2026 MINI Convertible

The Mini Cooper was recently redesigned with three distinct body styles: a Hardtop 2 Door, Hardtop 4 Door, and the Convertible here. It is arguably the most fun of the bunch, and the Mini is known for fun. It takes everything we love about the Mini Cooper formula, like unmistakable styling and entertaining driving dynamics, and adds a convertible top for fun in the sun. The Hardtop 2 Door is a little speedier, and the 4 Door is more practical, but there’s nothing quite like a drive with the top down.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of subcompact cars, including the Mini Convertible.

A new addition to the options list for the 2026 Mini Convertible is the John Cooper Works Style package. It brings Dynamic Damper Control and some of the aesthetics of the hotter JCW model to the milder and more affordable S models.

It’s a little hard to compare the pricing of the Mini to anything else since subcompact new cars are slowly going extinct in the United States, especially those with convertible tops. Another option in 4-seater convertibles is the Ford Mustang, which starts in the low-$40,000 range.

Before buying a Mini, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Mini Convertible resale value is below average for the segment. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 2026 Mini Convertible is powered by a turbocharged 161-horsepower 4-cylinder engine matched with a 7-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive (FWD). The models with “S” in the name get a performance upgrade to 201 hp, and the John Cooper Works model pumps out 228 hp. The base engine scoots this little car around just fine, but we think the S model is worth the slight price premium to unlock the Mini’s fun potential.

Regardless of the engine, the Mini Convertible handled beautifully in our testing, thanks to its small footprint and wheels stretched out to the corners. These qualities also make it a pleasure to drive on city streets, weaving through traffic and parking just about wherever you want with ease.

Every Mini is a great city car, but the longer wheelbase of the 4 Door model makes it a slightly comfier highway cruiser than this shorter convertible model. Speaking of comfort, we know those 18-inch wheel options are fabulous, but they make the ride quality a little harsher than the 17-inch wheels.

Fuel Economy

The Mini Convertible returns 27 city/37 highway/30 combined mpg.

Subcompact cars are supposed to have low fuel costs. Although the Mini is reasonably fuel-efficient, its premium gas recommendation makes it surprisingly expensive to fuel up for such a small car. Every engine has the same combined fuel economy rating, so you might as well spring for the most exciting powertrain you can afford.

Although the recently redesigned Mini Cooper models are not so different sizewise from their predecessors, the company’s decision to keep things clean and simple helps create a sense of space. Materials and build quality remain in that area between mainstream and luxury.

The automatic transmission’s shift functions have also been moved into the center console, leaving space for a wireless phone charging pad. The dashboard’s dominant feature, however, is a circular OLED infotainment touchscreen with a 9.4-inch diameter. This customizable screen is full of different themes that can change according to the drive mode.

The front seats are comfy for average-sized adults, while the back seats are predictably tight with 30.8 inches of legroom. The cargo door opens like a mailbox to reveal a tiny trunk with only 5.2 cubic feet of space. We can hardly complain about the tight interior since the very name of this car promises smallness. Consider the  Hardtop 4 Door or the Countryman SUV if you want a roomier Mini.

While “compact” cars keep getting bigger, Mini has done an excellent job keeping the Mini Cooper appropriately small. Then, of course, there’s the disarming cuteness of the Mini Cooper, with one of the finest executions we’ve seen of a retromodern design. The Mini is also highly customizable; it’s the only car we know that’s available with a Union Jack on the roof.

The adorable and properly small Mini Cooper is a breath of fresh air in an automotive landscape flooded with SUVs.

Lively S model
The Mini Cooper S delivers the exciting driving character we’ve come to associate with the Mini brand. With lithe handling, 201 hp, and a claimed zero-to-60-mph time of 6.7 seconds, the Cooper S is as fun to drive as it is to look at.

Standout style
The Mini Cooper’s distinctly British aesthetic is instantly recognizable from any angle. It’s a face you’ll never get tired of seeing in your garage.

Drop-top fun
Two-door subcompact cars and convertibles, in general, are increasingly rare. This fact makes the Mini Convertible somewhat unique in the automotive world. Along with the Ford Mustang, it’s one of the very few convertibles with more than two seats in this price range.

9.4-inch OLED display
A round 9.4-inch OLED display delivers all the necessary information and handles duties like climate control. You can customize it to suit your mood with different themes, from showy to subtle.

Mini Experience Modes
Ambient interior lighting is becoming ordinary, but the Mini is anything but. Seven Mini Experience Modes are accompanied by dazzling light and projections, creating a vibe in the Mini’s interior that’s as fun and unique as its exterior.

Iconic trim
Upgrading to the Iconic trim makes the Mini a more premium car with features like full-speed adaptive cruise control, Active Driving Assistant, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The Mini Convertible is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine available in three different tunings. The base engine produces 161 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, good for a 7.9-second zero-to-60-mph time. Meanwhile, the Cooper S models pump out 201 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque for a 6.7-second zero-to-60 sprint. The peak of Mini performance is the JCW model with 228 hp, taking 6.2 seconds to go from zero to 60.

Every Mini Cooper has a 7-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Sorry, no manual. If you like the idea of a Mini with all-wheel drive, consider the Countryman SUV.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

The Mini Convertible is backed by a 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, which is typical for a luxury car. It also comes with complimentary scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Safety

The Mini Cooper’s standard safety features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist. Adaptive cruise control is optional. Neither the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has yet tested the recently redesigned Mini Cooper.