Convertibles: Ratings of Sources
Total of 28 Sources
For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.
2009 Top Recommended Convertibles
by Editors of Edmunds.com
Our Assessment
Edmunds.com tests new cars as they hit the market, judging their performance and comfort. Here, editors list their top choices for convertibles and roadsters, divided into price categories. Click on a model for a price list and summary review. Edmunds.com also names convertibles to its Consumers' Top-Rated and Lowest True Cost to Own lists.
2. ConsumerReports.org
Not Dated
Recommended Convertibles
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
Our Assessment
ConsumerReports.org continually does research on automobiles, which it purchases from local dealers, just as any other car shopper would. While many reviews are written for car enthusiasts,… ConsumerReports.org writes for the average consumer, focusing on safety, reliability and fuel economy -- although experts do thoroughly test and rate each car's performance and handling, too. Editors rate cars from best to worst in easy-to-read charts, and they recommend the best models. Only subscribers can read these ratings, but ConsumerReports.org's automotive blog is open to everyone and is frequently updated.
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2009 10Best Cars
by Tony Swan
Our Assessment
Car and Driver puts out a 10Best list annually, and they have been doing so for 26 years. Several of the 2009 10Best are either convertibles or offer a convertible body style. The quality of research and the credibility of Car and Driver's list in the automobile market make reviews on this site among the best available.
2009 Best Buy and Recommended Awards
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
Our Assessment
ConsumerGuide.com evaluates just about every new car on the market. Although the cars are put through their paces on a test track, greater weight is given to how a car performs in more typical driving on… public roads. Cars are given numerical ratings in 11 important areas ranging from acceleration to value. Several of the resulting Best Buy and Recommended picks are either convertibles or are available in a convertible body style.
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Recommended Shopping Lists: Convertibles
by Editors of Kelley Blue Book
Our Assessment
Kelley Blue Book is most noted for listing the values of new and used vehicles. In addition, its website has a vast library of automotive reviews and advice. For 2009, the staff recommends 10 convertibles and roadsters: five under $30,000 and five over $30,000. Each recommendation is linked to a convertible-specific review, but the picks are not ranked.
Convertible Reviews
by Editors of Motor Trend
Our Assessment
Motor Trend provides excellent road-test reviews. This landing page simply lists all current convertible reviews. Although editors don't rank the vehicles, Motor Trend's comprehensive reviews and automotive expertise make it a trustworthy source of information about new car models.
Top Picks for Sun Lovers
by Editors of Cars.com
Our Assessment
The reviews at Cars.com are sometimes brief, but they're always easy to read and insightful. In addition, editors often reprint reviews from other publications in the same section for each car, so it's… possible to read six or seven reviews in succession. Each year, Cars.com editors choose a number of Best Bets in various categories, including convertibles. This page reveals the best new-for-2009 convertible and the best value, plus a few other models to consider, with links to full reviews.
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Top Safety Picks 2009
by Editors of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Our Assessment
Top-rated vehicles in crash tests are honored by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety with a Top Safety Pick award. Each of the vehicles must earn Good ratings in front, side and rear crash tests and must offer electronic stability control. In the midsize convertible category, Top Safety Picks are the Saab 9-3 convertible, Volkswagen Eos and Volvo C70.
2009 Most and Least Fuel Efficient Vehicles
by Editors of FuelEconomy.gov
Our Assessment
FuelEconomy.gov is the place to find detailed Environmental Protection Agency fuel-economy estimates for any car. This page lists the most and least fuel-efficient vehicles in each class. The tiny Smart… ForTwo convertible is the most efficient two-seater, and the more normally sized Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky also get nods in that category. The four-seat Mini Cooper, which is available as a convertible, is the most efficient minicompact. The exotic Lamborghini Murcielago roadster is not only the least efficient two-seat convertible, but also the least efficient car in the chart.
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2009 Porsche Boxster S vs. BMW Z4 sDrive35i, Audi TTS, Chevy Corvette -- Comparison Tests
by Michael Austin
Our Assessment
The 2009 Porsche Boxster S wins this four-convertible comparison test with its ready power and precise handling. Each car gets a thorough write-up, and you can download the test-result charts.
2009 Editors Choice
by Editors of Car and Driver
Our Assessment
Experts at Car and Driver test and review most cars on the market. Here, editors pick the cars they would buy for themselves. In the convertibles category, editors recommend the BMW 3 Series, BMW 1 Series and Pontiac G6. Links lead to concise reviews for each car.
Affordable Convertibles Put to the Test
by Stephen Markley
Our Assessment
Five Cars.com staffers test three affordable convertibles and post their varying opinions on the site's Kicking Tires blog. Two of the reviewers find the Mazda MX-5 Miata the most fun, while two prefer the more comfortable 2010 Ford Mustang convertible. One tester picks the Volkswagen New Beetle convertible, but others can't get over its poor rear visibility.
13. Which? magazine
As of Aug. 2009
Sports Cars: Best Buys
by Editors of Which? magazine
Our Assessment
Which? magazine is the U.K. equivalent of ConsumerReports.org. Editors test many cars to pick the best. Two roadsters and one coupe make this list of best-buy sports cars, but you must be a subscriber to access the report.
Car Reviews and Ratings
by Editors of TheTruthAboutCars.com
Our Assessment
TheTruthAboutCars.com is a car enthusiasts' website that offers strongly opinionated -- and highly insightful -- viewpoints. Staffers review a lot of cars, from budget models to luxury exotics. A search through the Reviews section turns up several models that come in a drop-top version. The Mazda MX-5 Miata gets the highest rating, a perfect five stars.
Car Reviews
by Editors of Autoblog.com
Our Assessment
Autoblog.com doesn't often compare or rank cars, but the bloggers review many cars and the write-ups are well done. You'll find convertible reviews under the First Drive, Reviews and In the Autoblog Garage tags. Reviewers don't just shower praise on Bentleys and Lamborghinis -- they do a good job explaining the good and bad points of more value-priced cars, too.
Reviews
by Editors of LeftLaneNews.com
Our Assessment
This source does not rank or compare cars, but you'll find many single-car convertible reviews in this section. Reviews are critical and well organized, and reviewers pay attention to practical considerations (such as whether a golf bag will fit in the trunk with the top down) as well as pure performance.
Jalopnik Reviews
by Editors of Jalopnik.com
Our Assessment
This website reviews a lot of cars as they hit the market, including several current convertibles. Although Jalopnik.com doesn't rank the cars or pick any favorites, the reviews are generally thorough and entertaining to read.
2009 Automobile All-Stars
by Editors of Automobile Magazine
Our Assessment
The BMW 3 Series (which is available as a convertible) wins its 14th Automobile All-Star award from Automobile Magazine. This brief write-up explains why: the 3 Series can be all things to all people, and it always does it better than any other car.
Five Fuel-Sipping Convertibles for Summer
by Jason Cammisa
Our Assessment
Automobile Magazine provides excellent enthusiast-oriented car reviews and feature articles, such as this one that spotlights fuel-efficient convertibles. The short list includes the Mazda MX-5 Miata,… Volkswagen Eos, Audi A4 Cabriolet, Mini Cooper convertible and Smart ForTwo convertible. While this article provides only a brief recap of each car, longer reviews of these and other drop-tops can be found elsewhere on the site.
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Top 10 Convertibles for 2009
by Marc Lachapelle
Our Assessment
MSN Autos picks "10 standouts from across all price categories" in this convertible list. The four-seat Ford Mustang, Mini Cooper and Volkswagen Eos make the list, along with several two-seat roadsters. MSNAutos.com offers well done full reviews for some models.
A Convertible for Any Occasion
by Charles Plueddeman
Our Assessment
MSN Autos picks the best convertibles for five different lifestyles -- the Volkswagen New Beetle convertible is best for the beach, Smart ForTwo convertible is best for the city, etc. Like the site's top 10 convertible list (above), this article is not dated, but it refers to 2009 and 2010 models. Links lead to test-based reviews for some of the convertibles.
5 to Drive: Convertibles
by Andrew Bornhop
Our Assessment
Road & Track offers "5 to Drive" lists for several different types of cars, including convertibles. Some pricey roadsters make the list, but so do some less expensive models, including the Mini Cooper and Infiniti G37 convertibles. Links lead to brief reviews of each car, with pros, cons and specs.
Car Rankings: Affordable Convertibles
by Editors of U.S. News Rankings and Reviews
Our Assessment
U.S. News and World Report doesn't test cars. Instead, editors research other publications' reviews of convertibles and translate them into numeric scores for several current models. In the "affordable convertible" category, the Honda S2000 and Mazda MX-5 Miata tie for first place. A separate list of luxury convertibles rates models priced above $35,000, with the Porsche Boxster taking top honors.
5-Star Safety Ratings
by Editors of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Our Assessment
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests most vehicles, but usually not the convertible versions. A notable exception is the 2009 Ford Mustang convertible, which gets perfect five-star… ratings in frontal and side crash tests, as well as for low rollover potential. However, when NHTSA side crash tested the 2010 Mustang convertible, the rear passenger dummy's head hit a pillar, prompting testers to issue a "safety concern" rating.
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10 Fun Convertibles that Won't Pinch at the Pump or the Lot
by Editors of Popular Mechanics
Our Assessment
Popular Mechanics has an extensive automotive section and includes very good road-test reviews. This list highlights 10 roadsters and four-seat convertibles that Popular Mechanics' automotive editors feel… are the most fun, get good gas mileage and are available at a reasonable price. The write-ups are brief, although longer reviews for some of the cars can be found on the site. After this 2008 list came out, editors tested the 2009 Infiniti G37 convertible and were very impressed.
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Five Frugal Convertibles for Summer Fun
by Steve Siler
Our Assessment
This noncritical list names notable lower-priced convertibles, but they are not ranked or compared with each other. Each gets a brief description, with links to longer reviews.
2008 Chrysler Sebring Limited Convertible vs. 2008 Pontiac G6 Convertible Comparison Test
by Editors of Automobile.com
Our Assessment
Not to be confused with Automobile Magazine, the Automobile.com website also has well-written reviews and a few comparison tests, such as this one between the 2008 Chrysler Sebring and Pontiac G6… convertibles (both largely unchanged for 2009). The reviewer chooses the Sebring as the better car, thanks to a more rigid chassis and more practicality. However, the writer is critical of both cars, noting that neither feels particularly sporty.
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Ratings: New and Used Cars
by Editors of J.D. Power and Associates
Our Assessment
J.D. Power and Associates says it bases its ratings on owner surveys. There are lots of car categories (midsize sporty, premium sporty, etc.), so there are lots of winners (much to the delight of automaker… PR firms). Links lead to written reviews for each car, which, disappointingly, sometimes fail to explain why a car scores well or poorly. The most useful ratings here are the dependability scores, which are based on longer-term, three-year samples. Owners say the Lexus SC 430 and Mazda MX-5 Miata have held up better than other convertibles in recent years.
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