-
Car News
Go to Home PageVisit Leftlane's home page for the very latest car news, analysis, editorials, opinion, and more. Updated several times per day.
-
Step 1
Car Info & Pics
Car Information
Learn more about new cars with our extensive collection of overviews, specs, and pictures.
-
Step 2
Reviews
Car Test Drive Reviews and Videos
Our team of experts have driven hundreds of new car models from virtually every automaker, Get their unbiased impressions here.
-
Step 3
Build & Price
Build & Price a New Car
This tool enables you to Build & Price a new car. Optionally, you can then request a price quote from a local dealer based on your selections.
Leftlane's Configurator is currently in BETA and some models are missing.
-
Step 4
Buy A Car
-
- Select Distance
Zip Code and Search Radius are Required to Proceed.
Get a Local Dealer Price Quote
Find New Cars on Dealer Lots
Listings provided by new car dealers in the U.S. and Canada.
Find Used Cars in Your Area
-
Future Cars
Browse Upcoming Future Cars
Go to Future HomeBrowse the latest spy shots or videos of unreleased vehicles.
Tomorrow's Most Popular Cars
-
Tools
Compare Cars
Select make and model of the vehicles you would like to compare
Find a Dealer
Other tools for Shoppers & Owners
Leftlane offers a collection of helpful tools for car shoppers and owners, helping to make spending decisions easier.
Basic Specs
| Base Price | $24,950 |
| Drivetrain | Front Wheel Drive |
| Curb Weight (lbs) | 3560 |
| City (MPG) | 27 |
| Hwy (MPG) | 35 |
| Horsepower | 121@6000 |
| Torque (lb-ft) | 118@4250 |
| Wheelbase | 97.1 |
| Length (in.) | 146.6 |
| Width (in.) | 66.3 |
| Height (in.) | 55.7 |
The MINI Cooper Convertible was the first ever production drop-top to bear the British automaker's name. Now the MINI Cooper Convertible is available in three trim levels, Cooper, and the Cooper S and John Cooper Works.
The Cooper Convertible is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder motor delivering 121 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 114 pound-feet of torque at 4,2500 rpm. Standard is a Getrag six-speed manual, and optional is a six-speed Aisin automatic transmission with a semi-manual mode. Although the Cooper doesn't have the power of a hotrod, the engine is able to propel the car's light 2700 pound curb to 60 mph in 8.9 seconds.
Fuel efficiency is an estimated 35 mpg on the highway and 27 mpg in the city for either transmission.
Recently refreshed, the latest-generation MINI Cooper Convertible remains essentially the same in terms of styling, but receives a few detail changes to the front and rear fascias, as well as the interior. Several lighting changes were made, including a no-charge option to switch to black head lamp housings, as well as optional Adaptive Xenon headlamps (for a charge). MINI also swapped out the smaller fog lamp housings for larger fog lamps, and the rear now features LED brake and stop lights.
The Cooper Convertible also gains a bit of extra safety with BMW-developed "dynamic brake light," which lights up brighter when the brakes are pushed harder.
To go along with the cosmetic changes, MINI of course added some new interior content as well. Again retaining its basic retro-inspired interior theme, the MINI gets new radio and climate controls and some upgraded interior materials.
The radio system includes HD and Sirius satellite radio, which previously cost $500 each, and audio options are now set to three choices: standard Boost CD, MINI Connected with a 6.5-inch screen that includes Bluetooth, or MINI Connect with Navigation that adds an internal memory card-based navigation system and a USB port.
A key, yet subtle change worth noting is the switch from silver paint on interior trim pieces to a matte black finish. The steering wheel will now have a chrome trim ring in the middle, and the previously gray headliner is now light beige. New seat fabrics have also been added to keep the overall design fresh.
In terms of mechanical changes, being a refresh, the list is minimal, but power was slightly increased to 121 horsepower thanks to optimized lubrication that resulted in the reduction of internal friction losses. Anti-torque steer programming is now built into the electric power steering, and road noise has been reduced through the addition of sound dampening materials.
When sipping fuel is not your primary concern, the MINI Cooper Convertible offers a "Sport" mode with the push of a button. When engaged, this mode will adjust settings to maximize acceleration and tighten steering for maximum fun.
MINI says it engineered the Cooper Convertible to deliver the same go-kart like handling as its hardtop counterpart -- something not all convertibles manage to do effectively. MINI developed an extra-stiff chassis for the convertible, which provides sharp handling and good crash protection.
The car's canvas roof takes just 15 seconds to open or close, and comes with a unique sunroof that provides a semi-open-air experience when dropping the whole roof is just too much. Not all convertibles offer a heated rear window, but that comes standard on the Cooper.
New - MINI Yours
In case the standard options aren't enough for you, MINI has added something entirely new known as MINI Yours, which allows further customization. The options include: an instrument panel covered in a smooth two-tone, soft-touch leather with exposed stitching, a two-tone steering wheel, a new MINI Yours 17-inch wheel, special pattern "Soda" mirror caps with a three-dimensional effect and MINI Yours Soda pattern Lounge Leather with unique Soda pattern on the sides of the backrests and headrests, as well as a contrasting black leather stripe that runs down the middle of the seats and is offset with premium piping.
Safety
The Cooper Convertible comes standard with four airbags. A sophisticated computer system takes into account occupant position, seat-belt use, and crash severity when determining how to deploy the airbags. Special side airbags are attached to the seat and deploy upward to protect the head.
Anti-lock ABS brakes are standard, as are Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBFD) and Cornering Brake Control (CBC). Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is optional.
Key competitors
The list of convertibles with the similar size, driving dynamics and price is virtually non-existent, but there are a few alternatives to consider, including the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Ford Mustang Convertible, Chevrolet Camaro Convertible and Fiat 500c.
-
- General
- Body Style: Convertible
- Size: Compact
- Market Segment: Sports
- Weight: 3560 lbs
-
- Exterior
- Length: 146.6 in.
- Width: 66.3 in.
- Height: 55.7 in.
- Wheelbase: 97.1 in.
- Ground Clearance: TBD
- Front Track: 57.4 in.
- Rear Track: 57.8 in.
- Weight Distribution: TBD
- Drag Coefficient: 0.35
-
- Interior - General
- Seats: 4
- Passenger Volume: TBD
- Cargo Volume: 6.0 cu. ft.
- Cargo Volume (Seats Folded): 23.3 cu. ft.
-
- Interior - Front Row
- Volume: TBD
- Leg Room: 41.7 in.
- Head Room: 38.4 in.
- Shoulder Room: 50.3 in.
- Hip Room: TBD
-
- Interior - Second Row
- Volume: TBD
- Leg Room: 29.3 in.
- Head Room: 38.5 in.
- Shoulder Room: 39.2 in.
- Hip Room: TBD
-
- Propulsion
- Fuel Type: Gas
- Engine Type: 1.6L I4
- Power: 121 hp @ 6000 rpm
- Torque: 118 lb-ft @ 4250 rpm
- Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
- Highway Fuel Economy: 35 mpg
- City Fuel Economy: 27 mpg
- Forced Induction: None
- Direct Injection: No
-
- Chassis
- Layout: Front Wheel Drive
- Front Suspension: Strut-Type
- Rear Suspension: Multi-Link
-
- Wheels
- Front: 15" Aluminum
- Front Tires: 175/65R15
- Rear: 15" Aluminum
- Rear Tires: 175/65R15
-
- Trailering & Hauling
- Trailer Weight: TBD
- Payload: N/A
- Tongue Weight: TBD
-
$0
Step 1 - Trim
-
$0
Step 2 - Options
-
Step 3 - Get a Local Quote
