MINI Cooper S Convertible 2016 Review

MINI Cooper S Convertible
Road Test

Why would you buy a MINI Cooper S Convertible? It's fun, it's cheeky, and it's different. A completely revised model for 2016, this MINI is also more affordable at $45,500 – almost $6000 less than before – yet it gets more features, uses less fuel and generates more power. Simply put, MINI has put forth a very strong case for anyone considering a fun, premium, city-savvy drop top.

It's a cold, wintry night in Melbourne. I have to drive across town after work to pick up a friend for dinner. Normally I'd plug the tunes in, or listen to a podcast on quantum theory, and just zone out for 20 minutes.

After all, getting across the Westgate bridge in Melbourne around peak hour can be akin to ripping out clumps of nose hairs for no good reason.

With the MINI Cooper S Convertible, I decided to drop the top, crank up the seat heaters and don my beanie. And you know what? I couldn’t stop smiling. When I picked up my buddy an anxious look spoke louder than words, but after settling on a destination for some tucker, the tunes pumping, there were smiles all round.

And that's the power of the MINI. I would never normally drop the roof in a convertible at night, let alone in the middle of winter, or obnoxiously pump up the tunes. But there's something about the way this car makes you feel – an infectious attitude if you will – that's very appealing.

Surely it's a foregone conclusion then? The car's iconic exterior design and circular-themed interior décor delivering the kind of vehicular soul that's so rare these days would be grounds for purchase?

Yes, they would, but if everyone bought cars based on emotion we'd all be driving, well, MX-5s and MINIs and Aston Martins. And that doesn't happen.

Okay, so it's an exuberant vehicle but it's also fast; the MINI rag-top is powered by a tear-away 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that'll spin the front hoops if you're not careful. It bangs out 141kW and 280Nm of torque, which is up 6kW and 40Nm on its predecessor.

Give it a bit of stick on the open road and with the roof off you'll hear burbles and crackles from the central-mounted exhaust system, the six-speed automatic whipping through gears with gusto. It's a lusty little engine and loves to rev and although the Convertible is not as dextrous as the tin top versions, it's still good fun on a snaking ribbon of bitumen.

MINI reckons this car will rip from 0-100km/h in just 7.1 seconds, with a top speed of 228km/h. Not slow!

But when you do adopt a measured pace, the MINI is just as diligent and can be efficient as well. It's an easy car to drive in all situations thanks to its BMW-influenced driveline, and a pleasure too, the quality of the parts that help it go, stop and turn contributing greatly.

The engine develops peak torque at just 1250rpm, ensuring you can plod around at a leisurely pace without using too much fuel and the steering is direct and easy for urban driving without being completely devoid of feedback for the fun stuff.

The official fuel consumption figure is 5.8L/100km, significantly lower than before thanks to brake energy regeneration, engine start/stop and ancillary component dumping technologies – and it works.

Naturally I got nowhere near the "claimed" figure of 5.8L/100km which is a complete farce anyway, but a real-world return of 8.5L/100km was impressive considering the, ahem, "haste" with which it was piloted.

As I stated in the launch review of the MINI Cooper Convertible a few months ago, the roof mechanism is a pretty nifty piece of folding fabric, taking 18 seconds to open or close at the flip of a stylised toggle switch inside the car or remotely via the key fob.

Top down, the car is a lot of fun, and the roof can be operated at slow speeds too, up to 30km/h. It also has two modes, fully open or half open, the latter a useful option when it's nasty cold and you forgot your scarf.

Despite the car's compact appearance and cloth roof, interior space is pretty good and the roof, when closed, affords impressive insulation against weather and noise.

MINI has done a brilliant job integrating a lot of very cool tech in the cabin too, and it's done in a unique way that’s so unlike almost any other car out there, however the lack of a touchscreen interface is frustrating.

Some of the other less impressive aspects of the car? Rearward vision not great, rear-seat room is best-described as adequate (but not uncomfortable) and boot space is minimal. There's also a fair bit of wind buffeting if you drop the side windows down.

But if these issues are deal-breakers you probably shouldn't be in the market for a convertible anyway.

The MINI Cooper S Convertible is a great little city car with impressive levels of technology, safety, and refinement. It's basically a pint-sized BMW with a much quirkier personality.

Things are slowly starting to change as buyers demand more individuality, but cars today are generally devoid of personality – or try too hard to attain it and miss the mark completely. The MINI Cooper S Convertible achieves a cheeky level of appeal that is difficult to describe but easy to appreciate.
You could probably find a second-hand convertible with more room than this, but it's unlikely to have the unique charm on offer.

2016 MINI Cooper S Convertible pricing and specifications:
Price: $45,500 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 141kW/280Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 5.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 135g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: TBC

Also consider:
>> Mazda MX-5 (from $31,990)
>> Audi A3 Cabrio (from $48,600)
>> Citroen DS3 Cabrio (from $36,590)