Best convertible cars in 2025 

Some people dismiss the Boxster as 'not a proper Porsche'. Don't be one of these people as it's one of the best convertible cars going, and a great Porsche. For a start, the 718 Boxster is simply brilliant to drive. The engine is positioned behind you, adding to the sense of occasion and contributing to its incredibly agile handling. There are very few cars that'll keep up with a well-driven Porsche Boxster on a twisty road.

You can choose between four- and six-cylinder engines depending on how much you want to spend and how fast you want to travel. Either way, they all come with a superbly well insulated hood that can be raised or lowered very quickly.

Prices for a new Porsche Boxster start at around £56,000 and, even though they do hold their value pretty well, it's been on sale for a while so there are bargains to be had among used examples. A budget of £25,000 will get you an early model with the desirable PDK automatic gearbox.

We love a Mazda MX-5, and we're not alone. It's the world's best-selling sports car with more than 1.3 million made since the original model first went on sale in 1989.

It's now in its fourth iteration and it's remained true to its original design brief. While most cars on sale have got bigger, heavier and more expensive, the MX-5 has remained a lightweight, nimble sports car that puts driving pleasure over pretty much everything else. Thats' demonstrated by the simple, quick to operate hood design, though you can also opt for the RF model with its electrically-operated folding roof.

You can pick up the latest model for less than £13,000. Don't worry about hunting out one that's loaded with equipment or with the more powerful 2.0-litre engine: an MX-5 is best enjoyed in its most simple guise. The 1.5-litre petrol motor is punchy enough and loves to be revved hard, which is all part of the appeal. A brilliant little car that's one of the best convertible cars you can buy right now. 

The iconic American pony car, the Ford Mustang, was on sale for decades before it finally made its way to the UK with right-hand drive in 2015. It's everything you'd expect: bold, brash and a little bit brilliant.

There are two engines available: a 2.3-litre EcoBoost and the 5.0-litre V8. It's a no brainer, really – for the true Mustang experience, you need the V8. So much so, that Ford actually canned the smaller engine in 2021, while the Convertible model lets you hear that motor all the more clearly with the fast-acting electrically worked roof dropped down.

While it might lack the premium badge, the Mustang feels incredibly special to drive. Sure, it's not the last word in handling dynamics and there are rivals with plusher interiors. However, it's guaranteed to put a smile on your face and is surprisingly affordable to buy, too. Just £22,000 should get you an EcoBoost model, and it'll only take a fraction more to get you into a V8.

The latest version of the BMW 2 Series is only offered in coupe form, unfortunately, but there's still plenty to recommend the previous 2 Series, which was also offered as a convertible. It may have been the brand's most affordable open-top model, but it still ticked a lot of boxes, with glamorous looks, a high-quality interior and an enjoyable driving experience.

Unlike some of its sportier rivals, the BMW 2 Series is a four-seater. We wouldn't recommend squeezing the in-laws into the back seats, but they're fine for carrying children. Dropping the fabric roof takes around 20 seconds and can be done while travelling at speeds of up to 30mph.

There's a wide range of petrol and diesel engines available, while all BMW 2 Series Convertibles are rear-wheel drive which means they're fun to drive. Unless you've got a real need for speed, we'd go for the sprightly mid-range 220i petrol motor. A cracking little cabriolet.

If you're looking to travel in ultimate luxury while enjoying the sunshine, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet is the car for you. The fact that the entry-level car is powered by a turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 tells you all you need to know. Hunt out the utterly ridiculous 6.0-litre V12 if you really want to win convertible car Top Trumps.

Just don't expect it to fit in your garage. This car is more than five metres long, while its two-tonne weight means it's not exactly an MX-5 when it comes to throwing it down a country lane. Of course, being a Mercedes, it drives surprisingly well for its size, but it's an indulgent grand tourer rather than a sports car.

There aren't many S-Class Cabriolets kicking about on the used car market, so finding one could be tough, and you'll need deep pockets to buy and run one. Even so, they're still pretty good value compared to something like a Bentley Continental GT Convertible. Expect to spend around £70,000 on an S 500 AMG Line model, while an AMG will require a six-figure outlay.

If city chic is your vibe, the MINI Convertible should be right up your urban alleyway. It's as fashionable as a designer handbag, with the same nouveau retro looks as the popular MINI Hatch – albeit with a droppable fabric roof.

Its interior is as wonderfully retro as the exterior, although the rear seats are best used as an extension of the boot. There's an almost confusing amount of different models and option packs available, but the good news is the entry-level Cooper Classic could be all the car you'd possibly need. The thrummy three-cylinder petrol engine is a characterful unit and suits the nature of the car.

For the ultimate soft-top pocket rocket, a hot MINI John Cooper Works is yours for around £16,000. With its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine packing 231PS, it can accelerate to 62mph in just 6.5 seconds. It's a lot of fun for the cash.

Nothing will impress the neighbours like a naughty little two-seater appearing on your driveway. If you don't need a great deal of practicality from your used-car purchase, the now-discontinued Audi TT Roadster ought to be vying for your attention alongside the BMW Z4 and Mercedes SLC (not to mention the Porsche 718 Boxster, featured above).

It's more premium than a Mazda MX-5, with a sharper image and more luxurious interior, although it's not quite so much fun to drive. That said, the Audi TT RS Roadster uses a charismatic five-cylinder engine that produces a mighty 400PS. That's enough to catapult it to 62mph in less than four seconds, which is guaranteed to upset your hairdo if you attempt it with the roof down.

The standard 2.0-litre petrol Audi TT Roadster will be sufficient for most, though. This came out in 2015 and an early example can be picked up for around £15,000. You'll see a lot of diesels around at this end of the market, too, but don't bother with these unless you cover a lot of miles. The sound of a diesel engine kinda ruins the appeal of top-down motoring.

As an alternative to a lightly used Jaguar F-Type or the Porsche 718 Boxster, the MG Cyberster is an intriguing prospect. While it's not the first all-electric sports car, it is a rarity in terms of offering rapid performance and a two-seat open-top experience coupled to near silent EV power.

That powertrain suits the Cyberster as more of a grand tourer than the Porsche or Jaguar, yet it can still get a shift on when required, especially in more potent GT form with dual motors.

The cabin is laden with tech, which is not always the easiest to use, but it's cosy inside with the roof down. This means you can drive more of the time al fresco to soak up the journey and admiring glances this handsome convertible attracts.

Following in the footsteps of the now-discontinued Range Rover Evoque Convertible, the Volkswagen T-Roc Convertible chops the roof off a crossover SUV for some summer fun at a slightly more affordable price point than Land Rover’s previous effort.

You’ll certainly turn heads, as the T-Roc Convertible is a rare groove drop-top SUV, and you don’t often get exclusivity like this from around £16,000 (which is where second-hand models start).

The roof takes nine seconds to unfurl, and the good news is it doesn’t eat into the boot space, so you can lower it whenever you fancy without having to worry that something might get squashed.

You’ll also benefit from VW’s excellent infotainment system with DAB radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a screen which you can still see when the sun is out. Perfect for pumping out tunes while you’ve got the roof down, then.

A very different type of convertible, this. While most of the cars on this list major on sportiness or sophistication, the Jeep Wrangler has no pretensions in those areas whatsoever. This isn't some namby-pamby SUV, either. Instead, the Wrangler is a hardcore, no-nonsense 4x4 off-roader built to take on the roughest terrain possible, and it just so happens that the roof can be removed as well. And the doors. And the windscreen. And you don't get much more open to the elements than that.

Granted, there are compromises. You'll need to find somewhere to store all those removeable body parts and hope it doesn't rain while you're out and about. On-road comfort and refinement could be a good deal better, as could fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, and it's not a cheap car to buy, either. However, if you want the wind in your hair (and teeth) as you head for the hills, and you want to look extremely cool while doing it, there's nothing like the Wrangler.