MINI keeps their third generation Cooper models alive for another model year! And that is no bad thing, as I think it is the pinnacle of all the modern BMW MINIs.

As was the case with the generations before, the convertible was launched several years after the Cooper Hatch. An LCI version was first launched in 2018, before a second facelift was applied to these cars in 2021.

Whilst the original update focused on enhancing the mechanicals of the Cooper, the second LCI refreshes the car’s front and rear fascias. These cars also received new interior componentry. And seeing that our test car is a MY23 unit, it should come as no surprise that it has had all of the improvements fitted to it.

Iconic Modern Classic Looks

You’d not mistake a MINI for anything else on the road. The car has become a modern icon of sorts, clearly styled to attract the fashion-conscious. And this is even more true in the case of the Cabrio.

That being said, it isn’t a guarantee that lopping the roof off a car would increase its style points. Cars that were never designed from the ground-up as convertibles can look ungainly or awkward proportionally in the conversion. This is not an issue with the MINI.

Being just a regular Cooper, there’s no big bonnet scoop or aggressively styled bumpers. Which is actually in keeping with the character of a convertible retro icon – spirited driving isn’t something most MINI Cabrio owners would do on a regular basis!

Premium Feeling Interior

Modern MINIs have also morphed into being seriously premium vehicles. They have cabins with materials and fit-and-finish that’d match the quality of many other more expensive Continental vehicles.

The vast majority of surfaces you come into regular contact with have been finished or trimmed in a soft-touch material. Exposed hard plastic panels are really only used in areas that’d take a regular hammering – think lower area of the door cards.

And every touchpoint has been engineered to be satisfying to use. The instrument cluster is easy-to-read, and the steering wheel that sits directly in front of it feels really good in the hands. To make the car feel even more retro, there’s quilted leather on the seats with white piping and bright chrome physical toggle switches to control just about everything.

The Driving Experience

A 1.5-litre B38 engine powers the MINI Cabrio (this engine, in a different state of tune, can also be found in the BMW 216i Active Tourer). The turbocharged three cylinder puts out 134 bhp in this application, and suits the intended target audience the car has been built for. There’s sufficient torque such that the car never really struggles to keep up with traffic.

The seven-speed DCT fitted to the LCI MINIs also pairs very well with the powerplant. The gear ratios in this box complements the output of this motor, so you’ll always have access to usable power as long as you aren’t in too high of a gear. One complaint I do have is with the car’s steering, as it manages to be heavy and yet not pass a lot of information about the road and grip conditions in front of you.

It also has very stiff suspension, which can occasionally make the ride jarring especially along stretches of road with heavy construction. There’s not much the engineers could do about it though, as it has probably been set up this way to counteract the reduction in torsional stiffness lost during the convertible process.

Retro Goodness

The current MINI design is by far the best modern interpretation of Sir Alec Issigonis’ original city car concept. It marries retro design with quality materials to create a truly premium vehicle. MINIs have always been feel-good cars, and that experience is amplified when you take the roof off.

Locally at least, it is truly one-of-a-kind, as it doesn’t have any legitimate competitor. If you want a retro convertible from an iconic nameplate, you only have one option – the MINI Cabrio. And thankfully, it is a solid all-round car!

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