2022 MINI Convertible

2022 Mini Convertible Review

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　The Mini Convertible is the drop-top version of Mini's Hardtop 2 Door. We've been enjoying this fun-in-the-sun Mini since this generation debuted in 2016, but more recently it was starting to feel a little dated. Luckily, the 2022 Mini Convertible gets a significant refresh that should keep people's interest piqued.

　　The Convertible's front and rear fascias now incorporate a body-colored panel that runs to the edge of the chrome grille and bumper surrounds. Those surrounds — along with the badges, door handles and tailpipes — can now be ordered in a gloss black treatment to distinguish it from previous models, which had chrome-only frames. The interior is slightly revised as well with a new digital instrument panel and an 8.8-inch central display.

　　From a performance perspective, the Mini Convertible is outmatched against rivals such as the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang and Mazda Miata. But there's still enough charm here to make this Mini a satisfying pick for a reasonably priced drop-top. Check out our Expert Rating below for more details.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.2

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

　　How does the Convertible drive? We tested the Mini Convertible in the John Cooper Works (JCW) trim. The JCW should be the top of the heap, but it doesn't feel much more special than the S trim. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph took 6 seconds in our test car, which is quick for a convertible in this class. The Mini's turbocharged engine makes plenty of torque but lacks the fun, high-revving character of the Mazda Miata's engine.

　　Panic braking from 60 mph yielded a best result of 119 feet, which is an average distance; we expected better. Most of the blame falls on the Mini JCW's somewhat narrow tires, which also limit its outright handling ability. We love its nimbleness, but less expensive Mini Convertible trims give you that as well.

Comfort

　　How comfortable is the Convertible? The expected stiff and sporty ride of a Mini is certainly present with the John Cooper Works version. While it's never unduly harsh, it can be jittery over less than smooth pavement. Our test car came with optional adaptive dampers, but we didn't feel there was enough of a difference between the Normal and Sport modes to warrant the extra expense. The front seats are supportive and comfortable, but rear passengers will likely complain about the vertical seatbacks and lack of shoulder room.

　　The Mini's top looks and feels well constructed, but it lets in a lot of ambient noise and road noise when driving at highway speeds. In fact, when we tested interior noise levels, we found it's barely louder with the top down than when it's up. The JCW's center exhaust produces some nice burbles and pops but can drone over extended periods of driving at a constant speed.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below