MINI Electric Convertible Review 2024

Let's start by dealing with the elephant in the room: yes, the MINI Electric Convertible is a £52,500 car that can only travel 124 miles between charges (on a good day). But don't write this off as an overpriced fashion accessory just yet... read our full MINI Electric Convertible review to find out more.

There are just 999 MINI Electric Convertibles being produced and only 150 of those are destined for the UK. That's partly because there's a brand new MINI Electric on its way next year - so why has MINI decided now's the right time to launch a soft-top version of its EV?

There isn't really a logical reason, but its engineers tell us that chopping the roof off the hatchback is a fairly easy process. And there's a fair amount of PR value attached to launching the first 'proper' electric convertible on the market (the Fiat 500 Electric Convertible or Smart EQ ForTwo Cabrio don't really count).

Just like the MINI Electric hatch, the convertible is a lot of fun to drive. Some extra bracing means it's far from soggy in the corners, although we'll wait until we've driven in the UK before delivering a final verdict on its ride quality.

If you're after outright performance you might be disappointed - it's nearly a second slower to 62mph than the regular MINI Electric, although the instant torque provided by the electric motor means it feels livelier than that.

The MINI Electric Convertible is more about sunny day jaunts with the top down, though, and it's very good at that. There's a feel-good factor at play that can't be put into context with objective facts and figures... it's the kind of car that'll put a smile on your face even during the most humdrum commute.

That's until range anxiety creeps over you, anyway. Officially the MINI Electric Convertible will cover up to 124 miles between charges. In reality, you'll struggle to see 100 miles. But charging it is cheap, quick and easy - if you don't cover a huge amount of miles, lugging around (and charging) a bigger battery is inefficient.

Options are limited - you can choose from two colours (black or silver), while everything else is fitted as standard. That means you get 17-inch alloy wheels, a heated steering wheel, a premium sound system and a plethora of driver-assistance tech to keep you on the straight and narrow.

MINIs are always fun to drive and the Electric Convertible is no exception. Chuck it into a corner and it'll remain very composed, with a huge amount of grip and very little body roll. You don't need to be going fast, either, it's a car that'll put a smile on your face even when darting through traffic.

You can select from three different driving modes, with the sport setting adding extra weight to the steering while also increasing responsiveness to the accelerator. You can also tweak the amount of regenerative braking - this is how much the MINI Electric Convertible slows down using its motor when you lift off the gas. With a bit of practice, this is great around town - you'll soon get into a rhythm and barely need to use the actual brakes.

We've only driven the MINI Electric Convertible on smooth Majorcan roads so wouldn't like to make a definitive verdict on its ride quality, but our initial impressions suggest it might not be as uncomfortable as you'd expect over broken road surfaces. It's certainly set up to be sporty rather than wafty, though, so there has to be a compromise somewhere (especially with all the extra bracing to counter its lack of roof).

The MINI Electric Convertible uses the same 184PS electric motor as the regular MINI Electric, with power going to the front wheels. Don't be fooled by the Cooper S badging, though - it's not that quick. Certainly not by electric car standards.

Officially the Convertible will accelerate from a standstill to 62mph in 8.2 seconds. That's nearly a whole second slower than the regular MINI Electric - all because of the soft-top's chunky 1470kg kerbweight.

Temper expectations, though, and it'll feel sprightly enough. Certainly around town, the way it darts away from the line feels in keeping with MINI's fun factor.

Neither hatchback or convertible versions of the MINI Electric have been crash tested by Euro NCAP, but there's a plethora of tech fitted as standard to help reduce the chances of a collision. These include MINI's Driving Assistant pack, which features a lane departure warning and a city collision mitigation system which can apply the brakes to prevent (or reduce the severity of) a collision. The Parking Assistant pack, meanwhile, comes with parking sensors and a reversing camera.

The good news is that the chunky battery pack doesn't hinder interior space in the MINI Electric Convertible compared to a petrol MINI Convertible. The bad news is that even the regular car is hardly the last word in practicality - officially capable of carrying 215 litres of luggage with the roof up, or just 160 litres with it dropped. You'll manage to squish in a few small overnight bags but you might be better using the rear seats for carrying your weekly shop.

It is a four-seater, at a push, but access to the back isn't far from effortless. Still, we found space in the front to be more than adequate, and you'll find more useful storage areas than in something like the Mazda MX-5.

As small cars go, the MINI Electric Convertible is exceptionally well finished. As you'd expect for a car with a £52,500 price tag, there are plenty of soft touch materials and you'd struggle to find anything that looks or feels particularly flimsy. There are some neat touches which mark it out over the regular MINI Electric, too - such as the unique limited edition number on the side scuttles and door sill trims.

The MINI Electric Convertible uses an 8.8-inch central infotainment system which is delightfully easy to navigate. That's partly down to the intuitive click controller (rather than relying solely on touchscreen operation), while the clear graphics and sensible menu layouts also help.

MINI's uncomplicated head-up display is standard on the Electric Convertible, too, as well as wireless phone charging. And there's Apple CarPlay/Android Auto fitted as standard, so you can connect your phone and use your favourite apps on the move.

The MINI Electric Convertible's £52,500 price tag is undeniably pretty punchy - especially as you can buy a petrol MINI Convertible John Cooper Works for less than £36,000.

It is a bit special, though, and - with just 150 being sold in the UK - many will be happy to pay a premium for the only real drop-top electric car on the market (for now). And you do get a fair amount for your money - standard equipment is comprehensive, and the only options you have to decide between are whether you want silver or black paint.

Just like the MINI Electric hatch, the convertible uses a relatively small 32kWh battery. Some plug-in hybrids use bigger batteries than that.

As a result, the MINI Electric Convertible can't travel particularly far between charges. Officially, you can expect to see a range of up to 124 miles - around 20 miles less than the hatch. Expect to see less than that in reality - in the sunny (but hilly) Majorca where we tested the soft-top, we were seeing less than 100 miles from a charge.

Still, that'll be fine for most people's commutes. And the flip side of the small battery is it'll be cheap (and quick) to charge. A 50kW public fast charger will take around half an hour to top it up to 80 per cent. Expect it to take around 4.5 hours to fully charge at home using a 7kW wallbox.

Standard equipment on the MINI Electric Convertible includes a choice of Enigmatic Black or White Silver paint, black mirror caps and 17-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the Electric Convertible features a heated steering wheel, Harman Kardon sound system, navigation, head-up display and wireless phone charging. There's a Nappa leather steering wheel fitted as standard, as well as front sport seats, piano black interior finishes and ambient lighting. Driving assistance features include a rear view camera, active cruise control, Driving Assistant and Parking Assistant.