Mini Convertible Review, Specs & Performance

Overview of the Mini Convertible

Engines and performance for the Mini Convertible

There are two turbocharged petrol engines available for the Mini Convertible, a 1.5 litre and a 2.0 litre unit. There's also a 1.5 litre turbocharged diesel engine available to offer better fuel economy. The 1.5 litre petrol unit will accelerate to 62 mph in 8.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 129 mph. Fuel economy is around 55 mpg with emissions of 114g/km. The larger petrol unit will do the sprint time in 7.2 seconds with a top speed of 143 mph and fuel economy of around 46 mpg. The diesel unit returns an impressive 71 mpg and has a top speed of 121 mph. The engines are mated to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard and there's a very good six-speed Steptronic transmission available that offers a refined driving experience.

Equipment and handling

There are lots of very good reasons as to why the Mini Convertible is the UK's bestselling soft top and that's because it will meet most peoples' needs. The interior is well-designed and plush but the handling is excellent with agility and a nimble performance. It's an ideal car to drive around town and for those country drives, the electrically operated roof can be raised and taken down in just 18 seconds. Among the standard equipment list is an excellent 6.5-inch infotainment screen, rear park distance control, Bluetooth functionality and LED mood lighting for the cabin. Other standard features include a rear reversing camera, smartphone connectivity and a long list of options to help personalise the car with the Union Jack woven fabric roof certainly worth considering. There's room on board for four people, though tall adults may find the rear seats a squeeze. With the roof up, the Mini has a boot size of 215 litres and 160 litres when the roof is down. There's power steering support to boost manoeuvring at low speeds with an excellent suspension system absorbing bumps and potholes effectively. There's also brake assistant, cornering brake control and electronic brake force distribution, as well as driving stability control for those who want to put the Mini Convertible through its paces - plus dynamic traction control to help deliver better grip on loose or slippery surfaces. For safety, the Convertible comes with a very rigid body structure and a rollover protection system. There are also plenty of airbags and a partially active bonnet to absorb any impact and to protect pedestrians. Drivers also get to enjoy air conditioning with options of a sport steering wheel, windscreen heating and rain sensing wipers. Essentially, the Mini Convertible is an excellent choice for those wanting to enjoy soft top motoring with a vehicle that delivers agile handling, particularly on winding country roads in a hard-to-beat offering.

More information about the Mini Convertible

Why not have a look at the Convertible on the official Mini UK company website and get the latest news about it at The UK Mini Owners' Club.