MINI John Cooper Works Convertible Review

My furrowed brows are drenched in sweat and my forearms have been so well scorched by the sun that they are nearly a match for my partner's Chili Red bodywork, but I've barely had enough.

And I suspect, neither will you.

Design changes to this MINI John Cooper Works Convertible include redesigned head lights, the addition of Chili Red accents at the front intakes, and the use of a single-pipe exhaust system at the rear

Hot

18 seconds is the key figure here. Her Union Jack-patterned top demands an achingly long time to undo but do so and you'll find this convertible blessed with a well-toned body that should leave few with any doubts of her athletic ability.

And what a body it is. Like much of the MINI range, this new John Cooper Works Convertible has lost her front scoop and side scuttles but has thankfully retained her rectangular taillights that (to this writer's eyes) make their LED signatures more prominent.

The changes are welcome, straddling the not-so-easy to get right mix of adorability and aggression demanded by the car's dual MINI and John Cooper Works branding.

Look beyond the bright paint and you'll also notice there's new head lights, new Chili Red accent pieces in the front intakes, and the John Cooper Works logo has also been redesigned, appearing here as usual on the front grille but having moved to the handle strip atop the license plate at the rear of the car.

The MINI JCW Convertible offers just 160 litres of space in its boot, but if you're not planning on folding the roof down, two locking handles allow you to further raise the height of the storage area so you get a total of 215 litres of space for your bags

Bothered

Settle into her snug seats and you'll find more dramatic changes still.

Also borrowed from the rest of this new generation of MINIs and implemented here is a new 9.4-inch round OLED infotainment system, which comes equipped with 'Spike', MINI's own digital avatar that stands ready to receive your voice commands or tell you a silly joke is so tasked.

Dig into the system, however, and you'll find something exclusive to the convertibles of the MINI range: An 'Always Open' timer that counts your total time spent in the car with the top down.

MINI's infotainment unit has long needed an update, and this new one does its job well, scoring well on general ease of use and punching hard when it comes to visual appeal with pleasant graphics and an astonishing degree of customisability via this car's seven different 'Experience Modes'. Having said this, the addition of 'Spike' and said top-down timer feel more like the sort of gimmicks you'd play with once or twice and never make use of again.

The 9.4-inch infotainment system offers plenty of options for customisation via its seven different experience modes and comes with a convertible-exclusive 'Always Open' timer so you can boast about how often you take the roof down

Ready

It's a good thing then, that the drivetrain of this John Cooper Works Convertible isn't as shallow an entertainer.

A 2.0-litre unit from John Cooper Works vehicles before continues to do duty here, delivering a familiar total of 228bhp although peak torque has now been bumped from 320Nm to a new total of 380Nm, enough to see this John Cooper Works Convertible sprinting to 100km/h from a standstill in 6.4 seconds.

These numbers aren't quite enough to allow this MINI to keep up with the likes other hot hatches such as the Golf GTI, but don't dismiss her just yet, for the way she thrills is something else altogether.

The 228bhp 2.0-litre unit in the MINI JCW convertible is a peach, proving eager through its rev range and delivering a full suite of encouraging vocals

Like a seasoned flamenco partner, show her a gap in traffic and she exhibits a relentless eagerness, always keenly lunging in tune to every flex of your foot. And all this is accompanied by the usual set of theatrics: Hisses from the blow-off valve and burbles from an exhaust system that now ends in a single centrally located pipe accompany every eager drive. Push her hard and you'll get a fair bit of torque steer, and she proves unashamed to chirp her wheels shifting out of first and second gear - nice touches that add to her cheeky character.

But if you'd rather dance the Waltz (that is, to take things slow), take note that noise insulation from that fabric roof leaves a lot to be desired. Thankfully, ride quality is still commendable, exhibiting less of the hyperactivity we experienced in the less sporty iterations of the outgoing examples of the MINI Convertible. Don't expect to find any kind of meaningful storage space in the cabin to store your belongings.

Looking for a one-of-a-kind driving experience? This MINI JCW Convertible will suit you well

(Not So) Easy

Like all that you've read? Now consider this: At $305,888, this MINI John Cooper Works Convertible is by no means cheap. 

The MINI John Cooper Works Convertible stands on its own in combining a sub-compact body with a folding roof, of course. But for the sake of comparison, consider also the fact that you can get the aforementioned Golf GTI from just $256,900, which is not only more powerful but is arguably just as iconic as this MINI, while offering the added practicality of rear doors for your passengers. Want something from the John Cooper Works catalogue? The more powerful and far more practical John Cooper Works Countryman can also be yours with just a $2,000 top up on top of this convertible (all prices as of 9 June 2025, inclusive of COE).

But will a Golf GTI, or any other car at that, offer the same light-hearted yet thrilling motoring experience as this MINI John Cooper Works Convertible? From what I have seen today, the answer is a simple and definitive no. So, if you've got the means to fork out that premium, go for it. I couldn't get enough of her even after three sun-soaked and absolutely scorching days, and I'm certain she'll get you just as badly hooked as well.

Shopping for your next convertible? Be sure to also catch these reviews:

The Mercedes-Benz CLE is not just comfortable, it's also one refined number

There's also the MG Cyberster, with its all-electric drivetrain and sleek design, to consider!

But maybe the scorching hot Mercedes-AMG SL43, with its 376bhp output, is more what you're after?