MINI Convertible Review: Cooper Goes Topless

MINI as a brand is synonymous with quite a few expressions — fun, sporty, agile. The Cooper is the brand’s most well-known name that has gathered the love of not just a niche segment of buyers but also everyone who has got the chance to gaze at the car for a certain period. It is widely praised for its looks that has a cute demeanour thanks to some quirky design elements and its compact dimensions.

Now, imagine Cooper going topless, sexy isn’t it (no pun intended). This is what the MINI Convertible is — a Cooper with a convertible roof. Options for convertible roofs are very limited in India and whatever there are, they are out of reach for most car lovers. The MINI Convertible could be the most affordable of the lot but that comes later. We spent a day with the all-new MINI Convertible in the warm, picturesque landscapes of Jaisalmer, and it proved to be the perfect setting to explore everything the car has to offer.

MINI Convertible Review: Looks Cute

As mentioned earlier, the new MINI Convertible is a Cooper with a convertible roof and you get proof of the same with Cooper S branding at the rear. Therefore everything feels very familiar. It gets the same signature silhouette with subtle refreshes, including an octagonal grille, daytime running LEDs, and a modern soft top. The profile of the MINI stays clean and understated as always. There are two designs for 18-inch wheels on offer, giving the car a nice presence despite its compact proportions. 

In terms of proportions, the new Convertible remains largely unchanged from its predecessor, retaining the same wheelbase of 2,495 mm. The overall dimensions are nearly identical, except for the length, which has increased by 3 mm due to redesigned bumpers. At the rear, the rectangular LED taillights now receive a chequered treatment instead of the more traditional Union Jack treatment. Underneath, the twin-tip exhaust at the centre from the previous model is nowhere to be seen. MINI is offering four exterior colour options with the Convertible namely Ocean Wave Green, Chill Red, British Racing Green, and Sunny Side Yellow. 

MINI Convertible Review: Breezy Cabin

Inside the cabin, the story remains the same with the same layout and materials as the MINI Cooper S. Speaking of materials, MINI has used secondary and not recycled materials that have offered a very decent fit and finish to the cabin. The sport seats at the front are wide and comfortable, however, the same couldn’t be said about the rear seats as accessing them for full grown adults is a big challenge in itself, let alone spending some quality time.

The centre of focus is the 9.4-inch circular OLED display which has become a Mini signature. The screen packs all the controls including infotainment and driver’s instrumentation. It is quite slick and intuitive and definitely one of the easier units out there to get used to. The biggest highlight, however, is the convertible fabric roof top that can come down entirely in 18 seconds.

But hold on, there are more tricks up the sleeve. There is also a convenient sunroof mode that keeps the roof mostly closed while still allowing sunlight to enter. Additionally, the “Always Open Timer” records the amount of time spent driving with the roof down — essentially serving as a measure of open-top enjoyment. Storage space inside the cabin is surprisingly generous with quite a few cubby holes in the centre console and door pockets to store your knick knacks. However, boot space is a paltry 215 liters which is tight even for a small family’s weekend outing. 

MINI Convertible Review: Quick & Nimble

Powering the MINI Convertible is the same 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol mill paired with the same 7-speed DCT automatic gearbox churning out the exact same output. And it is a seriously quick car. Claimed 0 to 100 kmph acceleration time is 6.9 seconds and we came very close to this figure during our brief testing. The only little gripe we have is that it has no paddle shifters or trip tonic function to take manual control of the gearbox. That would have brought in a whole different level of engagement. 

But more than the engine performance, it is the dynamics that impresses you the most in a MINI. Like the Cooper S, the MINI Convertible is off in a flash but the way it handles different kinds of surfaces leaves is where the real icing on the cake. It stays planted on all twists and turns and yet offers a plush experience on bad patches of tarmac, providing a very nice balance between sporty and comfortable. The steering is another highlight — it’s light but precise, gaining heft as and when speed increases. Just point in a direction and this Mini shoots. 

Yes, it’s a front wheel driven car at the end of the day and there’s some understeer but the Convertible manages to mask it beautifully. Meanwhile, braking is sharp and instills confidence in you to hit triple digit speeds on open roads at will without any inhibitions. However, there’s one big flaw — the cabin insulation — which isn't up to the mark but it's something that  almost every convertible has had the issue in the past. There’s quite a bit of wind noise when you drive at high speeds and it’s a bit annoying.

MINI Convertible Review: Verdict

At the time of filing this review, MINI hasn’t officially announced prices for the all-new Convertible but the company claims that this will be the most affordable car with a foldable roof in India. We expect it to be priced at between Rs 48 and 50 lakh (ex-showroom). And at that price, it does feel a bit of a stretch. However, if you’re someone who’s willing to bring home a lifestyle kind of a vehicle which is unique and AQI isn’t a big issue in your surroundings, this could be a nice addition to your garage.

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