Budget convertibles

Mini Cooper four-seater charms reviewers

The 2009 Mini Cooper convertible (*Est. $23,900 to $34,300) packs a lot of fun into its tiny frame, reviews say. This four-seater measures just over 12 feet from bumper to bumper and has a fully automatic power fabric soft top that stows in just 15 seconds. The hard-shell front section can be opened by itself, like a sunroof. Built by BMW, the modern Mini Cooper's styling evokes its iconic 1960s British namesake. Experts widely praise its go-kart-like handling and modern engineering. "The Mini's agility, poise and larger-than-life personality make for wide, wide smiles," notes Popular Mechanics, adding the Mini Cooper to its list of fun convertibles.

Testers say the lightweight Mini convertible is quick and fun to drive, especially in the city and on winding roads. The love affair may wear thin on the highway, where the car's short wheelbase and taut suspension conspire to produce an uncomfortable ride that some critics call choppy and harsh.

The Mini Cooper convertible is redesigned for 2009, with pop-up roll bars (rather than the original fixed bars) that testers say make for much better rear visibility than before. Still, critics say some of the old complaints still apply: The Mini has a noisy cabin, a very small rear seat and some awkward interior controls, a concession to style over function.

Ultimately, however, the Mini convertible's low base price and class-leading fuel economy are big pluses. You'll get up to 32 mpg in combined city and highway driving with the frisky base four-cylinder engine, and up to 29 mpg with either of the speedy turbocharged engine options. And yes, the Mini is acceptably safe, experts say. Although we found no crash tests for this tiny convertible, the similar Cooper coupe gets acceptable or good ratings in all crash tests.

Just behind the Mini Cooper in reviews, you'll find two convertibles with vastly different personalities: the 2009 Volkswagen Eos (*Est. $31,615 to $35,200) and 2010 Ford Mustang convertible (*Est. $25,995 to $35,995).

The Volkswagen Eos has a higher starting price than other nonluxury convertibles, but reviews say it offers four things its budget rivals lack: a relatively spacious interior, a retractable hard roof, above-average fuel economy and remarkable crash protection. The Eos is accordingly bigger and heavier than many other convertibles, although testers say its turbocharged four-cylinder hauls the drop-top VW's bulk quite well. Handling is agile, if not particularly athletic. Unfortunately, Volkswagen cars in general -- and the Eos in particular -- have reliability issues, according to two major owner surveys. Some experts say Eos shoppers might prefer to step up to a premium convertible such as the sportier (but soft-top) BMW 1 Series (*Est. $34,000 to $40,150) or the less sporty (but still hard-top) Volvo C70 (*Est. $39,800). See our Premium Convertibles section for more on these models.

The Ford Mustang has been redesigned for 2010, with a nicer interior and better handling, according to reviews. Experts usually test the coupe version of the Mustang and find it's "a tale of two engines," as Edmunds.com puts it: a muscular, rowdy-sounding V-8 that will please enthusiasts and a coarser, mediocre V-6 that may be sufficient for more sedate drivers -- especially those who are simply in love with the Mustang's late-'60s look. Those who test the ragtop version say it suffers from more body flex and worse rear visibility than the coupe, but overall, experts say Ford did a good job with the new Mustang (although it did prompt a "safety concern" rating in one government crash test when a dummy's head hit a pillar). The Mustang's supercharged alter ego, the wickedly fast 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 (*Est. $46,325 to $51,325) comes in both convertible and coupe versions; it is covered in our report on sports cars.

The 2009 Jeep Wrangler (*Est. $20,710 to $32,090) may not compete with most car-based convertibles, but for off-road enthusiasts seeking a rugged, affordable open-air four-wheeler, reviews say the Wrangler SUV is a unique alternative, with a standard fabric top or optional removable hardtop. Reviews warn that both tops are completely manual, cumbersome and time-consuming. They also caution that a harsh ride, poor fuel economy and low levels of refinement are integral parts of the Wrangler package.

Other budget convertibles are considered distant also-rans by reviewers. The 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle convertible (*Est. $25,990 to $26,990) has a retro shape that some find cute, but reviews say it's cramped, not very fun to drive and does a poor job protecting occupants in side-crash tests. The 2009 Pontiac G6 convertible (*Est. $31,870 to $32,300) and 2009 Chrysler Sebring convertible (*Est. $27,790 to $35,125) scrape the bottom in most reviews (see the Introduction for more on these models). Finally, most critics completely ignore the 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder (*Est. $27,800 to $32,600), saying its lackluster performance doesn't match its cool-sounding name.

Mazda MX-5 Miata: Best two-seater under $40,000

The least expensive two-seat convertible in America is also the best, experts say -- and it's a good thing, because the 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata (*Est. $21,750 to $29,290) may soon be the only budget roadster on the market in addition the micro-mini 2009 Smart ForTwo Cabriolet (*Est. $16,990 to $20,990). Reviewers say spectacular gas mileage can't make up for the Smart car's overwhelming shortcomings. See the Introduction for more.

For 20 years, the Mazda Miata has been winning the hearts of both owners and critics. Experts say the MX-5 Miata offers just about everything you'd want in a convertible -- a peppy engine, super-responsive handling, a crisp-shifting manual transmission, the charming looks of a classic British roadster, the choice of an easy-to-operate soft top or retractable hardtop, good fuel economy, a quality build and finish and high reliability.

Drawbacks? "Um, we're thinking ...;" writes Car and Driver, which named the MX-5 Miata to its annual 10Best list for the 10th time. The Miata is small, even for a roadster. Tall testers say they can get comfortable with the top down, but headroom vanishes with the top up. We found no crash tests for this tiny car.

Critics aren't crazy about the MX-5 Miata's 2009 facelift. The new grille looks like an open-mouthed, chrome-rimmed grin, "like one of the talking cars from the Chevron commercials," writes Frank Williams at TheTruthAboutCars.com. "Cute" is the only word for it, and "it does nothing to dispel the misconception that it's a 'chick car.'"

However, reviewers usually forget about all complaints once they slip behind the wheel. The Mazda MX-5 Miata may not be as powerful as pricier roadsters from General Motors and Honda, but testers don't care -- they're too busy having fun.

GM's twin roadsters -- the 2009 Pontiac Solstice convertible (*Est. $24,275 to $29,485) and 2009 Saturn Sky (*Est. $27,595 to $33,680) -- offer sexier styling and more powerful engines than the Mazda MX-5 Miata, but unless you're a straight-ahead speed junkie, experts say the Mazda outperforms the GM roadsters in almost every way. Neither GM model can match the Mazda's remarkable handling in tests, and both have been plagued by reliability problems. Both will die after 2009 as GM restructures itself after bankruptcy. By the time you read this, the cars' Delaware production facility will have churned out the final examples.

The 2009 Honda S2000 (*Est. $34,995 to $37,995) also gets the axe after its current model year. Experts say the Honda roadster offers all of the power and handling any enthusiast could want, plus typically good Honda fuel economy, safety and reliability. However, testers also say the Honda S2000 is too stiff and noisy for everyday driving, and its aging style is wearing a little thin.