2025 Mini Cooper S Convertible: New Age Funk

The Mini Convertible is all-new this year, available in Cooper C, Cooper S, and JCW. The mid-point in terms of price, content, and performance is the Cooper S, which I have in for evaluation.

With the latest generation of Mini models, the youthfulness and fun seem more focused on technology and interior experiences, rather than driving feel and engagement. It’s a shift for the manufacturer, but one clearly spurred on by the core target demographic. The question I hope to answer for relics like me is whether there still some of the Mini magic, engagement, and smile-inducing fun behind the wheel.

The cliché of Minis not being al the Mini anymore is tired. The latest Convertible is larger, but at 152.8-inched (3,881 mm) in length, it’s nearly 20-inches (508 mm) shorter than a Toyota Corolla Hatchback, or roughly 85% the size of a Honda Civic Hatchback.

Cooper Convertibles have always had a cheerful and happy look, sort of like a beach party on wheels. This one still has that family look. Maybe it’s matured a bit as things have grown, but it still looks happy. The real difference is centered around this specific trim; the Cooper S. The sportiness has been toned down. Now absent from the party are things like the hood scoop and exposed shiny exhaust.

Still present and account for though is the 3-stage convertible roof, that can be fully up, fully down, or just rolled back above the front seats like a big sunroof.

Under the hood remains a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, but with more power, now up to 201 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. Some of the power increase is offset by a slight weight increase as the new 20205 Mini Cooper S Convertible weighs 3,148 pounds (1,428 kg), which leads to a similar 0-60 mph time of 6.7-seconds. Fuel economy is pegged at 26 mpg (8.9 L/100 km) city and 36 mpg (6.6 L/100 km) highway.

Like before, power is sent to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. What has changed is the ability for drivers to have any control over gear choice. I’m not talking about an old school manual transmission, which is sadly absent from the option list. I’m referring to the real head scratcher, the lack of manual control for the seven-speed DCT. There are no paddle shifters or tap-to-shift gear stalk, which is odd as this is the sporty Cooper S after all.

Mini Coopers, especially the sportier ones, have notoriously featured stiff rides. The 2025 Cooper S convertible is on the stiffer side, but nowhere near as punishing as car of the past. The engineers have done a good job balancing the handling and ride comfort.

Another round of applause needs to go to the engineers who designed the cabin compartment. With the convertible top down, there’s minimal wind interference for the front seats, even on the highway. Buffeting is next to non-existent, and seat comfort is equally as good. Those regulate to the rear seats aren’t so lucky. Space is scare and wind is in abundance. Behind the rear seat passengers is a small trunk that can hold 5.2 cu ft (160L) of cargo with the top down or 7.6 cu ft (215L) with roof up.

Inside, the 2025 Convertible still offers a lot of familiarity. There may not be as many heritage cues as before, but there’s still the large central screen, with a few toggles below it, albeit no longer behind metal gates. That central screen is a 9.4-inch OLED full display that fills out the entire circle. It can be customized a variety of ways or transformed through the various drive modes.

In front of the driver is a smaller secondary screen reflected off a plastic panel to create a head-up display. The rest of the interior has various design cues to add some interest and flare, such as the diagonal pattern in the seats. Since my tester is the Favored Style, across the dash is a large piece of fabric, that has cool light reflection elements at night.

As mentioned quite a few times, technology is a big part of the new Mini family. The OLED screen is full of animations, accompanying sounds, and vibrant displays. It’s possible to play games on it while park or use it as a voice activate personal assistant. There’s an interior camera for safety, or selfies of course, as well as navigation with augmented reality.

For me, the standout technology feature in the Mini convertible is the Harmon Kardon sound system, It’s so powerful and clear. Even on the freeway with the top and windows down, I couldn’t believe how clear and crisp the sound was with no distortion. Every other convertible needs to take notes here.

Other features included in the Mini Cooper S Convertible are a power driving seat, a wireless phone charger, active cruise plus, active driving assistant, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In the United States, the 2025 Mini Cooper S Convertible starts at $39,075 (all prices include destination charges). My tester included the Iconic trim and favored styling as well as few other options, putting the price to $46,675 as tested.

The Mini Convertible doesn’t have many natural competitors. For non-direct reference, the most affordable, larger Mustang Ecoboost Convertible starts at $42,115, while the less practical Mazda MX-5 Grand Touring begins at $36,065.

For out Canada readers, the 2025 Mini Cooper S Convertible starts at $49,545 while my tester came in at $58,345.

The 2025 Mini Coooper S Convertible has changed, but not as much as I thought, at least not in spirit. It’s best to approach the new Mini Convertible without any sort of preconceived expectations. Although it’s not the Mini Cooper S we remember of yesteryear, there are more traits of the old car baked into the model than it appears on the surface, one just needs to dig to find them. The Cooper S Convertible still encapsulates that youthful spirit and charm the brand is known for. It’s just a different sort of charm now.

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