. The large, round center screen is also very Mini-esque, too.
Americans can choose between two trim levels, each speaking different design languages
Instead of trim levels, Mini calls them “styles,” and the US market can choose between two. The “Classic Style” changes the interior design with a three-spoke steering wheel, faux leather seats, and colored accent stitching.
The “Favoured Style” is more to Mini’s British styling with houndstooth fabric, a knitted surface for the door panels, and John Cooper-Works styled seats, with additional bolstering compared to the Classic Style – perfect for those who plan to cut through the canyons.
American dealerships are expected to see the Mini Cooper and Cooper S convertible starting January 2025. Just in time for sunny winter road trips or to abate Spring fever as soon as it sets in.
Categorized:Car Buying