Convertibles: Reviews

Updated August 2009
 

Best premium four-seat convertible

2009 BMW 3 Series Convertible *Est. $44,550 to $50,700 Compare Prices
 
Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports editors here test several BMW 3 Series body styles, including the convertible. ConsumerReports.org also offers ...

Car and Driver: Car and Driver chooses the BMW 3 Series as one of its 2009 10Best vehicles. In this brief, pros-and-cons-style buyer's guide ...

ConsumerGuide.com: ConsumerGuide.com says even though the BMW 3 Series is pricey, its "balanced performance" makes it an excellent value anyway. ...

Edmunds.com: The BMW 3 Series convertible is one of Edmunds.com's top recommended convertibles for 2009. Editors say it includes three things ...

Cars.com: Cars.com lists the BMW 335i as a top convertible to consider, noting its excellent driving dynamics. This dedicated BMW 335 page ...

Automobile Magazine: Automobile Magazine names the 2009 BMW 3 Series to its Automobile All-Stars list. We found no road test of the 2009 convertible ...

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: This chart shows how 10 popular 2009 convertibles stack up in terms of safety. The BMW 3 Series convertible lands far down the ...

Environmental Protection Agency: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's FuelEconomy.gov website lists official fuel-economy estimates for most cars on the ...

 

Best premium roadster

2009 Porsche Boxster *Est. $46,600 to $56,700 Compare Prices
 
Expert & User Review Sources:

Car and Driver: Car and Driver tests four performance convertibles head-to-head, and the 2009 Porsche Boxster S emerges the winner. Each car gets ...

Edmunds.com: The 2009 Porsche Boxster is a Top Recommended Convertible at Edmunds.com. This full, test-based review finds very few drawbacks, ...

Autoblog.com: The Porsche Boxster S's soft top admirably keeps out sheets of driving rain during a press launch in Sicily, reviewer Michael ...

Autoblog.com: Reviewer Jonathon Ramsey says he was once a Porsche 911 snob -- but not anymore, after driving a special edition Porsche Boxster ...

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests the Porsche Boxster's performance, comfort, cargo space and more. Safety and reliability ratings are ...

Road & Track: Road & Track picks the Porsche Boxster as one of its "5 to Drive" convertibles. A short write-up explains why the Boxster is ...

MSN Autos: The Porsche Boxster is "one of the best-handling cars on the road today," MSN Autos says. This brief review explains how the ...

Environmental Protection Agency: This chart compares the fuel economies of dozens of two-seaters, including all versions of the 2009 Porsche Boxster. The U.S. ...

J.D. Power and Associates: The Porsche Boxster rates just a bit higher than average in J.D. Power and Associates' dependability survey. This page also ...

 

Bargain four-seat convertible

2009 Mini Cooper convertible *Est. $23,900 to $34,300 Compare Prices
 
Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: Edmunds.com drops the 2009 Mini Cooper convertible from its Top Recommended Convertibles list. Despite a redesign, the Cooper ...

ConsumerReports.org: Editors of ConsumerReports.org test the two-door hatchback Mini Cooper on which the convertible is based, but not the convertible ...

ConsumerGuide.com: ConsumerGuide.com tests several versions of the Mini Cooper, including the turbocharged Cooper S convertible. Editors rate each ...

Autoblog.com: Performancewise, the Mini Cooper convertible is "every bit as sharp as the Cooper S with a closed cockpit," reviewer John Neff ...

Car and Driver: The Mini Cooper convertible isn't one of Car and Driver's top recommended models, but editors do like its "charisma and ...

Environmental Protection Agency: The Mini Cooper is the most fuel-efficient minicompact car you can buy, according to this U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ...

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had not fully tested the 2009 Mini Cooper convertible when we checked, ...

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Like the U.S. government, the nonprofit, insurance industry-backed Insurance Institute for Highway Safety had not crash tested ...

J.D. Power and Associates: J.D. Power and Associates doesn't rate the Mini Cooper convertible, but this page lists a slew of quality, performance and design ...

 

Best roadster value

2009 Mazda Mx-5 Miata *Est. $21,750 to $29,290 Compare Prices
 
Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: In a well-rounded review, Edmunds editors praise the MX-5's low base price and economical operating costs, comparing it to the ...

TheTruthAboutCars.com: This tall reviewer can only get comfortable in the diminutive Mazda MX-5 Miata when the top is down, but that's OK with him. He ...

Car and Driver: The 2009 best-car list at Car and Driver once again includes the Mazda MX-5 Miata, described as "the sweetheart of sports cars." ...

ConsumerReports.org: Editors of ConsumerReports.org test the Mazda MX-5 Miata and rank it against other convertibles in its class. Unlike some other ...

Cars.com: Five Cars.com staffers test three affordable convertibles head-to-head. Two of the reviewers prefer the fun Mazda MX-5 Miata, ...

ConsumerGuide.com: ConsumerGuide.com rates the Mazda MX-5 Miata on a numeric scale that earns it a Best Buy rating. Editors especially praise the ...

Kelley Blue Book: Editors here name the Mazda MX-5 Miata to their 2009 Recommended Shopping List. They like the car's enthusiastic performance, ...

Environmental Protection Agency: This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency chart compares fuel-economy estimates for most 2009 two-seaters, including both the ...

J.D. Power and Associates: The Mazda MX-5 Miata is the most dependable compact sporty car, according to owner surveys by J.D. Power and Associates. Owners ...

 

Convertibles Runners Up:

2009 Volkswagen Eos *Est. $31,615 to $35,200

7 picks including: Edmunds.com, Environmental Protection Agency…

2009 BMW 1 Series convertible *Est. $34,000 to $40,150

6 picks including: Car and Driver, Cars.com…

2010 Ford Mustang convertible *Est. $25,995 to $35,995

6 picks including: Car and Driver, Cars.com…

2009 Smart ForTwo Cabriolet *Est. $16,990 to $20,990

5 picks including: Edmunds.com, Environmental Protection Agency…

2009 Volvo C70 *Est. $39,800

4 picks including: Cars.com, Edmunds.com…

2009 Infiniti G37 convertible *Est. $43,850 to $43,900

4 picks including: Car and Driver, InsideLine.com…

2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class *Est. $45,950 to $65,950

3 picks including: Car and Driver, Edmunds.com…

2009 BMW Z4 *Est. $45,750 to $51,650

2 picks including: Car and Driver, Edmunds.com…

2010 Lexus IS C *Est. $38,490 to $43,940

2 picks including: Cars.com, Environmental Protection Agency…

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