2025 Mini Cooper Convertible Keeps the Affordable Four-Seater Drop-Top Alive
Convertible sales are dropping, but Mini remains committed to the segment. Though the brand was a little late to the party, debuting the first factory-developed Mini convertible in 1992—about 30 years after the aftermarket first lopped the top off a Mini—the modern version of Mini has consistently had a drop-top in the lineup. That continues with the unveiling of the Convertible version of the new Cooper and Cooper S with a cloth soft top that can open in two ways.
Visually, the 2025 Convertible looks pretty much like the fixed-roof model from the rocker panels to the belt line. It’s instantly recognizable as a Mini thanks to trademark styling cues like the oval headlights, but it’s characterized by a more modern-looking design than its predecessor.
The Convertible’s fully automatic soft top opens in about 18 seconds at up to 19 mph and closes in 15 seconds. If you’d rather not be fully exposed to the elements, the front part of the soft top can slide back by nearly 16 inches, sunroof-style.
It’s a similar story inside: The Convertible mirrors the fixed-roof model with a handful of small exceptions. Mini has again included an Always Open Timer that keeps track of how much time the Convertible spends driving around with the top down. Another is a smaller trunk, inevitably. The new drop-top offers about 7.6 cubic feet of trunk space with the top up and approximately 5.7 cubes with the top down.
Power for the base Cooper comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at 161 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Next—and last, at least for the time being—is the Cooper S, which gets an evolution of the base car’s turbo-four tuned to 201 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. We say “for the time being” because Mini notes a JCW Convertible is right around the corner. Until then, the quickest member of the range is the S, with a zero-to-60-mph time of 6.7 seconds.
Front-wheel-drive comes standard, but the only transmission available is an eight-speed automatic. Mini no longer offers a stick-shift on any of its models, and it doesn’t sound like that’s going to change soon.
Due out in January 2025, the 2025 Mini Cooper Convertible and 2025 Mini Cooper S Convertible will cost $34,945 and $38,195, respectively, including a $995 destination charge. For context, the 2025 Cooper S coupe starts at $29,945 including the same destination charge. Buyers will have two trim levels (referred to as “styles” in Mini-speak) called Classic and Favoured, respectively, to choose from as well as 11 paint colors. Options include various 17- and 18-inch wheels and a gray Union Jack on the soft top.
A friend of mine bought his wife one of these because she wanted it. He hated the thing per a pure pain in the A$$ to work on.
Today he has one of his own. He said it is still a pain but he really loves driving it. It is worth the pain.
No stick shift available? My current 1-owner F56 is 10 years old this month. Guess it’s the last of the 3 that I have owned (including a classic). And yes, it’s a 6-speed.
A friends mom had one and loved it but hated the constant services it needed. She dumped it. It’s a BMW in the need for repairs.
Just starting my own journey with an R57 JCW 6 speed. Also at the wife’s inspiration. I do love the little go kart, there’s no need to slow down for ANY corner. But I’m getting wind of the maintenance, so we’ll see how I feel about the little beastie in a few months.
I bought a new one for my wife, parts super expensive, burned oil from new, almost a quart every thousand miles, dealer told me that was normal, an absolute blast to drive, needed a good engine to power it, at a little over one hundred thousand miles the timing chain tensioner failed, lucky it happened after starting it in our driveway, the week before we had taken it on a thousand mile trip to the east coast, had to pull the right front tire and wheel well liner to get to the front of the motor, locked down the cams, also changed the timing chain and crank seal, a fun car but a pain in the ass to work on, never buy another one.
What is it with all these “new” cars having the same “fish mouth “ grilles! Why can’t they leave the style of the original Mini on the front. I had a’76 Mini Cooper for over 30 years and loved driving it. Finally sold it and picked up a very clean NB Miata. Love it just as much as the old Mini.