2024 Mini Cooper Convertible

Convertible · 1.5L Turbo I3 · FWD

67/100

AutoVault's overall score, weighted for what a convertible is actually for — performance, technology, comfort, reliability, safety and value.

Specifications

Engine	1.5L Turbo I3
Horsepower	134 hp
Torque	162 lb-ft
0–60 mph	7.8 sec
Top speed	130 mph
Drivetrain	FWD
Seats	4
Combined MPG	32 mpg (28 city / 36 hwy)
Range	514 miles
MSRP	$36,695
Body style	Convertible

The verdict

What's good

Open-air experience at a price well below other European convertibles
Folding fabric roof stows quickly and reduces trunk intrusion
Go-kart steering feel is preserved even in drop-top form
Small size makes parking effortless in dense city environments

What's not

Rear seats are functional only for children or very short trips
11.6-gallon tank requires frequent stops on highway journeys
Roof adds wind noise at motorway speeds even when fully closed
FWD layout limits cornering precision in spirited driving

The engine

B38

1.5L Turbo I3

A characterful three-cylinder that thrums with a slightly offbeat warble under load yet pulls with torquey eagerness, giving the Mini a peppy, go-kart enthusiasm low in the rev range.

The BMW B38, in production since 2013, is the smallest member of BMW's modular engine family and is shared between Mini and BMW; its first-ever application was actually the BMW i8 hybrid sports car.

It's effectively half of BMW's B58 straight-six: the modular family uses a common 500cc-per-cylinder design, so the 1.5-liter triple, 2.0-liter four and 3.0-liter six share core architecture.
To tame three-cylinder vibration it uses a 270-degree offset crankshaft plus a balance shaft spinning at twice crank speed, bringing its smoothness closer to a straight-six than a four.
Its debut car wasn't a Mini at all but the futuristic BMW i8, where it sat transversely mid-mounted behind the cabin.

See the rest in AutoVault

The six sub-scores behind the 67 — performance, tech, comfort, reliability, safety and value
Market value today and year-by-year value history
All 4 trims with pricing
Studio photography — exterior, rear and interior
Side-by-side comparison with up to four cars

Open in AutoVault