Roughly a year after the MINI Hatch was reborn, the Convertible has now arrived with a host of developments. Its fully electric hood can retract in 18 seconds and promises to be quieter in its operation and capable of better refinement. Not only that, but you can even have a Union Jack stitched into it, which actually isn’t as off-putting as it sounds.

Of course, the rest of the car is different too, with a new range of engines, more standard equipment and technology which brings it ever closer to being a BMW with a twist of English humour.

Performance

While it might sit near the bottom of MINI’s line-up, don’t be put off by the Cooper’s seemingly meagre vital statistics, we love this engine. It might only be a 1.5-litre three-cylinder, but it has a reasonable 134bhp and feels incredibly keen to deploy it. While the older 1.6-litre Cooper engine could feel a bit gloopy at times, there’s no tardiness here and its zip is accompanied by a pleasant warble from the exhaust as you dash to 62mph in 8.8 seconds.

We’ve tried more powerful engines in various MINIs, and while they can certainly go a lot more quickly, the Cooper arguably makes for the purest experience, encouraging you to work the engine hard as you dash between hedgerows safely within the speed limit. Just make sure you stick with the manual, because while the automatic isn’t necessarily a bad gearbox, it doesn’t suit the MINI’s feisty character anywhere near as well.

Ride and Handling

While not exactly soft, the suspension does soak up bumps pretty well and for a small cabrio

The Convertible has grown substantially, and no longer feels quite as go-kart like as the marketing material suggests. This is still a car with sharp steering, lots of grip and pretty firm suspension, but it feels like a bigger car with a more mature side. That’s good news if, like most owners, you plan to use the Convertible as your main car, and it’s surprisingly good to drive over longer distances. While not exactly soft, the suspension does soak up bumps pretty well and for a small cabrio, tyre noise and wind rustle don’t become overwhelming at higher speeds. The third generation’s fuel-saving electric steering isn’t quite as communicative as we’d like, but it requires little effort. Your main job as a driver is to get used to how quickly it responds, but it’s this sensitivity which also allows the MINI to feel more agile than the Fiat 500C or DS 3 Cabrio.

Interior and Equipment

The MINI Convertible is built in Oxford, where a new MINI rolls off the production line every minute, 24 hours each day.

MINI has always delivered a small Convertible which manages to feel upmarket, and this third version is the best yet. Every version gets the MINI Visual Boost Radio with a 6.5-inch screen, MINI Connected, Bluetooth, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. The latest Convertible is a full 10cm longer and 4cm wider than before, which has freed up quite a bit of space inside. Hop into one of the front seats and the upright dashboard design and windscreen means it feels impressively spacious. Of course, it’s a different story in the back, because while this the only four-seater small convertible (the 500C and DS 3 Cabrio effectively have large fabric sunroofs), knee room is at a premium. Kids, teenagers and small adults will be able to sit back there, but for how long will depend on their tolerance levels. Boot space has increased by a quarter, with 215 litres available with the roof up, shrinking to 160 litres with it folded down. A Fiat 500C has 182 litres, while the DS 3 Cabrio is the most practical, with 245 litres of space. It’s also worth checking out the MINI’s fold-down boot door, which is too small for awkward items.

Cost

Residual values are also expected to be strong, with plenty of demand come resale time.

The Convertible Cooper gives you access to a starting price of just under £19k, but most customers will spend more when they see the list of customisation options on offer. Our lavish test car came in at £25k, with highlights including leather seats, the Media and Chili packs and Caribbean Aqua metallic paintwork. Running costs are easier to keep in check, with a thrifty 55.4mpg claimed economy and low 114g/km CO2 emissions making this one of the cheapest drop-tops to run money can buy. Residual values are also expected to be strong, with plenty of demand come resale time.

Our Verdict

While the drop-top MINI has always asked owners to make a few compromises in practicality and refinement, these are now smaller than ever. What you do get in spades is a small car which transcends its price in terms of quality, fun and style. Spend 18 seconds lowering the roof on a nice day, and you’ll be glad you went for the Convertible. Grind through a winter commute in the rain, and you shouldn’t be too upset you didn’t go for the Hatch.