For many, there’s nothing like a convertible. With their timeless style and great flexibility, they provide a unique driving experience. In a convertible, you can enjoy a summer day in the open-air or sight-seeing under starry skies. The best part? Many of the convertibles like the BMW M8 and other models on the market today are truly beautiful.

The team at Automobile (of MotorTrend) published their list of the best-looking convertibles in 2020. Which BMW convertible made the list? What other convertibles were chosen?

The best convertibles

As Automobile reminds us, convertibles have been consumer favorites for several decades. While everyone is all about SUVs today, there are still some hard-core convertible fans out there. For them, Automobile has put together a list of the best-looking convertibles now available. 

Today’s convertibles are sharp-looking and offer a lot of variety. You can find soft tops models along with automated hardtops. While the majority of convertibles only seat two, there are a few that can seat four or more. Mercedes-Benz offers the most convertible models with the C-, E-, and S-Class cabriolets and more.

In assembling their list, the team at Automobile selected one convertible from each brand that offered one or more. They made the selection on both the beauty of the convertible and its satisfying driving experience. The convertibles appeared in alphabetical order and range in price from $45,000 to over $315,000.

The list of the competition

The best value on the list is the 2020 Ford Mustang GT Premium Convertible which has a price tag of $45,580. With its sleek simple lines, it’s definitely visually-appealing.

The convertible Mustang is all-American and has a cloth top that you can lower in around 10 seconds according to Automobile. It’s not as quick as most of its peers, but the top folds neatly behind the back seat even if it does take up some of your trunk space. It does have a powerful 5.0-liter V8 that gets 460 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque along with a choice of either a 10-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission.

The highest-priced entry on the list is the 2020 Rolls-Royce Dawn which has a price tag of $373,695. At that price, you’d expect it to be one of the more attractive convertibles on the list, and indeed it is. 

Dawn offers a beautifully designed cloth top that tucks away in 22 seconds, according to Automobile, with the press of a button. Four adults can comfortably ride in this gorgeous convertible. There’s a 6.6-liter turbocharged V12 under the hood lending it refined power with 563 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that shifts smooth-as-silk.

The BMW M8

The 2020 BMW M8 convertible falls somewhere in the middle of this elite list of convertibles with a price tag of $157,495. While it’s not the brand’s only convertible – the new Z4 is a great convertible too – Automobile chose the new M8 because it’s luxurious, harnesses impressive power, and has a slimmer body. 

Based on the popular BMW 8 Series, the M8 features a soft top that you can raise or retract in 15 seconds, even while you’re driving up to speeds of 30 mph. It’s supposed to accommodate two people in the back seat, but considering that tight space? Good luck with that.

There’s a reason this convertible made the list. The BMW M8’s design makes good use of strong lines and concave styling to give it real visual appeal. It has a bigger grille and long thin headlines with a squint flank and what Automobile calls gaping intake in the lower fascia to give the appearance that it’s diminishing.

The M8 is stylish and head-turning, but subtle cues hint at the beast within.

It’s powered by a 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 engine that’s integrated into a unique all-wheel-drive system that features a rear-drive-only mode that can be quite useful. The engine gets 617 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque and gets up to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds. Don’t let all that power intimidate you, though. The team at Automobile thinks the M8 would make a great vehicle for daily driving.

The BMW M8’s interior is as well-designed as the exterior. The cabin is loaded with the latest technology and luxury features. The interior is gorgeous and well organized. Its space for passengers is essentially the same as the non-convertible models.

The Automobile team considers the 2020 BMW M8 to be a purposeful, gorgeous, and surprisingly comfortable convertible. If you’re in the market for a new convertible and have some cash to spend, you’ll want to give a closer look.