Premium convertibles

BMW dominates among four-seat convertibles

It isn't cheap, but the 2009 BMW 3 Series convertible (*Est. $44,550 to $50,700) offers the total package, reviews say: Good looks, true sports-car performance, seating for four and a hardtop that you can put up or down by pressing a button. Unlike many other convertibles, you can actually see out the back window -- a touch testers particularly appreciate. It's also one of the most reliable convertibles you can buy, according to a major owner survey.

In fact, experts have to look hard to find any flaws with the 3 Series -- but there are a few. First, it suffers from the usual convertible space shortage: the front seats are supremely comfortable, testers say, but the backseat is cramped and so is the trunk. Second, the 3 Series convertible isn't as safe in a crash as some of its rivals, according to independent tests at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. And finally, it's expensive.

But if you love to drive, experts agree that the BMW 3 Series convertible is worth the extra coin. ConsumerGuide.com calls its precise handling "second to none," and Edmunds.com and Car and Driver liken its base inline-six engine to silk or velvet. It's plenty powerful, but BMW also offers a turbocharged version that's "a rocket," Car and Driver says.

If you want to save some money -- and you don't need much of a backseat -- experts also like the entry-level 2009 BMW 1 Series convertible (*Est. $34,000 to $40,150). The 1 Series is about 8 inches shorter than the BMW 3 series; 6-foot-plus testers fit in the front seat, but "the back seat is the size of an infant's bathtub," according to Jalopnik.com. The 1 Series also cuts costs by using a power cloth top instead of the 3 Series' power hard top. Although ConsumerGuide.com says the soft top is well insulated, you'll get more wind noise -- and less rear visibility -- than with the hard top. When the 1 Series first debuted in 2008, critics made fun of its "pot-bellied pig" appearance, but those complaints evaporated as testers discovered that the 1 Series offers exactly the same powerful engines as the pricier 3 Series, with similarly superb ride and handling qualities.

New four-seat convertibles from Infiniti, Audi and Lexus impress critics

BMWs handily beat all rivals in the upscale convertible segment. Its stiffest competition in reviews comes from the new-for-2009 Infiniti G37 convertible (*Est. $43,850 to $43,900), which is based on the respected G37 coupe. Experts say Infiniti didn't simply chop the roof off of the coupe, but instead thoroughly reinforced the body and engineered the retractable hardtop to fold up as small as possible. The added weight slows the convertible down a little bit compared to the G37 coupe -- and compared to the BMW -- but testers say the G37 convertible is still quite quick, nimble and fun.

The 2009 Volvo C70 (*Est. $39,800) will never be mistaken for a sports car, but reviews say it's uncommonly sleek for a Volvo ("sexy," Edmunds.com says). It's also uncommonly safe in crash tests and relatively roomy. Only small adults will fit in the backseat, but the C70 boasts nearly 13 cubic feet of trunk space with the push-button hardtop up -- almost as much as a Honda Accord -- and at least enough room for two golf bags with the top down. If safety and cargo space are more important to you than corner-carving speed, experts say the C70 is a solid pick.

A few aging styles get few or no nods from critics: the 2009 Saab 9-3 convertible (*Est. $42,130 to $51,330), the lame-duck 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class convertible (*Est. $56,100 to $64,800) and 2009 Lexus SC 430 (*Est. $66,805). A new Mercedes-Benz E-Class convertible will replace the CLK, and the Lexus will reportedly be redesigned for 2010. Critics say another new Lexus convertible -- the 2010 Lexus IS C (*Est. $38,490 to $43,940) -- seems luxurious, but it's heavy and not very sporty at first glance. This retractable-hardtop 2010 Lexus IS C is brand new and reviews are just beginning to appear in greater numbers.

Most intriguing to reviewers is a new convertible expected to hit the market in late 2009: the 2010 Audi A5/S5 cabriolet. Official prices weren't available as of this update, but sources predict it will range from $41,000 for the soft-top A5 to $57,000 for the supercharged S5 Cabriolet. Experts have been very impressed with the new Audi convertible's beauty, performance and refinement during their first-drive tests at press events. Car and Driver has already named the A5/S5 cabriolet to its Editors Choice list. Like the 2009 Audi A4 cabriolet (*Est. $40,750 to $48,800) it replaces, the A5 offers optional all-wheel drive. Unlike the A4 cabriolet, testers say two adults can really fit in the A5's backseat.

Porsche Boxster: Best two-seater convertible

Reviewers struggle to describe just how good the 2009 Porsche Boxster (*Est. $46,600 to $56,700) feels to drive. Edmunds.com settles on "sublime," but Autoblog.com's Michael Harley simply gives up and says you must drive this roadster to understand. "It's been said ad infinitum. I will say it again: No other automaker has distilled the thrill of driving as perfectly as Porsche," writes fellow Autoblog.com reviewer Jonathon Ramsey.

Part of the Porsche Boxster's brilliance lies in its design, critics say. The smooth flat-six engine (and its placement in the middle of the car) help give the Boxster exceptional balance. Meanwhile, testers love both the six-speed manual transmission and the new seven-speed Porche Doppelkupplung (PDK) automated manual -- "possibly the best automated manual in the world," Edmunds.com says.

To save weight, the Boxster sticks with a glass-windowed power soft top. Practical-minded reviewers say that's noisier and less versatile than a retractable hardtop, but driving enthusiasts won't care. In this price range, even the sport-minded Porsche Boxster offers quite a bit of comfort and luxury, reviewers say -- although Porsche charges extra for pretty much everything. For greater opulence, you can choose a rival two-seater from Mercedes-Benz or BMW, but critics say none can match that Porsche feeling of being one with the car.

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (*Est. $45,950 to $65,950) and 2009 BMW Z4 (*Est. $45,750 to $51,650) now compete head-to-head, reviews say. Both got updates for 2009 that give them more power and sportier looks. Both come with the power retractable hardtop that the Porsche Boxster lacks. However, both have a problem with numb steering, according to reviews.