MINI CONVERTIBLE 2016 VIDEO REVIEW

MINI CONVERTIBLE 2016 VIDEO REVIEW BY AUTO CRITIC STEVE HAMMES

So you’ve decided on a new MINI. And the beautiful weather has got you thinking that a sunroof might be a good addition or perhaps a soft top is the way to go?  Well, the new MINI Convertible provides both backed by turbocharged BMW power.

When MINI debuted their next generation Cooper for the 2014 model year, they elevated the car in every way. Injected with a high degree of BMW DNA, the latest MINIs exude a more premium experience with more polish to their performance.

Following the 2- and 4-door Hardtops, is this 2016 Convertible, available in the turbocharged trifecta of familiar MINI trims; the 3-cylinder Cooper, 4-cylinder Cooper S and the high performance John Cooper Works, ranging in base price from $26,800 to $36,450…about a $5,000 premium for open-top goodness. I’m riding in the Cooper S model this week, with a 2.0-liter engine featuring turbocharging, direct fuel injection, variable camshaft control on the intake and exhaust side and fully variable valve control. This patented BMW technology helps this motor achieve output of 189 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque that takes hold at just 1,250 RPM, meaning acceleration is both lively and immediate.

While the Cooper S Hardtop with the standard 6-speed manual transmission takes 6.4-seconds to reach 60mph, the Convertible’s extra 200 pounds adds 4/10ths to that run – still enough to thrust you back into your seat. That’s particularly true when you toggle over to Sport mode, which is the most exuberant such setting you’ll find, providing a shot of adrenaline that jolts the car forward. Though an excellent 6-speed automatic is optional, the stick shift just feels like a perfect fit in the MINI and it’s as easy and satisfying to row as any manual you’ll find…perfect for beginners. Other driving modes include MID and Green for a more sedate, fuel saving experience. The Convertible loses nothing in gas mileage, rated at 23mpg city/33mpg highway on premium, providing a total driving range of over 300 miles.

MINI has always encouraged top-down driving regardless of the weather and based on how this car looks with it up, it’s probably not a bad idea. Its coolness factor definitely takes a hit but that can be quickly remedied with a push of a button, where the soft top rests neatly over the trunk, at which point the chic style returns. This is the first time the soft top operation is by means of electric power only. A fold-up windscreen can be popped in over the rear seats to keep the cabin even more tranquil. And for times when you’re feeling in between, you can open just the front section for a sunroof-like experience. When the vehicle is stationary, the top can also be operated with the remote key. And here’s a neat feature – a gauge that actually tracks how many hours you’ve driven with the top down. But rear seating becomes exclusively kid fodder and the trunk, despite its Easy Load Function, is a mere 5 cubic feet with the top down – 7 with it up – 25% bigger than before but still not terribly useful.

Though it definitely loses some aesthetic and a degree of practicality the Convertible bundles the excitement of Cooper S fun with a flexible and easy to use top down driving experience. But like all MINIs, adding your personal touch generally leads to some sticker shock.

Building your MINI is key to the experience but take this tester for example – painted in the extra charge Melting Silver Metallic with this gorgeous Chesterfield Leather Malt Brown interior first seen in the Clubman and fitted with the Fully Loaded Package and a trio of interior tweaks, this car retails for $38,300. But the uneasiness over the price fades rather quickly when you interact with the car on a daily basis – it’s stocked with premium features both for safety and convenience and everything you see and touch communicates high quality.

The Sport Package includes a first-time option called Dynamic Damper Control which works in concert with the MINI Driving Modes to tune the suspension for either comfort-oriented or sporty responses.  Losing the roof palpably dings the body’s rigidness but at a level I deem acceptable for a 4-seat convertible. It still possesses the front-wheel drive, fun-to-drive nature the British brand hangs its hat on – though in this case the Convertible is actually born in the Netherlands.  From its cheeky styling, to its unique interior and of course its tear-it-up drivability, MINI’s progression continues to bear an excellent assortment of next generation product.