The pure pleasure of freedom on four wheels. That's the easiest way to describe our brief encounter with the Mini convertible, which, to top it all off, was powered by a bouncy 128-kilowatt petrol engine - the most powerful engine currently fitted to a soft-top version. The yellow-black color combination ensured...
The pure pleasure of freedom on four wheels. That's the easiest way to describe our brief encounter with the Mini convertible, which was powered by a bouncy 128 kilowatt petrol engine to top it all off - the most powerful engine currently fitted to a soft-top version. The yellow-black color combination made the car even more conspicuous, and passers-by are already turning behind it anyway. While driving, it gives the go-kart feel characteristic of minis, of the position on the road and the response of the vehicle to the driver's demands. By pressing the SPORT button, the mini becomes even more responsive and bouncy. The test mini had built-in manual air conditioning, which allows you to drive with the roof open - we open this step by step with the help of electricity - even on colder days, and a scarf and hat are highly recommended. The latter is especially recommended if we don't have an anti-overwrite network, which we really missed in the test mini. Of course, the trunk does not offer the luxury of space, but it is relatively large considering the design of the vehicle. Among the "cool" equipment, of course, we cannot ignore the face meter, which measures the time that we travel upstairs without.
The urban pulse of the car
The Mini's convertible is perfect for casual cruising around the city streets - it feels especially good on the streets of coastal towns - with the roof open, of course. We have already written that passers-by will turn behind us. Parking the mini is easy due to its compact dimensions, although the rear view is slightly restricted, especially with the roof closed. According to the manufacturer, consumption in the city is 8.1 liters of unleaded gasoline per 100 kilometers, which is expected given the engine's performance. But the mini is environmentally friendly, as it has a built-in system of automatic shutdown and restart of the engine during short stops, as well as an indicator of the most suitable gear. As for the trunk, which opens downwards and on its open door you can even sit for a moment or put down a not too heavy load, it would be difficult to say that it is a luxury of space. However, this is a sacrifice that comes with the retractable roof. Of course, the volume of the trunk is larger with the roof closed.
Parent friendly
Even our youngest will be able to experience the feeling of freedom and the caress of the sun's rays and the gusts of the wind in the mini, as the rear bench is equipped with two ISOFIX anchor points. But for longer wanderings with small children, this mini is not exactly the most suitable choice, as it will be difficult to store all the necessary (and unnecessary) equipment of our youngest in its trunk. Storing a larger-format baby carriage will be a real mission impossible, although the trunk itself didn't even seem that small to us considering the fact that we're dealing with a convertible.
We noticed
The main advantages of the test mini are definitely the canvas roof, or the fact that by simply pressing a button - which we otherwise have to keep pressed throughout the entire process of opening or closing the roof - we can open it and enjoy the sun's rays (but don't forget the cream with a high protection factor ), and a go-kart feeling behind the wheel of a Mini. This feeling is even more intense if we press the button labeled "SPORT" located near the shift lever of the 6-speed transmission. Then the electronics ensure that the gas pedal is even more responsive and the steering wheel even more direct than usual. As we have already written, the test mini had manual air conditioning, which did not even bother us, as its adjustment is easy. It should also be mentioned that the mini's canvas roof can only be opened enough to function as a movable sunroof, as we know it in "normal" cars. What's more, the roof can be opened and closed even during slow driving - a maximum of 30 km/h.
There is also something special about the mini's retro fittings with a large speedometer on the center console and a small engine rev counter located just behind the steering wheel. In addition to the tachometer, the test convertible also had a special meter that measured the driving time without the top - but everyone should judge for themselves whether it is necessary.
Technique and price
Vehicle dimensions (in mm): 3714 x 1683 x 1414; engine power: 128 kW (175 hp); final speed: 222 km/h; fuel consumption (urban/extra-urban/combined): 8.1/5.4/6.4 l/100 km; CO emission2: 153 g/km; trunk volume: 125-660 l; price of the test vehicle (without discounts): EUR 31,940; insurance costs (AO / Super Polni Kasko with 1% deductible franchise at Zav. Maribor): X EUR / X EUR.
