Used Mini Convertible 2016-2024 review

Despite our ever-changeable climate, us Brits have a fondness for convertibles: we buy more of them than any other European country. On top of that, the Mini Convertible often proves a fan favourite.

It's small, stylish and, particularly when used, reasonably priced.

Engines & Performance: There isn’t a bad option in the Mini Convertible engine range. Even the entry-level petrol – a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder – has a decent 136bhp, plus it’s smooth in everyday driving, quiet and economical. The 192bhp 2.0-litre in the Cooper S is a bit livelier, while the high-performance 231bhp John Cooper Works model is a good laugh. For the economy-minded, there is the 116bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder diesel that's very frugal and refinement is pretty good, too, although this engine was dropped from the range when the car was treated to a mid-life refresh in 2020.

Ride & Handling: Out on the open road, the Mini Convertible is much more refined to drive than the Fiat 500C and DS 3 Cabrio. It has a finely balanced ride that soaks up the worst of the bumps and potholes but is still firm enough that it doesn’t roll badly in bends. You’ll notice a bit of shudder through the chassis on rougher bits of road, but that is to be expected on a car with no fixed roof.

The steering is just as quick as the regular Mini, too, although its 90kg weight disadvantage over the regular three-door hatch means the Mini Convertible isn’t as agile.

Interior & Practicality: Just like the standard Mini, rear passengers will feel cramped and the boot is more of a letterbox slot. Also, overall load capacity is heavily compromised with the roof down because the roof and its mechanism robs space. You can, at least, fold the back seats down to increase cargo capacity. Up front, occupants are well catered for, since there’s lots of adjustment in both the steering wheel and seats to allow even the tallest people to find a comfortable position.

Trims & Equipment: Cooper models come with enough equipment to get by, but the Pepper Pack improves things dramatically because it adds rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, a sports steering wheel and auto lights and wipers.

Later, post-facelift models tweaked the trims in line with the three-door Mini Hatch, with a choice of Classic, Sport and Exclusive. Classic gives you LED headlights, a powered hood and rear parking sensors. Sport is all about styling, with cruise control the only extra functional feature it brings. Meanwhile, Exclusive trim costs the same new as Sport, exchanging sporty looks for leather seats and chrome highlights for a more luxurious feel. The hot John Cooper Works version, meanwhile, gains sports suspension and further cosmetic enhancements.

Whichever trim level you go for, we'd recommend seeking out a used car with at least the Comfort and Navigation packs; the Navigation Plus Pack is worth finding for its class-leading infotainment system. The Driving Assistant Pack is useful, too, because this adds automatic emergency braking.

Interested in buying a used Mini Convertible? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

An early 2016 Cooper model with the 1.5 petrol engine starts at around £7500 for something with around 70,000 miles on it, while lower mileage examples start at £8000. The more sprightly Cooper S is more expensive again, with prices starting at £11,500, while the JCW range-topper is the most expensive Mini Convertible you can buy, starting at £14,000 for something that doesn't have a history of accident damage or high mileage.

For a 2021 Cooper, have at least £15,000. For a nearly new 2024 car, budget for upwards of £24,000.

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MPG: Fuel economy and road tax costs for most Mini Convertible models are actually rather good. The 1.5 petrol has a combined figure of 57.6mpg, under the older NEDC tests, while the 1.5 diesel has a figure of 70.6mpg. The Cooper S and JCW versions aren’t quite so cheap to run. The Cooper S has an average figure of 47.1mpg, while the JCW is rated to do 43.5mpg - less if you drive it with gusto.

Under the later WLTP tests, these figures changed to the 1.5 averaging 47.9mpg, the 2.0 to 43.5mpg and the John Cooper 2.0 to 39.8mpg.

CO2 emissions: The Mini with the lowest CO2 output is the 1.5 diesel with 100g/km, under the older NEDC tests, which sneaks it into the free car tax band. Up next is the 1.5 petrol with 114g/km, followed by the 2.0 Cooper S with 139g/km. The JCW is the worst, but 152g/km isn't particularly bad compared with some rivals.

Road tax (VED): Road tax for all models registered before 1 April 2017 will vary depending upon the emissions the engine produces (see above paragraph), while examples registered after this date will have the same flat rate fee for cars that cost less than £40,000 when new. The current rate is £180 a year. To find out more about the current road tax costs, click here.

Insurance and servicing costs: Insurance rates for most versions will be reasonable, although the Cooper S and JCW models will be more costly. Some cars less than three years old may still have some services left under the Mini TLC servicing package that new owners could buy with the car. After three years, Mini has a fixed-price value service scheme with prices that are published on their website.

Reliability

Despite its confidence-inspiring ranking in our 2023 reliability survey, some owners cited issues with the Mini Convertible (2016-2024), particularly with the electrical system and engine warning lights. Problems with the convertible roof mechanism often required multiple dealership visits for repairs. Faulty sensors and battery-related issues were also common.

Diesel model owners reported fewer problems overall, though there were concerns about the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) and occasional turbocharger failures. Despite these issues, many readers noted that most problems were resolved efficiently by Mini dealerships.

Dealer service experiences were mixed. While some praised their dealerships for prompt and courteous service, others were frustrated by long wait times and costly repairs, often needing multiple visits to resolve issues fully.

Discover more about used Mini Convertible reliability and common problems on our dedicated reliability page.

Engine: Unless you really want to do lots of miles in a convertible Mini, there isn’t much point going for the diesel model. The Cooper S and JCW models are fun but aren’t quite as good to drive as their equivalent hatch versions, so we’d suggest sticking with the standard 1.5 petrol. It is a very impressive engine in its own right and it’s quite economical, too.

Specification: This also means we’d stick with the entry-level Cooper model, because that’s the only trim that the 1.5 petrol comes with. However, we’d recommend looking out for cars fitted with the Pepper Pack, because of the extra equipment you get for a little more money. Also, stick with the manual version; it’s a slick gearbox and adds to the fun of driving a Mini.

Our favourite Mini Convertible 1.5 Cooper Pepper Pack

The older VW Beetle Cabriolet certainly doesn’t handle as well as the convertible Mini and the interior is nowhere near as stylish. But it is cheaper to buy and the boot is bigger.

Both the Fiat 500C and DS 3 Cabrio are a lot cheaper than the Mini, but they are smaller and, in the case of the Fiat, much slower – this explains why they’re cheaper.

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Interested in buying a used Mini Convertible? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.