2009 Mini Cooper convertible

The Mini Cooper's convertible top raises or lowers in only 15 seconds, or you can retract just the front portion to form a large sunroof. The top stacks above the trunk rather than stowing inside like most other convertibles. This hurts rear visibility (which is still better than before, thanks to the '09's retractable pop-up rollbars -- earlier models had fixed rollbars that stuck up above the rear headrests), but it doesn't consume any of the Cooper convertible's slim 6 cubic feet of trunk space. Reviews note that the rear seats fold down to form a 23-cubic-foot cargo bay.

Mini is owned and built by BMW, and experts say it shows, with all trim levels of the front-wheel-drive Cooper convertible delivering superb performance. The base Mini Cooper convertible's (*Est. $23,900) peppy 118-horsepower, 1.6-liter I-4 engine offers the best fuel economy of any ragtop except the micro-sized, underperforming Smart ForTwo Cabriolet (*Est. $16,990 to $20,990). Expect 32 mpg in combined driving with the six-speed manual transmission (28 mpg city and 36 mpg highway) or 29 mpg combined with the six-speed automatic (25 mpg city and 34 mpg highway).

The Mini Cooper S convertible (*Est. $26,800) turbocharges the engine for 172 horsepower, propelling this lightweight car from zero to 60 in seven seconds, according to Mini. The John Cooper Works convertible (*Est. $34,300) has even more punch under the hood, but shaves just a tenth of a second from that time, according to Mini. Reviewers note that the Mini Cooper JCW convertible's 208 horsepower and stiffer suspension also bring a commensurately stiff increase in price. Both turbocharged Mini convertible trims deliver 29 mpg combined (26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway) with a six-speed manual transmission. The Mini Cooper S convertible also offers a six-speed automatic for 27 mpg combined (23 mpg city and 32 mpg highway).

There are a few good performance-oriented competitors in the Mini Cooper convertible's price range, reviews say, including the Mazda MX-5 Miata and the redesigned 2010 Ford Mustang (*Est. $25,995 to $35,995). However, if you want a good-quality convertible with more space and a smoother ride than the Cooper, experts say you'll probably need to spend more. The relatively roomy Pontiac G6 convertible (*Est. $31,870 to $32,300) and Chrysler Sebring convertible (*Est. $27,790 to $35,125) aren't very good cars, reviews say, and the nicer Volkswagen Eos (*Est. $31,615 to $35,200) gets low marks for reliability. The Volvo C70 (*Est. $39,800) is roomy and safe, but not sporty. Reviews say the pricey BMW 3 Series convertible (*Est. $44,550 to $50,700) offers the best blend of comfort, style and performance.

Safety and reliability aren't big issues for the little Mini Cooper. The Cooper hatchback, on which the convertible is based, does a good job protecting occupants in crash tests, and its dependability ratings hover around average. Resale value is outstanding, and the Mini Cooper convertible carries a four-year, 50,000-mile warranty.