First Drive: The new Mini Convertible is a fun and quirky drop-top

The Mini brand has built up its unique identity throughout the years and produced some striking pieces of design that all have their own sense of fun.

Its Cooper hatchback is one of the trendiest small cars in the world. So, when the firm chops the roof off, its appeal is boosted further.

To complete the latest Mini line-up, we now have the two-door Convertible variant and it’s the car we’ve been driving to see just what it’s like.

The exterior design keeps the tradition of the standard car with its rounded front end and Union Jack-styled tail lights.

With the exception of a foldable fabric roof, the design, interior and petrol engines all remain the same, too.

Mini is focusing on sustainability, with the Convertible following suit. Its interior features the firm’s 2D knitted dashboard design and the cabin plastics are made from recycled materials.

There will be a wide range of different customisation options to help make each car stand out from the crowd. So, what’s it like to drive? We’ve been finding out.

The engine variants remain the same as those of the regular Cooper hatchback, with three levels of powertrain, badged ‘C’ ‘S’ and ‘John Cooper Works’.

We’re driving the sportier Cooper ‘S’ variant, which features a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. This setup enables a power output of 207bhp and a 0-60mph time of 6.7 seconds, with the car topping out at 147mph.

The lesser powered Cooper ‘C’ comes with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder unit that produces 165bhp. The performance-oriented ‘John Cooper Works’ (JCW) features the same 2.0-litre turbocharged unit in our test car with its power boosted to 234bhp.

All Mini Convertibles come as standard with an automatic gearbox and petrol engines. There is no electric version for this drop-top.

The fun factor still remains key with the Mini Convertible. Just like the standard hatchback, the car has an eager and cheeky character. Turn into a corner, and the whole car sticks to the road like glue.

You still have the option of seven different driving modes, with ‘go-kart’ mode being the most entertaining. It sharpens the throttle response, adds weight to the steering and downshifts the automatic gearbox when approaching a corner.

Wind buffering is kept to a minimum with the roof down – due to the large wind deflector. With the roof up, road noise is kept to a minimum, with little difference to the car’s refinement over the conventional model.

The roof can be operated at speeds up to 19mph and takes 18 seconds to be fully opened.

An additional 56kg of weight has been added to the Convertible– for more structural rigidity. However, there is little to no change in how the car feels to drive.

Visibility is impaired with the roof up due to the extremely large blind spots from the rear quarter sections of the car, though.

Thankfully, the Mini Convertible is just as fun and impressive to drive as the regular hatchback, despite its extra weight.

The drop-top Convertible looks almost identical to the standard Mini – which is no bad thing.

It features the distinctive circular Mini front headlights and hexagonal front grille. At the back, the car utilises the same Union Jack-styled rear tail lights and gloss black boot lid handle.

One obvious difference is the fabric roof, with our test car featuring a smart Union Jack design on the material – which is a touch of classic Mini styling.

The interior of the Convertible is identical to the Cooper hardtop and that’s no bad thing at all. It keeps sustainable cabin materials with its 2D knitted dashboard made from recycled polyester. The circular 9.5-inch OLED infotainment screen looks great but is tricky to operate on the move.

Storage space is exactly the same, with its glovebox, two cup holders, knitted centre storage bin and decent door pockets making the Convertible a very practical car for front occupants.

Space in the back is best suited for very small children, with legroom virtually non-existent.

Boot space is an issue, with the car having a very small aperture, making it tricky to load wider items. The capacity stands at 215 litres – but is reduced to 160 litres when the roof is folded down.

There are four different trim levels – Classic, Exclusive, Sport and John Cooper Works (JCW).

Prices kick off at a steep £27,120 and rise to £36,580 for the performance-focused JCW.

There’s a choice of ten exterior paint schemes, two roof colour options and two interior upholstery fabrics on offer, too.

Our test car comes in at £32,270 and boasts the 9.5-inch OLED touchscreen, climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – along with the optional Union Jack fabric roof at an additional cost of £700.

If you go for the JCW variant, it adds sportier exterior and interior styling as well as upgraded performance.

Mini’s Convertible has always been a popular choice for those wanting a fun and entertaining drop-top.

This latest model has just taken things to a new level with its refinement, fantastic driving experience and a quirky, stylish and sustainable interior.

It may be on the pricier side, and it’s not the most practical car in this sector, but the Mini Convertible is the ideal toy to have just in time for the sunnier months ahead.