7 Summer Convertibles

Hallelujah, convertible lovers winter is finally over!

With that late frosty blast in March, we thought winter would never end. Thankfully, spring has without a doubt arrived, and anyone with a convertible will most certainly have indulged in some open-air motoring this week.

But there’s the chance that you drive one of those fixed-roof cars that physically can’t get the roof down, and at this time of year, that’s just cruel – even with air con. So, in a bid to inspire you to switch to a cabriolet – and to mark the warmest April day for almost 70 years (Thursday 19th) – we’re running down the hottest convertible cars you could be cruising around in this summer.

Mazda MX-5

Mazda’s plucky roadster has been a permanent fixture in lists like this since it first arrived in the early 90s.

The current fourth-gen model was named World Car of the Year in 2016, but if you don’t have £18k to spend on the latest model, you’ll find tidy examples of previous generations for a couple of grand; proof if ever you needed it that taking the top down means you’ll still have enough money for plenty of ice-pops.

At its nippiest, the MX-5 can race from zero to 62mph in 7.3 seconds, but if that isn’t quite quick enough for ya, check out the 167bhp Abarth 124 Spider, which is largely based on the MX-5 and can reach 62mph in 6.8 seconds – it’s sure to blow your wig off!

BMW Z4

We were in two minds about including the Z4, because you can’t actually buy it anymore. Production ended in 2016, but as with the MX-5, you’ll find plenty of well-loved examples littering the classifieds.

Thankfully, it won’t be long before a third-gen Z4 becomes available after BMW paraded a rather stunning concept back in August 2017 at Pebble Beach. Could this year’s event provide the stage for the production-ready model? Here’s hoping…

Mini Convertible

All the cars mentioned so far have been two-seaters, but every entry from here on will be able to facilitate four bums, promise.

The Mini Convertible delivers everything you’d want from a drop-top, just in a more compact form. You get style, performance and even a dash of spaciousness and practicality with this one.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

Mercedes offers a wide range of convertibles, but we’re going with the E-Class here as a happy medium between the C- and S-Class.

It’s a true four-seater drop-top with a genuinely useable 385-litre boot and a classy high-tech cabin that replaces conventional dials and buttons with two 12.3-inch screens.

BMW 2 Series Convertible

As with Mercedes, BMW has loads of top-down options, but the 2 Series Convertible is the spiritual successor to the drop-top 1 Series and an open-top hatchback is very relevant to our interests.

It has a sleek look and a wide-ranging engine line-up from thrifty diesels to the howling three-litre six-pot petrol.

DS 3 Cabrio

Another cost-conscious option is the DS 3 Cabrio. Its peel-back roof could be considered more of a large sunroof than a true convertible.

But that makes it an ideal halfway-house that’ll suit you all year round.

Audi TT

The iconic and instantly recognisable TT has been around long enough that you don’t have to break the bank for a decent example and you’ll easy pick up a convertible second-gen TT for four figures.

Go for the petrol and you’re guaranteed stunning performance, while diesel drivers will appreciate its strong fuel return. Everyone wins.

 

Have you been tempted to snap up a drop-top to make the most of the warmer months ahead? Let us know down there in the comments.