Mini India has launched the Cooper S Convertible at an ex-showroom price of Rs 58.50 lakh, before options, making it the most affordable convertible car in the country. The new model, codenamed F67, is offered in a single, fully loaded variant and retains the outgoing F57 platform with minor updates.
While the wheelbase remains unchanged, the car is now marginally shorter in length, a bit wider and taller, and even gets revised front and rear tracks. It combines the compact footprint with strong performance and a feature-rich cabin. But it also comes with practical limitations and some missing elements that buyers should be aware of.
Here are four reasons to consider the Cooper S Convertible, along with three areas where it underwhelms:
Reasons to buy
1. It’s fun to drive and has great steering feedback
The Convertible continues to offer the typical Mini driving experience. The steering is direct and easy to judge, making it simple to place the car in tight spaces or through corners. Its small footprint and quick response help it feel agile at low speeds and stable at higher speeds.
Body control is tight, and the car changes direction cleanly, which adds to confidence on the road.
2. Strong performance and braking lend a confident overall feel
The 204hp, 300Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine provides solid performance and builds speed smoothly. It is plenty quick and entertaining. Performance is enjoyable, and the Convertible feels eager on open roads.
The brakes offer an excellent pedal feel, predictable response and good stopping power. This combination gives the car a balanced, confident feel in both city and highway conditions, delivering good pace when needed.
3. Well-equipped cabin
The cabin layout is distinctive, with a 9.4-inch circular OLED touchscreen, fabric panel on the dashboard, ambient lighting and a head-up display. The Convertible also comes with a solid list of features, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 12-speaker 365W Harman Kardon audio system, a powered driver’s seat with massage function, heated steering and drive modes.
The key highlight remains the electrically operated fabric roof that opens in just 18 seconds. Mini has also brought back the ‘sunroof mode’, where the roof partially slides back.
4. Surprisingly usable for a convertible
For a compact soft-top, it is easier to live with than expected. The rear seats are tight but usable for short trips; the headroom is acceptable, and the 215-litre boot (160 litres with the roof down) is reasonably practical for a small convertible. The front seats are nicely bolstered, offering good support, and the steering wheel feels good to hold. Storage spaces are limited but usable.
Reasons not to buy
1. Fun factor is reduced
The lack of paddle shifters means driver involvement is limited, hampering the fun factor. Adding to this, the exhaust note is quite subdued and does not offer the character that earlier Mini models used to. Together, these factors reduce the sense of excitement some buyers expect from a Mini, even though the car performs well.
2. Controls buried in the touchscreen
Many basic functions, including climate control, seat massage and even the speedometer and fuel gauge, are placed inside the touchscreen. This makes simple adjustments tedious and less convenient than using physical controls. Storage spaces are also limited, with small door pockets, a shallow glove box and few usable compartments.
3. Ride quality is on the firmer side
While the Cooper S Convertible feels agile and well-controlled on smooth roads, its suspension is firm and set up for sharp handling, so it feels stiff over rough patches. On uneven roads, the car tends to pick up surface imperfections easily, and the driver will need to slow down for larger speed breakers.
