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2016 MINI Cooper Convertible Road Test and Review

HR
by Holly Reich
June 29, 2016
4 min. Reading Time
2017 MINI Convertible profile top down ・  Photo by Holly Reich

2017 MINI Convertible profile top down ・ Photo by Holly Reich

Nearly a quarter of a century ago, a dealership in Kappelrodeck/Baden, Germany put a soft top on the classic fixed roof Mini, reinforced the side sills, and incorporated a crossmember to strengthen the body. The original Rover brand loved the Mini Convertible so much that they signed up for a series of 75, which swiftly sold to customers in the UK.

The Mini Convertible has morphed into several iterations since, including the latest generation with more space, a more luxurious feel and look, and impressive technology.

In the third generation 2016 MINI Convertible, the original crossmember has been replaced by a super strong steel body with steadfast rollover protection. Plus, the 2016 MINI Convertible gets a boost from BMW’s TwinPower Turbo BMW engines. The drop top’s closest players include the FIAT 500 and Volkswagen Beetle convertible.

There’s Billions of Ways to Customize

MINI says there are 10 billion different configurations for your 2016 MINI Convertible. Just for starters, there are 11 exterior palettes, including the new Caribbean Aqua, a delicious hue from the vintage MINI color palette (1964-1967) and Melting Silver, from the new MINI Clubman.

Bespoke seating options include Malt Brown leather with diamond stitching, similar to the timeless English Chesterfield sofas. A MINI Yours soft-top is embroidered with a Union Jack-sporting herringbone patterned detailing. Piano black interior? No problem. Or you can choose from Satellite Gray, Fiber Alloy or Dark Cottonwood. For the seats, there’s Dark Truffle, carbon double stripe cloth and lots of leather choices. And women aren’t the only people who adore MINI. The buying audience is split 50/50.

 Photo by MINI

Photo by MINI

The MINI Convertible had a Growth Spurt

The MINI Convertible is 4.5 inches longer and 1.7 inch wider than the previous model with an increase of 25% more cargo space. For more room, there’s a trunk pass through and the rear seats fold flat. And yes, four adult people can fit in. The front seats slide forward with ease and the wider back seat is exceptionally comfortable.

The roll bar also hides away so as not to distract from the epic MINI look. However, if needed the roll bar will deploy in milliseconds. The cloth top has a sunroof option so you can fold it back halfway for a sky view. And you only need to touch a switch for the MINI convertible top to open completely in 18 seconds at speeds up to 18 mph.

 Photo by Holly Reich

Photo by Holly Reich

The Cabin has Lots of Personality

The MINI Convertible is as engaging on the inside as the outside. Big dials, a hefty wheel, and a minimum of intuitive controls that feel good on the fingers add up to create a cabin that is visually pleasing. The MINI toggle switches, a reminder of racecars, add to the fun factor of driving a MINI. MINI also doesn’t skimp on seating. There’s good lumbar support and plenty of cushioning.

MINI retains that retro look but for 2016, the fabrics, interior appointments and embellishments are scaled up. A really fun feature is the interior ambient lighting that can be has 12 mood settings and a choice of 255 color tones.

 Photo by Holly Reich

Photo by Holly Reich

The MINI has Lots of Gusto

The third generation MINI Convertible is more energized. I used to favor the S version, but this year’s Cooper has all the juice I need. Both the Cooper and Cooper S come standard with a 6-speed manual transmission! MINI enthusiasts love a manual!

Another consideration is that this generation convertible was designed, engineered, and built in Europe, and the starting price is a notable $250 higher than the car it is replacing.

The 3-cylinder Cooper and 4-cylinder Cooper S have TwinPower Turbo engines developed by the BMW Group. The 2016 MINI Convertible can also be equipped with a 6-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. The Cooper has 134 horsepower and an EPA rating of 27/38 mpg; Cooper S yields 189 horsepower and an EPA rating of 23/33. If you want to go top dog, the John Cooper Works puts out 228 horsepower and achieves 0-60 in 6.3 seconds.

 Photo by Holly Reich

Photo by Holly Reich

Cool Stuff

The Always Open Timer, located in the center console screen, lets drivers calculate the number of hours they’ve driven with the top down. It’s a great feature for reminding you to reapply sunscreen!

And even though the drop top will rise in 18 seconds (at 18 mph), an optional rain warning app (that you can put on your phone) alerts drivers to imminent bad weather. So, if you’re in the mall and it’s about to rain, you can run out and put the top up.

The standard Driving Mode system provides a choice of Sport Mode to tighten steering and adjust the throttle for more spirited driving. Green Mode improves fuel economy, a coasting feature helps to save fuel and "Mid Mode" strikes a balance between performance and efficiency.

 Photo by MINI

Photo by MINI

Parking and MINI Connected

It’s easy to park this car in any spot; however, if that’s not in your DNA, optional Park Assistant uses sensors to check out possible parking spots, then steers the MINI into place. The system also tells the driver when to brake, apply the gas, and change from forward to reverse.

MINI Connected, standard in the MINI Cooper and Cooper S Convertible, features a high-resolution 6.5-inch or optional 8.8-inch display. One notch up, MINI Connected XL has a touch controller with handwriting recognition.

Real time traffic updates will help direct you to your destination even when your cell service drops.

 Photo by MINI

Photo by MINI

Yes, the MINI Convertible is Safe!

Just to note, in 2016, MINI Cooper took 9.0 out of 10 for subcompact cars in IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) testing.

Yes, ABS, cornering brake control and a tire pressure monitoring system are standard. Another standard feature, the crash sensor, will automatically turn on hazard lights and interior lights, and unlocks the doors after an impact. The MINI Convertible brakes are on the ready if your foot suddenly leaves the gas and you need to stop quickly. The optional head-up display puts necessary stats on the windshield.

 Photo by Holly Reich

Photo by Holly Reich

Why Buy a MINI?

No, this subcompact is not cheap. However, you are paying for an iconic convertible that is built in Europe. This year’s entry model is only a $250 increase from last year's, but adds on more spaciousness, refined styling, new BMW engines, and technology. A note: when you start adding those billions of configurations, the prices can stack up.

Owning a MINI carries a lot of clout. There’s a huge fan base of “Miniacs” who will happily invite you into their clubs to join up on rides or just chat about their cars.

For 2016, three convertible models are offered, starting with the entry MINI Cooper ($25,950) or MINI Cooper S ($29,600), along with a tricked-out MINI John Cooper Works high-performance model ($35,600). Pricing does not include the $850 destination and delivery charge.

 Photo by Holly Reich

Photo by Holly Reich

MINI Takes the World

If you are a MINI enthusiast, there’s plenty of opportunities to have fun and tour the world.

In the spring of 2004 I participated in a 3-day rally with the Irish Mini Owners Club, a gathering of 87 MINIs dating from 1963 to 2004. The 611-mile course ran from Mizen to Malin, Ireland.

Ten years later I participated in MINI TAKES THE STATES, a rally that started in San Francisco and ended in Boston. Along the way there were 4,000 MINI owners from around the world who participated in part or the entire 5,142-mile route.

This year MINI’s 10th anniversary of MINI TAKES THE STATES starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 9 and finishes near Palm Springs, California on July 23.

 Photo by Holly Reich

Photo by Holly Reich


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