Best convertible cars 2022
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According to the Met Office, the UK enjoyed 1,391 hours of sunshine in 2021. That’s not a lot over a whole year, so it might come as a surprise to discover that, alongside Germany, the UK is the biggest market in Europe for convertible cars.
Actually, maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, we like nothing more than to make the most of what little sunshine we get, rushing to the beach in large numbers, dragging the barbecue out of the shed and complaining that it’s a “bit hot, mate”.
Why lock yourself away in a car with a tin roof when you can feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your shoulders? It’s why we’ve created a list of some of the best convertible cars you can buy right now.
We’ve focused on the more traditional convertibles, so you won’t find any two-seater sports cars here. Feeling the summer breeze? These cars will make you feel fine.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet
Spend a day in the company of a Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet and you’ll wonder why anyone splashes out on a hugely more expensive Rolls-Royce or Bentley. Prices start from around £53,000 before you have fun with the options list, but few convertibles offer such a delightful blend of comfort, space, practicality and quality. There’s room for four adults and their luggage, and the multi-layered fabric roof opens or closes in just 20 seconds at speeds of up to 31mph. If it’s just the two of you, the rear seats can be lowered to increase the size of the boot, so that weekend away can turn into a fortnight in the sun.
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MINI Convertible
As the name suggests, the MINI Convertible isn’t the largest drop-top you can buy, but it makes surprising sense if bought for you and your significant other. You get a pair of seats in the back, but we think they’re more useful as a home for extra luggage or shopping bags, especially as they can be split or folded. With the roof up, the MINI Convertible feels as cosy and comfortable as the regular MINI Hatch, and it’s no less fun to drive. With the roof down, you can pose in one of the most fashionable cars on the planet. You don’t even have to splash out on expensive options – even the basic model feels great.
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Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet
The Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet is the only convertible SUV currently on sale in the UK. Following the demise of the drop-top versions of the Beetle and Golf, it’s also the only Volkswagen convertible you can buy. Granted, it’s a bit of an acquired taste, but buying a T-Roc Cabriolet gives you access to a relatively exclusive club – and you can compare notes with owners of the last roofless SUV: the Range Rover Evoque Convertible. It’s not as practical as the regular T-Roc, but it will be more versatile than the sports car you’ve been looking at. You also get a raised driving position for a commanding view of the road ahead.
Ford Mustang Convertible
The Mustang Convertible commands a £3,000 premium over the regular Mustang 5.0 V8 GT, but let’s consider the positives. With the roof down, you’re free to enjoy the classic burble of the 5.0-litre V8 engine without interruptions, while there’s something terrifically romantic about a Mustang with a fabric roof. The Mustang Fastback edges the Convertible when it comes to driver appeal, but on those rare sunny days you’ll be glad you bought the soft-top. Look out for the California special edition, which is unique to the Mustang Convertible and comes with an array of exterior and interior upgrades.
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Fiat 500C
The chic Fiat 500 city car is even better with a fabric roof. Whether you’re touring the streets of Milan or Maidenhead, Turin or Towcester, Naples or Nottingham, the 500C will allow you to live la dolce vita. That’s ‘the good life’, rather than the name of the Italian restaurant on the edge of town. The full-length fabric roof opens or closes automatically at a touch of a button at speeds of up to 37mph, so you won’t even have to stop when the weather turns a bit ‘British’. An array of personalisation options are available so you can create your own Italian style statement.
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Audi A5 Cabriolet
Chiselled good looks, the ‘right’ badge and a high-quality interior are three reasons to choose the Audi A5 Cabriolet over rival convertibles. The roof can be opened within 15 seconds at speeds of up to 31mph, before closing again in 18 seconds. There’s room in the back for two people, but although the luggage capacity is a class-leading 380 litres with the roof up, you’ll lose 60 litres of space with the roof down. Our advice would be to use the rear seats for extra luggage space. Just make sure you ask the children to move before you chuck any bags behind the front seats.
Lexus LC Convertible
Few cars are more gorgeous than the Lexus LC Convertible. With prices starting from £97,000, it’s not cheap, but the styling looks a million dollars. Draw your eyes away from the exterior – a tough job – and you’ll find a quality cabin, a long list of standard equipment and a fabulous 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine up ahead. At 149 litres, the boot is too small for a car of this size, but at least you can make use of the rear seats. Even in the lustrous Naples Yellow, the LC Convertible somehow manages to remain well inside the limits of vulgarity. Hats off to Lexus.
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BMW 4 Series Convertible
The convertible market has shifted away from complex and heavy folding metal hard-tops, with many manufacturers preferring the simplicity and lightness of a fabric roof. The BMW 4 Series Convertible is the latest car to follow this trend, boasting a roof that is 40 percent lighter than its predecessor. This helps to reduce fuel consumption while making the 4 Series Convertible even better to drive; this BMW has the edge over its Audi and Mercedes-Benz rivals when it comes to cornering and driver appeal. The flagship M440i offers the pace to match the dynamics, but all versions are high on quality and feelgood factor.
Bentley Continental GT Convertible
Fancy pushing the boat out? The Bentley Continental GT Convertible isn’t the cheapest drop-top on the market, but it offers the performance of a supercar and the comfort of a luxury saloon. The flagship 6.0-litre W12 engine is a feat of modern engineering, but we’d recommend the 4.0-litre V8. It sounds fantastic, can propel the car to 62mph in around four seconds, and will hit a top speed knocking on the door of 200mph. Come for the prodigious performance, stay for the handcrafted interior and the overwhelming sense of opulence. We could criticise it for its high running costs, but that would be like complaining about the lack of cutlery in a McDonald’s.
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Rolls-Royce Dawn
If you were prepared to push the boat out for the Bentley, how about going even further with the Rolls-Royce Dawn? Money no object, this is the best convertible in the world, with an unrivalled level of craftsmanship, engineering and quality. Each car is bespoke to the original owner, with an array of personalisation options available. Power is sourced from a 6.6-litre V12 engine, and although Rolls-Royce won’t thank us for saying this, it’s like driving and owning a Wraith convertible. Only the small boot lets it down, but you can ask the butler to arrange transport for your luggage.
Are convertibles more expensive to insure?
Convertibles tend to be more expensive to insure for a number of reasons. Firstly, there’s an increased risk of theft or vandalism, especially in the case of cars with a fabric roof. They’re also pricier to repair in the event of an accident, which will have an impact on your annual premium. One solution would be to buy a convertible with a folding metal roof, such as the Mazda MX-5 RF or the old Mercedes-Benz SLK.
Can I drive a convertible in the winter?
Gone are the days when a convertible had to be locked away when the nights started to draw in. Today’s multi-layer fabric roofs provide excellent protection against the elements, while the likes of heated seats and neck warmers make these cars more pleasant to use in the winter. In fact, there’s something uniquely pleasurable about winter driving in a convertible with the heater on max and the seat warming your bum. A convertible with a metal roof will be even easier to justify in the winter months.
Are convertibles less enjoyable to drive?
It all depends on what you want from a convertible. Some sports cars are designed from the ground up without a roof, so they’re actually better to drive when you’re exposed to the elements. In other cases, you’re likely to find a slightly ‘softer’ driving experience, as the weight of the roof mechanism and reduced structural rigidity have an impact on the car’s ride and handling. That said, driving a convertible can be hugely enjoyable, especially when the conditions allow.
