Best convertible cars 2026: Top 10 soft-tops for style and fun
| Written by: Matt Robinson | Last updated: 9th April 2026 |
What happened to the convertible market? There used to be all sorts of options, but a downturn in popularity means a lot of models have disappeared. Thankfully, there are enough still kicking around to give a decent amount of choice. These are the best.
Top picks at a glance
- Best overall: BMW 4 Series Convertible
- Best for handling: Porsche 911 Cabriolet
- Best for classiness: Mercedes CLE Cabriolet
- Best for value: Fiat 500e Convertible
- Best for luxury: Bentley Continental GT Convertible
- See the full top 10
We've driven all of these cars extensively and each in different guises, so when we say these are the best convertible cars you can buy right now, you can trust what we're on about. We're so dedicated in our testing that we don't even wait for warm, sunny weather to get the roof down when putting the miles on drop tops.
The thing is though, driving a convertible all year round is a lot easier than it used to be. Soft-top convertible roofs are now exceptionally well insulated, to the point where hard-top cabriolets have died off because they're simply not necessary. Fancy neck warmers make the idea of dropping the roof in colder months a lot more palatable.
We've put together a wide array of options, from small convertibles based on hatchbacks to high-end sports cars with lofty price tags and heaps of desirability.
- Find out how we test convertible cars at HonestJohn.co.uk
1. BMW 4 Series Convertible: best convertible car overall
Why buy it
- The best current convertible, all things considered
Why avoid it
- Massive kidney grille takes some getting used to
BMW ditched the folding metal hard-top of the old BMW 4 Series Convertible in favour of a simpler fabric roof. It’s 40kg lighter than the complex old version, which helps to improve performance, reduce fuel consumption and increase practicality. So far, so convincing – so what’s the catch? Well, the size of the BMW kidney grille divides opinion like a well-known yeast extract, but we think it suits the design of the convertible. What’s more, if that’s the only negative aspect of the 4 Series Convertible, we think it’s a small price to pay.
You used to be able to buy one of these as an M440d with a fabulously punchy six-cylinder diesel, which works a lot better than you might imagine – it's probably the version of the 4 Series Convertible we've enjoyed driving the most. It's been discontinued, though. You'll now need to choose between either the modestly powerful 420i, starting from just under £54,000 or the £70k M440i with its 392PS six-cylinder petrol. Well, there's also the BMW M4 Convertible, but that's different enough to be considered a model in its own right.
Whichever you choose, the folding fabric roof is the same and also brilliant, taking just 10 seconds to open or close, which can be done at speeds of up to 30mph. Refinement with the roof up is good enough that you'll forget you're in a convertible and the car does a good job of keeping you cocooned from the wind when it's down. You even get a decent bit of boot space – 385 litres with the roof up, and 300 with it down.
Real MPG v Official MPG
Our readers are full of praise for the BMW 4 Series Convertible's fuel efficiency, reporting a Real MPG of up to 107% of the official fuel consumption claim for the 420i version.
Read our full BMW 4 Series Convertible review.
2. Mazda MX-5: best convertible for driving fun
Why buy it
- Heaps of fun for not much money, should prove reliable
Why avoid it
- Not very practical
You'll find the Mazda MX-5 in our list of the best sports cars as well, but it's deserving of a place here, too. The MX-5's appeal goes beyond its driving fun, because it's a well-packaged, affordable convertible that won't cost a fortune to run.
The regular version features a manually folding roof, which you can put down in seconds should the sun make an appearance. Putting it back up again is a little trickier, of course, but if you'd rather the hard work be done for you, there's an MX-5 RF (Retractable Fastback), which features a similar roof opening mechanism to a Porsche 911 Targa. It takes a mere 13 seconds to raise or lower this electronically.
Prices start at about £28,500, which will get you into a Prime-Line grade car with the 1.5-litre 132PS engine. That'll be more than enough performance for most, but the 2.0-litre 184PS option is undeniably fun. You'll need to upgrade to Exclusive-Line trim if you want it, at a cost of about £33,500.
That's still very affordable, but if you want to spend a lot less the great news is that the current MX-5 has been in production for about a decade, so there are stacks of used examples around for a fraction of the new price.
Real MPG v Official MPG
In case you weren't already sold on the idea of owning a Mazda MX-5, take note that it's also very economical. Our readers report a Real MPG of 110% of the official fuel consumption figure for the 1.5-litre 132PS engine.
Read our full Mazda MX-5 review.
3. Mercedes CLE Cabriolet: best convertible for classiness
Why buy it
- One of the classiest convertibles around, wide choice of engines
Why avoid it
- Expensive even before you start adding options, rear space is tight
With the coupe and cabriolet sales a shadow of what they once were, Mercedes pragmatically replaced the C-Class and E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet models with a single car called the CLE. The CLE Cabriolet is charged at a whopping £7000 premium over the CLE Coupe, which isn't exactly a cheap starting point.
This means even the cheapest drop-top CLE is around £55,000, while the most expensive is knocking on the door of £100,000. That price difference does demonstrate the breadth of the range, though. At the spennier end of the scale, there are potent AMG 53 versions, at the bottom of the range, there are modestly powerful four-cylinder petrols and diesels. Yep, you really can have one as a diesel, should you want.
The roof opening mechanism is one of the more leisurely here, taking 20 seconds to open or close, but it can be done when you're driving up to 37mph, which is higher than most. With it up, the boot space is a decent 385 litres, shrinking to 295 litres when folded.
The CLE Cabriolet features an Aircap wind deflector that deploys at the top of the windscreen frame, which we've found to be very effective at keeping the cabin cocooned when the roof is retracted. Plus, it has Mercedes' brilliant Airscarf system that pumps hot air at your neck. No excuses for waiting until the height of summer to put the roof down, then.
Read our full Mercedes CLE Cabriolet review.
4. MINI Cooper Convertible: best convertible for personalisation
Why buy it
- Lots of personalisation options, now the only small convertible on sale
Why avoid it
- Tiny boot, equally tiny rear seats
The MINI Cooper Convertible is every bit as fun to drive and great to live with as the regular MINI Cooper hatchback, but with the added bonus of a fabric roof. It’s not quite as practical as its tin-top sibling, but you can use the rear seats for extra storage if you can’t fit your holiday luggage in the tiny boot. You're probably better off using them for that than trying to squeeze a human being or two into them, anyway.
Naturally, you’ll want to explore the vast array of personalisation options, but even an entry-level MINI Cooper Convertible will feel more special than most small hatchbacks. Indeed, if you’re after a small convertible with a proper folding roof, this is probably your only option.
Well, we say your only option – you do at least get a choice of engines within the Cooper Convertible range. The entry-level Cooper C uses a 163PS 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, while the 2.0-litre four-cylinder in the Cooper S pumps out a healthy 204PS. The John Cooper Works sits at the top offering a potent 231PS for 0-62mph in just 6.4 seconds.
Raising or lowering the roof takes about 18 seconds and can be done at speeds of up to 18mph. Neatly, there's a feature that tells you how many hours you've driven the car with the roof down. That'll either make you feel really smug or like you've wasted money buying a convertible you've rarely used properly.
Read our full MINI Cooper Convertible review.
5. BMW 8 Series Convertible: best convertible for looks
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Why buy it
- Great to drive, brilliant engines including V8s
Why avoid it
- Expensive, rear seats are small considering the car's size
Without blowing a load of money on a super high-end luxury convertible like a Bentley Continental GT Convertible, the BMW 8 Series Convertible is probably the best option in terms of swanky drop-tops.
It's very nearly as luxurious to sit in and drive as the Bentley, but at a substantially lower price. It’s opulent and crammed with the latest technology, and arguably one of the best-looking BMWs in recent years. The folding fabric roof tucks away into the boot at the touch of a button, although doing so takes up much of the frankly token back seats.
In better news, the engine line-up is brilliant, including punchy straight-six petrol and diesel engines, and two V8s. The M850i's 530PS is extremely quick, but if you really must go faster, the M8 Competition Convertible is a 625PS drop-top missile.
The 8 Series range as a whole was discontinued not so long ago, but you should be able to find a little-used example offering a good saving on the new price.
Read our full BMW 8 Series Convertible review.
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- Fancy something fast that's usable every day? Here are the 10 best hot hatches on sale
6. Porsche 911 Cabriolet: the best convertible for handling
Why buy it
- Wide choice of amazing engines, incredible handling
Why avoid it
- Hilariously expensive options, looks quite chunky at the rear
If you're especially keen on driving but still want an alfresco sort of motoring, the Porsche 911 Cabriolet can't be beaten. The only trouble is, you might get lost in the configurator deciding which version you want.
There's the entry level (but still £113,700!) Carrera Cabriolet and the Carrera T. Or perhaps you want the Carrera S. But then what about the all-wheel drive Carrera 4S? There's also the Carrera GTS – which is probably the pick of the bunch, really – and a Carrera 4 GTS, and if the idea of effectively being outdoors while doing 0-62mph in 2.6 seconds is tempting, there's the Turbo S Cabriolet. Yours for £209,100.
Bewildered by all that choice? We don't blame you, and we haven't even spoken about the 911 Targa yet, although there's an argument for that one not being a real convertible.
The 'proper' Cabriolet has one of the quicker folding roofs here, neatly stowing away in just 12 seconds. To accommodate it, though, the 911 ends up with a taller rear end than the coupe, meaning its proportions aren't quite as neat. There's not much else to criticise it for, though, other than some of the absurd options in the configurator. £380 coloured seatbelts, anyone?
Read our full Porsche 911 review.
7. Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet: best convertible for rear space
Why buy it
- A rare convertible option for people who aren't looking for sportiness
Why avoid it
- We can't guarantee no one will mock you
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, because the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet makes more sense than you think. With convertible sales on the slide and SUVs more popular than ever, Volkswagen has decided to try something different. Land Rover’s experiment with the Range Rover Evoque Convertible ended in failure, but the T-Roc Cabriolet is cheaper and arguably less divisive.
The entry-level version comes loaded with equipment, and even if it’s less practical than the standard T-Roc, it’s likely to be fine for young families or couples who fancy some sunshine. Exclusivity is guaranteed, too – you really don't see many of these on the road.
The roof can be operated at speeds of up to 18mph. It opens in nine seconds and closes in 11. Coincidentally, those are also near enough the 0-62mph times for the two versions, neither of which is very powerful. There's a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine making 115PS and a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder that develops 150PS.
Volkswagen put an incredible amount of work into making the T-Roc, which is entirely different from the standard car from the front wings backwards. It even has a longer wheelbase, giving a decent amount of cabin space. The boot space is respectable for a convertible, too, at 284 litres.
Real MPG v Official MPG
Honest John readers who own T-Roc Cabriolets have reported a respectable Real MPG of 93% of the official fuel consumption claim for the 1.5 TSI DSG version of the Volkswagen.
Read our full Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet review.
8. Ford Mustang Convertible: best convertible for engine noise
Why buy it
- Naturally aspirated V8 theatrics, lots of presence
Why avoid it
- Manual roof release is extra faff
It's not the bargain it once was, but few cars offer as much presence and theatre as the Ford Mustang. Opt for the Convertible, and you can enjoy the soundtrack of the 5.0-litre V8 as the wind rushes through your hair.
That V8 is a rarity these days, because it isn't sullied by turbochargers – it's a good old-fashioned naturally-aspirated unit. Its core stats are nothing spectacular, with the engine pushing out 446PS for a 5.4-second 0-62mph time, or five seconds dead if you've done something silly like buy the automatic. But that's missing the point – the Mustang makes such a good noise you simply won't care about how fast you're going.
The roof mechanism is a bit of a disappointment, though. It's electrically operated, as you might expect, but you have to faff around with a handle to manually release it before putting it down, which is also used to reattach the roof when putting it back up again. That's not good enough on a car costing over £60,000.
Read our full Ford Mustang Convertible review.
9. Bentley Continental GT Convertible: best convertible for luxury
Why buy it
- The finest convertible around, if money's no object
Why avoid it
- Not everyone has a quarter million lying around, boot space is laughable
In the context of the discontinued Rolls-Royce Dawn, the Bentley Continental GT Convertible is a bit of a bargain. It’s also more of a driver’s car, so this is the luxury convertible to choose if you prefer B-roads to boulevards.
That's a 'bargain' in relative terms, of course – its price has been nudging further and further north, and the entry-level version won't give you much change from a quarter of a million quid even if you don't spec a single option. Which you will. A lot of owners go further still, engaging the expensive services of Bentley's Mulliner bespoke division.
You used to be able to pick from a 4.0-litre V8 or a 6.0-litre W12. Now, your only option is a V8-based plug-in hybrid making anything from 680PS to a whopping 787PS depending on the version. That helps offset the weight figure of 2636kg.
The GTC features a four-layer fabric roof that can open or close in 19 seconds. As you'd hope, the cabin is extremely quiet once it's closed, so if the weather's not playing ball on your road trip down to the South of France, it's no problem. You'll need to pack light, though, with the Bentley offering a pitiful 134 litres of boot space, reducing to 80 litres when the roof is retracted.
Read our full Bentley Continental GT Convertible review.
10. Fiat 500e Convertible: best convertible on a budget
Why buy it
- Retro charm, relatively inexpensive to buy
Why avoid it
- Arguably not a proper convertible
Before you write angry emails and besiege our social media feeds, we know – the Fiat 500e Convertible isn’t a ‘proper’ drop-top. But we’ve decided that the sliding roof on the latest, all-electric model counts, because it’s very much in the spirit of open-air motoring.
Some might call it a glorified sunroof, but the fabric roof slides all the way back to the rear window and lets in the elements, which is good enough for us. It also has style by the bucket load, and some 199 miles of range between battery charges on the 500e electric version. Perfect for a summer in the city.
Rather not be constrained by that range figure? Fiat has belatedly made a petrol-powered version of the latest 500. We'll happily welcome the extra diversity in the range, but it's only any good if you're especially patient, with an agonising 17.3-second 0-62mph time.
Because it doesn't feature a 'proper', space-hungry folding roof, the 500e Convertible doesn't have any less boot space than the hatchback version, although the figure shared across each isn't stellar at 185 litres. At least you can fold down the rear seats to open up 550 litres of cargo space.
Read our full Fiat 500e review.
How we test cars: the convertibles method
Thoroughly testing cars is the only way to do it as far as we're concerned at Honest John. Our team's knowledge and expertise has been honed by really getting to know each and every car we test giving us an unrivalled insight about what separates great cars from good ones. To determine the 10 best convertible cars for 2026, our editorial experts have:
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Driven over 10,000 miles: From narrow inner-city streets to plying motorways, with windier A- and B-roads in between, we test every convertible car across the best – and worst – of Britain's roads, both with the roof up and down.
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Prodded and parked: We spend hours checking real-world practicality and usability of every car, from school runs to tip runs and supermarket visits in between.
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Real MPG Data: Unlike other car websites, we combine our test results with thousands of reader-supplied data points curated in our unique Real MPG database. Lab-generated fuel consumption figures are often very different from those experienced in the real world.
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Owner Feedback: We include owners' reliability scores from our unique Honest John Satisfaction Index into our reviews. Whether a car has a reputation for dependability or not is something you should know before buying your next one.
Our reviews are 100% independent. We don't take money from car manufacturers to influence our rankings. Our only priority is helping you find the right car.
Frequently asked questions about convertibles
What's the best convertible car?
This is a tricky one to answer definitively, as our selection is a broad one. If you don't want to spend too much money, the Mazda MX-5 is a great choice, but as a two-seater with a tiny boot, it's not exactly practical.
From a performance perspective, the Porsche 911 Cabriolet is hard to beat, but you're paying for the privilege of its sportiness. Especially if you want the outrageously fast Turbo model.
If you aren't laser-focused on any particular attribute, though, we reckon the best convertible car is the BMW 4 Series Convertible. It has a bit of everything – performance, practicality, kerb appeal and a sophisticated folding roof.
Why have hard-top convertibles died out?
Although a few supercars still feature folding hardtops (as does the Mazda MX-5 RF, but it's not a full-length folding roof), they're all but extinct in the mainstream convertible market. The problem is they're complex, thus expensive to design and make, and generally quite heavy.
At the same time, manufacturers have gotten much better at producing multi-layer fabric roofs with excellent soundproofing qualities, meaning there's little point in splurging development costs on a heavy hardtop.
I’m worried about security – is a convertible right for me?
If you’re concerned about leaving your convertible parked on the street, especially overnight, you might be advised to buy a car with a folding metal roof, rather than a fabric one. When closed, these hard-top roofs offer the same level of protection as a standard car, so you should have fewer sleepless nights. Metal roofs are drastically less popular than they were a few years ago, but take a look at something like the Mazda MX-5 RF, which boasts a clever folding mechanism. That said, even soft-tops are much stronger and more resistant to theft than they used to be.
Are convertible cars more expensive to insure?
Unfortunately, a convertible is likely to cost more to insure than an equivalent car with a metal roof. Open cars are more prone to theft and vandalism, although buying a convertible with a folding metal roof will provide more protection. You also need to factor in the higher purchase price and costly repairs in the event of an accident. Don’t be too disheartened, though, because cars like the Fiat 500 Electric Convertible and MINI Convertible are relatively cheap to insure.
Do convertible roofs require special maintenance?
Aside from regular maintenance for the roof mechanism, a convertible with a folding metal top shouldn’t require any special treatment. Always check your vehicle’s handbook for more information, though. A fabric roof will demand more attention, so use a specialised fabric roof cleaner to remove bird droppings, tree sap and the like. Once clean, apply some protector to prevent the build-up of grime and to ensure moisture doesn’t seep into the fabric. Watching water bead off a fabric roof is strangely satisfying.
