There’s 1 Classy Convertible That Everyone Forgets About
When the average person thinks about a convertible car, they’ll probably imagine luxury cars and sports cars that are largely unaffordable. Some people may think about the Mazda MX-5 Miata, a relatively affordable convertible, but the Miata isn’t the only non-luxury convertible on the market. Here’s a look at a classy and relatively affordable convertible that many people have just forgotten about.
Convertibles that are available in 2023
Car and Driver made a list of the best convertibles of the year, and unsurprisingly, most of them are luxury cars or sports cars. The Mazda MX-5 Miata is one of the most popular convertible options on the market, and it succeeds because it’s a stylish sports car that’s fun to drive. Mazda didn’t change much about the car for the 2023 model year, but its 181-hp engine provides more than enough power for most drivers. It also starts at just $29,000.
As far as luxury cars go, shoppers have a lot of European automakers to choose from. Some of the better options are the convertibles that Porsche has to offer. The 718 Boxster is the German luxury automaker’s entry option, but it still costs over $67,000. As expected, the 300-hp base engine makes the Porsche very fast, and the automaker also offers two additional engine options.
The Mini Convertible is an excellent but forgotten option
Shoppers who want a more practical and affordable convertible may want to look at the Mini Cooper. The convertible option for the Cooper starts at just over $29,000, which makes it cost about the same as the Miata. Unlike the Miata, Mini offers two engine options for the Cooper. The Mini Convertible starts with a 1.5-liter turbo three-cylinder and gets 134 horsepower.Â
The Cooper S trim starts at about $33,000 and upgrades that engine into a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder that produces 189 hp. That’s more power than what the Miata gets. Drivers who want even more power can spend over $40,000 for the JCW trim. It also gets a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder but increases output to 228 hp. Regarding fuel economy, the standard engine allows the Cooper convertible to get about 32 mpg combined.
That said, the convertible Cooper doesn’t have much cargo capacity available, especially if the roof is lowered. It has 7.6 cu. ft. of space in the trunk, but only 5.7 cu. ft. when the roof is lowered. It’s a similar story for the seats. The Cooper is a subcompact car, so it only seats four. That said, synthetic leather upholstery is standard, and the automaker gave the Cooper an 8.8-inch touchscreen.
There are many Mini Cooper variants available too
If the Mini Convertible isn’t the right option, then Mini has plenty of other Cooper variants available for shoppers. The standard Cooper, for example, comes with a hardtop, starting at just over $24,000. The automaker also has an EV version of the Cooper, simply called the Mini Electric. It starts at about $30,000, but it’s not that great of an EV since it has a max range of just 114 miles.
Drivers who want a larger car also have some options. The Clubman is a compact car, and the 2023 model year starts at about $31,000. Meanwhile, the Countryman is a subcompact SUV that starts at around $31,000. The Countryman is the company’s largest model right now, so it also has the most room for passengers and cargo.
