The 2020 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.
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.
CarMax values transparency and wants you to love your next car, not settle on it. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (26 City/34 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WMWWJ5C07L3L47034 Stock: 27372131 Certified Pre-Owned: No
CarMax values transparency and wants you to love your next car, not settle on it. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (26 City/34 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WMWWJ5C09L3L40649 Stock: 27209096 Certified Pre-Owned: No
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.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
by the Edmunds Experts
Average
7.2
out of 10
We drove the 2020 MINI Convertible on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance
8/10
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.
Comfort
7/10
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.
Interior
7.5/10
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.
Technology
7.5/10
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.
Storage
5.5/10
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.
Fuel Economy
8.5/10
How’s the fuel economy? 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.
Value
7.5/10
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
7.5/10
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.
2020 MINI Convertible trim level differences
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.
Which Convertible trim does Edmunds recommend?
To make the most of the top-down potential, give the Cooper S Convertible a whirl. It upgrades to the larger turbocharged engine and comes with sport seats. We recommend adding the Signature package for its heated seats and LED lights, though it's disappointing that you get neither navigation nor Apple CarPlay capability at its lofty price.
2017 MINI Convertible Cooper S 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
Really cool car. Super quick. The attention to detail inside and out is what makes this car worth the extra money compared to the Fiat 500 although the Fiat is a really cool car too. The convertible top works great. Loaded with "features" many of which I'll provably never use. The interior is roomier than it looks. Well laid out instruments and cool mood lighting (one of the features … I didn't need). Our kids are grown, so the back seat is mainly for storage and the occasional friend who wants to go motoring. I drove it on vacation this year ... about 700 miles each way. Handled like a champ. So if you usually only have 2 passenger... want something sporty...and looks cool...this could be the car for you
Great Little Pocket Rocket - Amazing Packaging
5 out of 5 stars
Mike Sticksel, 09/11/2017
2017 MINI Convertible Cooper S 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
OK to start this review out I admit that I had no intention of buying a MINI. Truth be told I went to look at a used Bentley Continental GT and the MINI Convertible was parked next to it. It attracted my wife like iron filing to a magnet! I drove the 10 year old Bentley with 50,000 miles on the clock and was VERY disappointed. Interior room was like a Camaro and it rode like a buckboard. … True it was 10 years old, but it was a disappointment. To keep my wife of 49 years happy we took the MINI Cooper S for a test drive. I was very skeptical about even taking it for a test drive but I figured "what the heck!". What a surprise. It rode great and the interior materials and fit and finish were top notch. The Caribbean Aqua color really looks cool, and the light gray leather interior and the rest of the interior surfaces exude "Quality". We had just leased a new Genesis G90 5.0 Ultimate AWD three months ago and I was very impressed with the quality and packaging of the MINI Convertible, even compared to our Genesis Luxo Barge. Plus it is a BLAST to drive. The 2.0 Liter Turbo 4 puts out more than enough thrust (189 hp & 207 Ft/lbs). We have been blessed with late Summer weather and we have been driving it with the top down exclusively. Every time I drive it I am amazed at the ride and room. It is truly "10 pounds in a 5 pound bag". The Genesis G90 is a serene drive - the MINI is FUN!. I might be a bit older than the demographic of the typical MINI Convertible owner (70 years young) but I still like to have fun. Seeing and then buying a 2017 MINI Cooper S with 8,000 miles on it was a happy accident. I would not have gone looking for it, but am very happy I found it. We would never have the MINI as an only car - but as a second "fun car" it can't be beat.
Well I've had the car a year now and my opinion hasn't changed. We joined the local MINI Club and have been on many rallies and gone to quite a few car shows. It is a blast to drive "hard" and on rallies it corners like a go-kart. Puts a smile on my face every time I get in it. Only problem is that we have had one heck of a hot summer and the top-down time has been limited. Other than that, which is not the car's fault, it has been fun to own and drive. I would recommend one to anyone looking for a fun convertible. The Cooper S with 189 hp has more than enough punch.
an absolute work of art....A MASTERPIECE
5 out of 5 stars
david g, 12/10/2017
2017 MINI Convertible Cooper 2dr Convertible (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 6M)
i'm an obsessed convertible lover since birth....its hereditary from my convertible loving parents! for my personality, expectations, etc, MY MINI is an absolute dream!! it is spectacular in every way, really indescribable.....it is mesmerizing...love it love it love it!!!
My other Mini
5 out of 5 stars
Mario Sanders, 07/05/2018
2018 MINI Convertible Cooper 2dr Convertible (1.5L 3cyl Turbo 6M)
This is my second Mini convertible. I bought a 2018 Mini convertible Aqua blue. It has great performance and the color stands out. We have a 2017 Mini Clubman also as it performs great as well. My Mini Convertible top can open halfway like a sunroof. Most convertible vehicles don't open like this. This is a great size for a little car and can fit into small spaces very well. With back up … camera and warning signals helps a lot into small spaces. My 2005 Mini Convertible did not have such features. It handles very well with the top open and even when top is down we just love to ride in the country. It is very good on gas mileage. It is hard to decide which mini to drive the next day. The Clubman or the Convertible. Both handles very well.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 MINI Convertible, so we've included reviews for other years of the Convertible since its last redesign.
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