Mini Cooper S Convertible: First Drive Review

We already driven the Mini Cooper S and loved its go-kart like driving dynamics, old-school design with the right touch of modern styling and the spirited 2.0-litre petrol motor. And now, as the company prepares to bring the fancy soft top version - Mini Cooper S Convertible to India, what better location can there be to drive this hot cabriolet than the sunny Pacific Coast in Los Angeles.

You can’t mistake a soft top Mini to any other car. Even this third generation Mini continues to have a distinct silhouette is unlike anything on the road. But the 2016 Mini Cooper S Convertible has taken the styling and overall fit and finish to yet another level. But most importantly, the detailing on the 3-door hatchback cabriolet gives a cool, upmarket feel, and most importantly, that pocket rocket stance.

Small elements like the bump on the bonnet and sleek air-intake, are a giveaway for its sporty intentions. While the quality of the soft-top roof textile has improved quite a bit. And if you are feeling a bit British, it also comes with a trendy but optional Union Jack graphic woven on it. The circular headlights that get daytime running lights, fog lights and taillamps remain same, but now everything is powered by LEDs that offer great detail.

Apart from the fully automatic, retractable top (which by the way, takes just 18 seconds to open completely) there’s also a cute sliding section, if you don’t want to get the entire top down. While speaking to the product engineers of 2016 Mini Cooper S Convertible, they explained that the inherent design of the Mini is such that it’s comparatively easy to make a convertible variant. That’s because unlike many luxury coupe, which are the usual models to get a drop-top iteration, the angle of the Mini’s A-pillar is slightly more upright, helping in deflecting air naturally away from the cabin while the more inclined A-pillars of luxury cars need an extension to keep air away from the cabin when the roof is down.

There is also a whole bunch of accessories you can opt for, and dozens of bright and brighter colours. As luck would have it, my test car was dipped in a slightly boring “Melting Sliver” hue which doesn’t really enhance the car’s spunky character. Having said that, I absolute adore the 17-inch propeller spoke alloy wheels, finished in brush metal and black.

A convertible cute little Mini is very desirable and not surprisingly is also very popular here in LA. But as you can see in the pictures, the Mini is not really “mini” anymore, as the 2016 Mini Cooper S Convertible has is grown over the years and is now based on a new UKL platform. So, it is now about 98mm longer, 44mm wider, while the height has grown marginally by 7mm. Even the wheelbase has been stretched by 28mm which has helped in carving out better cabin and boot space. 2016 Mini Cooper S Convertible boasts of 215-litres of luggage space which is reduced to 160-litres when the roof is folded down.

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Also, space upfront has increased for the driver and the co-passenger, but the rear seat remains very tight and barely useable. The headroom looks better than before, but with the roof down, there’ll be plenty of wind gushing in. That said, you do have the option of installing additional wind deflectors to reduce the noise. In short, the 2016 Mini Cooper S Convertible can fit four people, but the ideal use of the rear seat is to store some extra luggage.

The cabin still follows the funky round theme, with round air conditioning vents and dials, but now the speedometer and tachometer has been moved in front of the driver. And that is design feature I appreciate, as it is inherently easier to keep a tab on things without taking your eyes away from the road for long. Now the large circular display on the centre console is dedicated to the infotainment system and changes colour depending on the driving mode you select.

The British humour is clearly visible in the description of every mode. For instance in economy or Green mode has “Let’s MINImise” as in to save fuel; and in Sport the message is clear - “Let’s Motor Hard!” Of course, as is expected of a car of this price point, you also get a premium Harman Kardon audio setup and satellite navigation as standard.

The sporty front seats hold you firmly in place, and driving position is rather engaging. That said, my test 2016 Mini Cooper S Convertible came with the optional 3-spoke, leather wrapped, multifunctional steering wheel, which is a tad large for my liking and feels out of place in a compact sporty car like the Mini.

Like the Cooper S, the new 2016 Mini Cooper S Convertible comes with a 4-cylinder, twin turbo motor that punches out 192PS of peak power and 280Nm of torque. The torque surges in early, right from 1250rpm resulting in hassle free overtaking maneuvers. The engine lives up to the sporty characteristics Mini cars are associated with, and the 6-speed Steptronic automatic transmission helps this cause by shifting seamlessly.

The well-weighed steering, slick gear change and composed chassis made me pounce on every clear section of road visible. This convertible is as fun to drive as its regular hard-top sibling, and I could hardly feel the additional weight added by the strengthening needed to convert the car to a soft-top. The ride, even on the immaculate American highway felt on the firm side, but it did mange to eliminate body roll. And with the top down, the exhaust note makes the drive even more engaging; making all the right noises that probes the driver to go faster.

To sum it all, this is the car for all Mini lovers who want some wind in their hair. The 2016 Mini Cooper S Convertible is far more upmarket, sophisticated and modern than all it predecessors. And it is almost as much fun to drive as its hardtop sibling. The 2016 Mini Cooper S Convertible is launching in India next month and we will soon know what features will make it to India, and of course, the all-important price. With the 3-door hardtop priced at Rs 31.50 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), expect the convertible to be a couple of lakh more. With the India drive of the new Mini Cooper S Convertible right around the corner, stay tuned for a more detailed review.