2020 MINI Convertible John Cooper Works
2020 Mini Convertible Review
- Three engines blend speed, thrill and fuel efficiency
- Excellent handling makes it quick and fun in turns and curves
- The interior looks classy and upscale
- Available add-ons offer high degree of personalization
- The ride quality can be stiff and rough, especially with larger tires
- More expensive than most rivals
- Passenger space and cargo capacity are limited
- New seven- and eight-speed automatic transmissions
- Standard forward collision warning and automatic braking
- Minor revisions to feature availability
- Part of the third Mini Convertible generation introduced for 2016
The Mini Cooper has always been a slightly odd duck compared with the rest of the market. Its small stature, bug-eyed headlights and undeniable charm speak to buyers looking for a break from the norm. And the convertible version takes things a step further with the ability to drop the top for sun-drenched freedom and fun. For 2020 the Mini Convertible is back, but many competitors are not — automakers have been quick to abandon topless vehicles of late. All of a sudden, the Mini Convertible is more distinctive than ever.
One look at the Mini Convertible makes it clear that utility and cargo space are not high priorities. It has a retractable soft top that eats into seating and storage room, and the rear seats are not suitable for adults. But exceptional handling ability is carried over from the hardtop version, and it pairs with small yet punchy engines to deliver personality on the road that's becoming more difficult to find.
Get past the relatively stiff ride and costs that quickly rise as you tack on options and packages, and the Mini Convertible will pack enough driving excitement to keep a permanent smile on your face. Former rivals such as the Fiat 500C and Volkswagen Beetle Convertible have come and gone, so the Mini Convertible finds itself alone in offering its blend of style and comfort at an attainable price.
Our verdict | |
The Mini Convertible is nearly as much fun to drive as its Mini Hardtop sibling. It also offers a high-quality and stylish interior and distinctive styling with plenty of options for customization. The John Cooper Works version is somewhat of a disappointment, however. | |
How does the Convertible drive? | |
We tested the Mini Convertible in the John Cooper Works (JCW) trim. This should be the top of the heap, but it doesn't feel much more special than the S trim. Acceleration from 0-60 mph took 6 seconds in our test car, which is quick for a convertible in this class. The Mini's turbocharged engine makes plenty of torque but lacks the fun, high-revving character of the Mazda Miata's engine. Panic braking from 60 mph yielded a best result of 119 feet, which is an average distance; we expected better. Most of the blame falls on the Mini JCW's somewhat narrow tires, which also limit its outright handling ability. We love its nimbleness, but less expensive Mini Convertible trims give you that as well. | |
How comfortable is the Convertible? | |
The expected stiff and sporty ride of a Mini is certainly present with the John Cooper Works version. While it's never unduly harsh, it can be jittery over less than smooth pavement. Our test car came with optional adaptive dampers, but we didn't feel there was enough of a difference between the Normal and Sport modes to warrant the extra expense. The front seats are supportive and comfortable, but rear seat passengers will likely complain about the vertical seat backs and lack of shoulder room. The Mini's top looks and feels well constructed but it lets in a lot of ambient noise and road noise when driving at highway speeds. In fact, when we tested interior noise levels, we found it's barely louder with the top down than when it's up. The John Cooper Works center exhaust produces some nice burbles and pops but can drone over extended periods of driving at a constant speed. | |
How’s the interior? | |
The somewhat long doors have a nice weight and provide ample access to the front seats but don't make it any easier to get into the back seats. If adults can squeeze in back there — it's somewhat easier with the top down — they'll likely be touching shoulders. The driver and passenger will have plenty of shoulder room and a surplus of headroom, making the compact Mini feel reasonably spacious. The Mini Convertible's controls are fairly easy to understand and use. The well-constructed folding cloth top sits more or less on the back of the Mini and, when down, blocks your rear visibility quite a bit. When it's up, there's decent visibility to the sides thanks to the tall windows and large outside mirrors. Visibility out the front is compromised because the rearview mirror takes up a lot of space on the narrow windshield. | |
How’s the tech? | |
A lot of the Mini Convertible's tech is lifted straight from parent company BMW. This isn't a bad thing as the infotainment system is basically BMW's with a colorful, Mini-themed interface. It's easy to navigate and looks a bit more premium than some rivals. Navigation and voice controls work well and proved genuinely helpful in certain situations. Wireless Apple CarPlay is standard, but the lack of Android Auto is surprising given it's in most of the Mini's rivals. Our test car's Harman Kardon audio system was strong enough to deliver good quality sound over the Convertible's elevated levels of interior noise. The adaptive cruise control works well and maintains tight gaps in traffic. We experienced no false alarms or overreactions from any of the other systems. But we were somewhat disappointed with the conservative tuning of electronic stability control, especially on a car that's supposed to be fun to drive. Thankfully, you can disable it. | |
How’s the storage? | |
It should come as no surprise that the Mini Convertible is not the most practical car. Its 7.6-cubic-foot trunk is small and not easily accessible. Ironically, the Mazda Miata's smaller trunk (4.6 cubic feet) is more practical and easier to use. Interior storage is slightly better and there's enough space for one person's personal belongings in the cubby in front of the cupholders and the cupholders themselves. If you spring for the wireless charging, you will lose most of your center armrest storage. Child seat anchors are provided in the back seat but only the smallest booster seats are likely to fit without a lot of fuss. | |
How economical is the Convertible? | |
The EPA estimates the Convertible JCW will return 28 mpg combined (25 city/33 highway) and our time with the Mini backs that up. Over our 115-mile evaluation route the drop-top Mini returned a solid 29.4 mpg with some fairly enthusiastic driving thrown in, just because. It should be noted that Mini recommends premium gasoline for the John Cooper Works Convertible. | |
Is the Convertible a good value? | |
In its John Cooper Works trim, we're inclined to say no. Our test car stickered at $46,250 (including destination fees), which puts it at nearly the same price as a Mustang GT convertible and at least$10k more than a similarly equipped Mazda Miata. The Mini is well built, with tight panel gaps and good quality materials, and feels more luxurious than other convertibles. But less expensive versions of the Mini, such as the Cooper S, are just as well built and perform nearly as well. Standard warranty coverage is about average for the class, with both bumper to bumper and powertrain coverage coming in at 4 years/50,000 miles. But Mini also offers four years of roadside assistance with unlimited mileage and three years of free maintenance. | |
Wildcard | |
You're effectively guaranteed a fun and nimble driving experience in the Mini Convertible. But the JCW trim doesn't offer much beyond what you'd get from a regular Mini. The extra power is nice, but the JCW isn't especially fast. And while it does have nimble handling, it doesn't feel any more engaging than a Cooper S model. The quirky styling and detail touches that have come to define Mini are still there and serve as a nice visual reminder of how fun this little car will be once you're out of the weekday traffic jam. But at times it feels like it's been laid on a little thick in the JCW. We're all for the Mini driving experience, but we'd prefer ours in a more basic and less expensive spec. | |
Which Convertible does Edmunds recommend?
MINI Convertible models
The 2020 Mini Convertible is a two-door compact convertible with seating for four passengers. It's available in three trims: the base Cooper, the sportier Cooper S and the high-performance John Cooper Works.
2020 MINI Convertible John Cooper Works pricing
in Ashburn, VA
Features & Specs
- Base MSRP
- $38,400
- MPG & Fuel
- 25 City / 33 Hwy / 28 Combined
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 11.6 gal. capacity
- Seating
- 4 seats
- Drivetrain
- Type: front wheel drive
- Transmission: 8-speed shiftable automatic
- Engine
- Inline 4 cylinder
- Horsepower: 228 hp @ 5200 rpm
- Torque: 236 lb-ft @ 1250 rpm
- Basic Warranty
- 4 yr./ 50000 mi.
- Dimensions
- Length: 152.5 in. / Height: 55.7 in.
- Overall Width with Mirrors: 76.1 in.
- Overall Width without Mirrors: 68.0 in.
- Curb Weight: N/A
- Cargo Capacity, All Seats In Place: 7.6 cu.ft.
Safety
Our experts’ favorite Convertible safety features:
- Parking Assistant
- Finds an available parallel parking spot and guides the Mini into the space with minimal driver input.
- Front and Rear Park Distance Control
- Sounds an alert as the Mini approaches an object in front of or behind it.
- Active Driving Assistant
- Equips the vehicle with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking to help avoid accidents and lessen the severity of a crash.
Mini Convertible vs. the competition
2020 Mini Convertible
2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Mini Convertible vs. Mazda MX-5 Miata
If it's top-down performance you're after, the Miata is the king of convertible thrills. It packs an engaging, fun driving experience into its diminutive frame, and it's fuel-efficient to boot. There is a predictable lack of space and storage, and there's more noise inside the cabin than in the borderline-luxe Mini. But there's no better sports car for the money, and the open air experience is second to none.
Mini Convertible vs. Mini Hardtop 2 Door
The Mini Hardtop may be the one for you if the extra cost of a convertible top is a little too much to swallow. Its starting price is considerably less than the drop-top's, and there is more storage space thanks to the conventional hatch. All of the upscale interior features are the same in both models, as are the powertrains and smile-inducing drive. The back seat unfortunately doesn't get any easier to use.
Mini Convertible vs. Hyundai Veloster
The Hyundai Veloster is the most versatile of the affordable hatchbacks. There is a small efficient engine, a sporty turbocharged one or a high-performance one. Its unique three-door layout offers extra utility. And its looks won't be mistaken for anything else on the road. The downside? You can't get the open-air freedom or refined interior the Mini Convertible offers.
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FAQ
Is the MINI Convertible a good car?
What's new in the 2020 MINI Convertible?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2020 MINI Convertible:
- New seven- and eight-speed automatic transmissions
- Standard forward collision warning and automatic braking
- Minor revisions to feature availability
- Part of the third Mini Convertible generation introduced for 2016
Is the MINI Convertible reliable?
Is the 2020 MINI Convertible a good car?
How much should I pay for a 2020 MINI Convertible?
The least-expensive 2020 MINI Convertible is the 2020 MINI Convertible John Cooper Works 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $38,400.
Other versions include:
- John Cooper Works 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $38,400