► We drive the all new Mini Cooper S Convertible
► Initially it disappoints with harsh, choppy ride
► On a twisty road it all comes together
Usually with a Mini Cooper S, we’d be corring over the 0-62mph time and cooing over the fruity noise it made getting there. But this is the Mini Convertible – BMW’s third – so instead we’re observing the roof lowering in 18 seconds, marvelling at how quietly the roof mechanism does its thing.
The man from Mini explains that it’ll do that at up to 18mph too, and says that when you’re going faster you can leave the cant rails in place and motor back the first 40cm, like a canvas flap for a tent window. Perhaps the Mini’s mocking the Fiat 500C and DS3 Cabrio, which always leave their cant rails in place. There’s more too, says the man, sitting on the open boot – ‘it’ll take 80kg!’ – showing how you can use a couple of struts to lift the hood for easier loading, and that the boot’s 25% bigger this time too.
He doesn’t actually get in the rear seats, but a 28mm wheelbase stretch means it’s physically possible to get four adults aboard, although it helps if they were one of the 28 record-breakers who squeezed into a Mini hatch a couple of years ago.
On the road the Cooper S initially disappoints. It rides like the Italian Job Minis bounding down staircases, and tremors constantly sneak up the steering column; it doesn’t feel like the stiffest structure. You notice how the roof snuffs out traffic noise, but that there’s a whistle of wind at the top of the side windows at speed. Looks ugly stowed, too.
But on a twisty road you start to forgive that. The Mini go-kart feel is still there, with quick steering that arcs into corners like you’re swinging round a post, huge traction so you can rollercoaster the apex, and parpy performance that swooshes you along between bends.
It’s a great car to drive down an interesting road, but at this price we’d take a 2.0-litre Mazda MX-5.
The specs: Mini Cooper S Convertible
Price: £22,430
Engine: 1998cc 16v four-cyl turbo, 189bhp @ 5000-6000rpm, 207lb ft @ 1250-4600rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Performance: 7.2sec 0-62mph, 144mph, 46.3mpg , 142g/km CO2
Weight: 1275kg
On sale: Now
Love: Still drives like a Mini; agile, grippy, fast and fun
Hate: Wobbly structure, Hobbit rear seats
Verdict: Bubbly, likes a good time, GSOH
Rating: ***
Read more from the April 2016 issue of CAR magazine