In its fourth generation, the MINI Cooper once again revisits its small car heritage, only this time it swaps the sheet metal overhead for an electrically folding top that lets in the sky. The 2025 MINI Cooper S Iconic Convertible retains almost all of the cheeky character and technology you’ll find in the latest hardtop, but adds a British flag-adorned roof, a little more open-air drama and just a touch of old-school convertible uniqueness. It’s still a true MINI, only now it has the opportunity to feel the sun and wind just as intensely as the turbocharged four-cylinder under the foamy hood.
Performance and driving character
The MINI brand has always been about getting big fun out of a small package, and that motto continues with the Cooper S Iconic Convertible. Power continues to come from a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 201 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, sent to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. There’s no manual transmission on the menu for 2025, but the dual-clutch transmission is quick to respond and happy to shut down when you step on the gas.
Like the coupe, the Cooper S Cabrio feels more powerful than its on-paper numbers suggest, pulling eagerly from low revs and picking up speed with satisfying urgency. Select the playful go-kart driving mode and the car will react more sharply and liven up its behavior, encouraging you to weave through traffic or simply drive like an idiot, like in the movie “Italian Job”. The convertible is a touch slower than the stock hardtop, with 0-60mph taking around 6 seconds, but in the real world it still feels pretty quick for something so small.
Riding on 18-inch wheels wrapped in 215/40R-18 Iconic low-profile rubber (19-inch option shown in photos), grip is plentiful and the Cooper S remains confident when you push it. The steering remains light, just off center, and quick enough to give the car the tilting, darting feel that has long characterized MINI. When you pull out of a side street or a slight curve, there’s still a hint of torque steer as the front tires search for traction. That’s part of the MINI charm and the purest will love it.
What changes compared to the coupe is in the structure. With the roof cut off and the necessary stiffeners installed, the Cooper S Convertible tips the scales at about 3,150 pounds, a noticeable bump above the hardtop. You’ll feel the extra weight in how the car responds to quick transitions and how it goes over rougher sections of road. There’s also a slight shake from the hood as you cross sharp expansion joints or patched sections of road, a slight shudder through the windshield frame reminding you that you’re in a fabric top. It never feels sloppy, but the hardtop is the more buttoned-up option if total chassis rigidity is your priority.
However, the basic ride quality is still quite good for something so small and with such a short wheelbase. Things can get pretty hectic over repetitive bumps, and the rear occasionally gives a quick rebound on bigger climbs, but the trade-off is a car that’s still eager to dive into corners and zip nimbly through city traffic. With the top down on a warm evening the whole experience is geared more towards pure fun than clinical precision anyway, and in this environment the convertible absolutely delivers.
Fuel consumption
With a little more weight to lug around and the additional aerodynamic penalty that comes with a fabric roof, the Cooper S Convertible can’t quite keep up with the hardtop when it comes to fuel economy. The 2025 MINI Cooper S Convertible has fuel economy of 26 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway and 30 mpg combined, putting you a few mpg below the Cooper S Coupe’s EPA ratings.
Sometimes you can still see a mid-30s engine on the highway at a reasonable speed with the top down, and if you’re gentle with the throttle you might get closer to the official 36 mpg highway rating. Put the top down, leave it in go-kart mode and enjoy the torque of the turbo engine. They will watch the numbers go down. The familiar 11.6-gallon fuel tank remains, so the range is slightly less than the coupe, but still completely acceptable for a small city-friendly runabout.
Interior and technology
Inside, the convertible carries over almost everything that makes the new Cooper S cabin a conversation piece. The traditional instrument cluster in front of the driver is gone, replaced by a head-up display, and the star of the show is the large 9.4-inch round OLED touchscreen in the middle, which manages infotainment and a surprising amount of vehicle information.
The interface still feels like a MINI-specific remix of BMW’s iDrive, with bright graphics, clever animations and a playful approach to menus. It’s fun to watch and highly customizable, but the learning curve remains steep. Simple tasks like diving into radio stations or searching for frequently used features require a few too many taps and swipes. Luckily, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration lets you bypass some of this complexity if you just want to stream music or run your favorite navigation app. However, if you don’t log into the MINI setup, you’re left with a guest profile that resets some of your initial settings every time you start the vehicle, which is extremely annoying. You can’t even automatically fold the mirrors without logging into the system and setting up such a feature.
Given the smaller size of the MINI Cooper S, front seat space is still a plus. The heated front sports seats in Iconic design offer tall drivers and front passengers a surprising amount of comfort and offer enough adjustment options to achieve a relaxed driving position. The rear seats are still best reserved for children or very tolerant adults for short trips or simply as extra storage space since you have to contend with a tiny trunk. That’s just the reality of the MINI footprint.
What distinguishes the convertible more clearly from the coupe is the loading volume and the noise level. The trunk shrinks to about 5.2 cubic feet, which is significantly less than the hardtop’s 8.9 cubic feet. You can still fit a few small duffel bags or a carefully packed grocery store, but road trips require a little planning and probably some clever use of the folding rear seatbacks. Basically, you’re often reminded that MINI really means MINI here.
The noise is also increased by one level. Even with the fabric top in place, a little more road and tire noise penetrates the interior and there is more wind noise at highway speeds than in the coupe. It’s not harsh, but if you’re sensitive to noise on long rides, you’ll notice the difference. On the other hand, put the top in the first “ragtop” style position, where only the front section slides back over the front seats like a giant electric sunroof, and you get a nice breeze without having to commit to a full top-down experience. Press and hold the switch again and the entire canopy folds neatly, allowing you to drive completely outdoors.
The hood itself is a highlight. The Union Jack pattern embroidered into the fabric gives the car an extra bit of British flair that you can enjoy from across the parking lot. It’s one of those details that you don’t need but appreciate every time you walk to the car. Add in the usual MINI touches like physical toggle switches for drive modes and ignition, customizable ambient lighting and those pixelated taillights, and the Cooper S Iconic Convertible offers the same dose of cuteness and personality as the hardtop, just with a better view of the sky.
Security
When it comes to safety, the Cooper S Iconic Convertible features much of the same technology found in the hardtop. You get a comprehensive driver assistance package that includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert. Most models can also be equipped with adaptive cruise control and an active driving assistant that steers easily in traffic and maintains the following distance, which is a pleasant convenience on longer highway journeys, like in my test vehicle.
A 360-degree, multi-angle camera system that my test vehicle was equipped with is welcome in a small convertible, where rear visibility can be a little difficult with the top up.
Price
One of the attractive aspects of the new MINI Cooper S range is that you can still get in on the MINI fun without breaking the bank, but the convertible comes at a slight premium over the hardtop. The 2025 MINI Cooper S Convertible starts at $37,200 without fees or options, and my well-equipped Iconic-style test vehicle costs $42,895, including a $995 destination charge.
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Malcolm Hogan is the founder and editor of ArticleSubmission.news, a trusted voice in the world of automotive media for over two decades. With more than 20 years of hands-on experience in the industry, Malcolm has earned a reputation for delivering honest reviews, incisive insights and in-depth coverage of everything from new car debuts to high-performance test drives. Malcolm is passionate about evolving automotive culture and staying ahead of the curve. He continues to make ArticleSubmission.news a destination for enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.
