2025 Mini Cooper Convertible Review and Test Drive

With fun tech features and smile-inducing performance, this convertible encourages open-air motoring.

Perry Stern | 

Apr 25, 2025 | 6 min read

Perry Stern

The 2025 Mini Cooper Convertible gets a redesign for the 2025 model year, but stays true to its heritage with the brand's classic styling and signature go-kart-like handling. New technology adds convenience and some fun to the lineup, and the John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, with its added performance, turns the enjoyment dial all the way up.

Multiple versions of the 2025 Mini Cooper are available: two- and four-door hard-top editions in addition to the Cooper Convertible, with base, S, and JCW performance levels to choose from, as well as Signature, Signature Plus, and Iconic trim levels. A low-priced Oxford Edition of the non-convertible Cooper is also available. Prices range from the mid-$20,000s to the mid-$40,000s, including the destination charge to ship the car from the Oxford, England, factory to your local dealership.

For this Mini Convertible review, I test-drove the JCW in Savannah, Georgia. Optional equipment included the Iconic trim package, Mini Yours soft top, and 18-inch JCW Lap Spoke wheels, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price to $50,295, including the $995 destination charge. Mini provided the vehicle for this review, in addition to paying for airfare, lodging, and meals during the evaluation period.

Perry Stern

Is the 2025 Mini Cooper Convertible a Good Car?

If you're looking for a fun-to-drive convertible that is equally suited to commuter duty and weekend escapism, it's hard to beat the 2025 Mini JCW Convertible. With seating for four and sporty driving dynamics, the Mini combines the open-air fun of a Mazda MX-5 Miata with the functionality and space of a Volkswagen GTI. I don't think, however, that either of these rivals can match the trademark styling and unusual qualities of the legendary Mini Cooper.

Perry Stern

What's New for the 2025 Mini Cooper Convertible?

With the 2025 Cooper Convertible, Mini completes a revamp of its entire vehicle lineup. Dimensions are similar to those of the previous version, and although the styling is new, the overall look is clearly recognizable as a Mini, complete with its iconic round headlights and stocky stature. The JCW editions are even more distinctive, with a grille that gives the vehicle an aggressive stance.

Interior changes are more noticeable, where the cabin gets a clean, high-tech look while paying homage to the Mini's past. Sixty years ago, the Mini Cooper's round speedometer sat in the center of the dashboard. The same is true today, but the speedo is now part of the infotainment system, presented on a 9.4-inch round OLED display. With an all-new operating system, the infotainment display is clear and easy to navigate. A driver's display screen is in place of a traditional gauge cluster, maintaining the uncluttered look.

The JCW Convertible's distinctive design details continue with a stylized checkered flag treatment on the right side of the knitted fabric dashboard. There's matching red stitching throughout the cabin, and the restyled steering wheel gets a John Cooper Works badge at the base. Sport seats are standard on the Cooper JCW, featuring premium vegan leather-free upholstery and styling that adds to the car's sporty vibe.

Perry Stern

Fun Tech and Features in the 2025 Mini Cooper JCW

The redesigned Cooper JCW Convertible features new technology and enhancements that are likely to increase the joy of owning a Mini, especially in convertible form. For example, Mini's Always Open Timer lets you display the cumulative number of days, hours, and minutes of open-top driving.

Drivers can also add customization via the Experience toggle on the dashboard. Six different choices are available to change the ambient lighting, the light pattern on the dashboard, and the style of the center display. For a more engaging drive, choose the Go-Kart setting. It modifies the steering and throttle response and optimizes shifts for maximum performance.

There's also an interesting innovation for carrying cargo. I found during my test drive that, when the convertible top is closed, you can lift the upper section of the cargo area for easier loading and move the cargo cover higher to create expanded storage space. The convertible top must remain closed to use this additional space, however.

Perry Stern

The 2025 Mini Cooper JCW Convertible Gets an Updated Engine

The 2025 Mini Cooper JCW Convertible features an updated turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Horsepower remains the same as the outgoing version, but torque increases from 235 lb-ft. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) provides rapid gear changes, and with the added torque, the new Mini is slightly quicker to 60 mph.

Not only is the Mini Cooper JCW fun, it's also efficient. The EPA estimates the JCW Convertible will average 30 mpg in combined city and highway driving, slightly better than last year's version. During my drive, the trip computer indicated 29.1 mpg.

The biggest disappointment with the new Mini is the demise of the manual gearbox. The new DCT performs admirably, and there are quick-responding paddle shifters on the steering column, but it just doesn't — to me, at least — provide the same engagement as the manual.

Perry Stern

Starting up the JCW Convertible brings a lovely exhaust growl. In just 18 seconds, the convertible top opens. I found during my test drive that you simply hold the switch, as there are no latches to manually unhook. If you don't want the fully open driving experience, the top can slide open up to 16 inches like a sunroof. With the top down, I headed through Savannah toward Tybee Island and the Atlantic coast.

The Mini's small footprint, along with its excellent steering and throttle response, makes it quick, agile, and ideal for maneuvering through town. Accelerating to highway speed was no problem. I put the windows up, and while it was still a bit blustery in the cabin, it was not so loud that I couldn't converse with a passenger. I did have to speak louder to use the infotainment system's voice interface, though.

Perry Stern

While it's perfectly happy to cruise on the freeway, the Mini Cooper JCW comes alive on a winding road. The car always feels planted, thanks to its upgraded suspension and dynamic damper control, and it changes direction quickly while staying flat and stable. A convertible Mini Cooper JCW driven on a twisty road on a beautiful, sunny day is an ideal escape. It certainly kept me smiling.

The most noticeable issue with the convertible is that the folded top stacks relatively high. As a result, rear visibility is almost completely blocked. I'm not a fan of digital rearview mirrors, but this would be a good situation for one. When the convertible top is closed, however, there's a clear view through the rear window.

Perry Stern

The Mini Cooper JCW Convertible may be all new for the 2025 model year, but the company hasn't strayed from its familiar iconic style. New features and fun technology are likely to delight customers, and that's before they head out on the road to enjoy an open-air drive in this fun little convertible. Die-hard Mini fans may lament the loss of the manual transmission, but the 2025 Cooper JCW Convertible delivers a heavy dose of Mini tradition to please current and future fans.

Perry Stern

As a small child, Perry was constantly playing with toy cars and trucks, and that enthusiasm for anything motorized with wheels never faded. After college, he moved to Seattle and began his long automotive career working in an automotive consulting firm, helping customers choose the right vehicle for their needs. In the late 1990s, Perry joined Microsoft to work on CarPoint, part of the new Microsoft Network (MSN). He went on to become editor of the site, remaining on staff for 20 years before venturing out on his own. Today, in addition to his work on Capital One Auto Navigator, he still contributes to MSN, as well as J.D. Power, TrueCar.com, and U.S. News & World Report. Perry lives in the small town of Dexter, Michigan, with his wife and dog, and he still smiles when he sees his 2006 Mazda Miata in the garage.