Best Convertible Cars

9 minutes Published: 26/08/2021
Rowan Harris

A convertible is a great choice for anyone who loves to feel the breeze through their barnet as they fly down country lanes on a scorching summer day…

It’s a given that you’re not going to get the level of practicality that you’d get with an SUV or an estate car, but it’s important to have a car that’s easy to live with. 

To make your life easier, we’ve compiled 10 of the best convertible cars available to lease right now!

If you've decided that you fancy the luxury of convertible but the reassurance of an actual roof, check out our best luxury cars list. If you’re on a budget, have a look at our best affordable sports cars.

1. Porsche 718 Boxster Roadster

  • Doors: 2
  • Engine:
  • Fuel: P
  • Body: Convertible
  • Drive: M, A
  • CO2: 185 - 247g/km

Pros

  • Great fun to drive.

  • Solid interior.

Cons

  • Options can be expensive.

  • Not much variety in engine options.

It’s the cheapest convertible that the prestige German car manufacturer has to offer. But don’t get it twisted - it’s also one of the best. 

It’s a two-seater sports car, so the word ‘practicality’ doesn’t exactly spring to mind… but then you probably wouldn’t be looking for a convertible if this was important to you. There’s plenty of storage space split between the front and rear boot, so say goodbye to those golf clubs - or the person in the passenger seat.

That being said, the Porsche 718 Boxster does ‘sports car’ very well. It’s got a great low-slung driving position but sacrifices nothing in terms of visibility. There’s also plenty of adjustment in both the seat and the steering wheel. 

Our Rating:

2. Mini Convertible

  • Doors:
  • Engine:
  • Fuel:
  • Body: Sports
  • Drive:
  • CO2:

Pros

  • Lots of personalisation options.

  • Cooper models offer a performance boost.

Cons

  • Small boot.

  • Cramped back seats.

If you’ve always wanted a Mini but you’ve found your height to be a bit of an issue, the Mini Convertible takes everything that’s great about the Mini and adds limitless headroom - that is, if you fold the roof down. 

As with the standard hatchback version, there are endless options for customisation that go beyond just stock trims - you can now even have your own personalised trim pieces 3D-printed or laser-etched by the company!

Everything from the metal air vents to the aeroplane-style toggle switches and the large circular infotainment screen make this car feel significantly more refined than its equally retro rival, the Fiat 500C. 

Our Rating:

3. Audi TT Roadster

  • Doors: 2
  • Engine:
  • Fuel: P, D
  • Body: Convertible
  • Drive: M, A
  • CO2: 257g/km

Pros

  • Lovely cabin quality.

  • A joy to drive with great cornering.

Cons

  • Poor visibility behind when the roof is up.

  • You have to pay extra for climate control, cruise control and sat-nav.

Like it's hard-top sibling, the Audi TT Roadster comes with a 12-inch digital driver’s display, known as the Audi Virtual Cockpit. This can be found in the binnacle (behind the steering wheel), which actually makes a lot more sense than you might initially think. You can have your sat-nav positioned just behind the wheel, for example, which means you’ll never have to let your eyes stray too far from what’s happening up ahead. 

Unlike its hard-top sibling, the Audi TT ditches its rear two seats for an electric folding fabric roof. Unfortunately, if you think this means there’ll be more space in the boot, you’ll be disappointed. The TT Roadster’s boot is much smaller than the fixed-roof TT and has a narrow aperture. It’s okay for your weekly shopping, but you might have to use the passenger seat if you’re thinking of taking your golf clubs. 

Nevertheless, the TT Roadster is much lighter and narrower than many other small convertibles. For some of the most affordable prices on offer visit our Audi TT Roadster lease page to land yourself a bargain on your next lease.

If you like the TT and want some other (not all convertible) options, see our Audi TT alternatives.

Our Rating:

4. Mercedes E Class Cabriolet

  • Doors:
  • Engine:
  • Fuel:
  • Body: Sports
  • Drive:
  • CO2:

Pros

  • Lovely interior.

  • Comfortable to drive.

Cons

  • Not the sportiest open-top

  • Additional features are expensive.

With a decent amount of leg room up front and space for two in the back, the Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet is one of the few, large luxury convertibles on sale with four seats that are actually usable. The interior is one of the best in its class. A sweeping metal dash and unvarnished ash wooden trim, metal air vents and metal toggle switches make the E-Class Cabriolet feel like one of the sturdiest and most expensive on offer. 

The E400 comes with a 12.3-inch colour screen as standard on the E400 line, along with an advanced sat nav, and other features such as Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot (though you will have to pay extra to upgrade from the 8.4-inch screen on the E220d and E300).

As you’d expect from a luxury cruiser, the seats are comfortable with lots of support all round. There’s also electric adjustment as standard, so you should have no trouble getting settled down for a longer drive.

Our Rating:

5. Audi A5 Cabriolet

  • Doors: 2
  • Engine:
  • Fuel: P, D
  • Body: Convertible
  • Drive: M, A
  • CO2: 224g/km

Pros

  • Seats are really comfortable and highly adjustable.

  • Reasonably cheap to run.

Cons

  • Not the most exciting to drive.

  • Boot capacity is reduced when you lower the roof.

While space won’t be your number one priority if you’re considering a convertible, the Audi A5 Cabriolet does a decent job of maximising available space. You should be able to fit four people inside with relative ease, and there’s a pretty handy 380 litres in the boot for storage - though this will be reduced when the roof is folded down. 

Even the standard trim comes with Xenon headlights, front and rear parking sensors, a 7-inch colour infotainment screen with a DAB radio, sat-nav and three-zone climate control. The S-Line and above trims include mostly aesthetic updates, so there’s no real reason to upgrade to a higher level trim, unless you’re dead-set on appearances.

You’ll also find it fairly easy to get comfortable in the A5 Cabriolet - no matter how tall you are. The steering wheel can be adjusted for height and reach and there’s also plenty of adjustment in the seats, including electrically adjustable lumbar support.

Our Rating:

6. Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet

  • Doors: 2
  • Engine:
  • Fuel: D, P
  • Body: Convertible
  • Drive: M, A
  • CO2: 116 - 260g/km

Pros

  • Smart interior.

  • Exciting to drive.

Cons

  • Not as nimble as others on this list.

  • Stock suspension isn’t great.

The Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet is Mercedes’ smallest four seat convertible; there’s just enough room for two adults in the back with the roof up. That being said, if you’re looking for a dedicated four-seat convertible with a little more boot-space for those family outings, you might want to consider the E-Class or S-Class instead. 

Everything about the interior is unmistakably up-market. There are leather seats, stylish metal air vents, a brushed aluminium trim and metal toggles for heating and ventilation controls.

The centre console is made of solid black plastic, but the Carbon Pack lets you swap this out for a carbon fibre centre console if you want something a little more sporty. 

The optional air suspension smoothes out any bumps or potholes with ease, and you can opt for AMG tuning if you’re looking for a fast sports car. All models come with a super-smooth 9-speed automatic gearbox.

Our Rating:

7. Jaguar F-Type Convertible

  • Doors: 2
  • Engine:
  • Fuel: P
  • Body: Convertible
  • Drive: M, A
  • CO2: 179 - 275g/km

Pros

  • Gorgeous exterior.

  • Lots of engine choices, including a noisy V8.

Cons

  • Guzzles fuel.

  • Expensive to insure.

This sexy two-seater is more than likely to seduce you with its looks. Unfortunately, you’ll have to be prepared to make do with only two seats and a tiny boot. 

The cheapest trim lacks many of the features that you might expect as standard in a Jaguar F-type Convertible. Dual zone climate control is an optional extra, and you’ll have to pay more for a dashboard that isn’t plastic, for example. 

If you’re really looking to fine tune your car, you’re in luck. The basic model comes with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, though this doesn’t make anywhere near as much noise as we’d like. 

Our Rating:

8. BMW 4 Series Convertible

  • Doors:
  • Engine:
  • Fuel:
  • Body: Sports
  • Drive:
  • CO2:

Pros

  • Well-equipped, even on the basic trim.

  • Great infotainment system.

Cons

  • Rear seats are a bit of a squeeze.

  • Expensive for the trims with the best tech.

Take a look at the BMW 4 Series Convertible with its roof up and you’d be forgiven for thinking it looks a lot like the fixed-roof coupe version. That’s because, unlike most of the cars on this list, the 4 Series Convertible comes with a folding metal roof. That's a huge plus for keeping the noise out as you race down the road but it ultimately adds a lot of weight to the car, making sharp turns a little more difficult. 

There’s a lot of scope for customisation with this car, with a choice of six engines, a manual or an automatic gear-box, two or four-wheel drive, and two different trims. 

Whichever trim you opt for, you’ll be treated to an infotainment system which is the best in the business, BMW iDrive. There’s the option to use either the touchscreen or a rotary dial for input, so you don’t have to aimlessly prod the air if you don’t want to take your eyes off the road.

Our Rating:

9. Mazda Mx-5 Convertible

  • Doors: 2
  • Engine:
  • Fuel: P
  • Body: Convertible
  • Drive: M, A
  • CO2: 215g/km

Pros

  • Fantastic value for money.

  • Great handling.

Cons

  • Not the fastest.

  • Boot space is non-existent: this is a car for the weekend.

The Mazda Mx-5 comes in two varieties. The plain ol’ Mazda Mx-5 comes with a soft-top roof while the RF (which stands for retractable fastback) comes with an electrically operated retractable hard-top. We prefer the soft-top - it’s a few grand cheaper and it doesn’t make a huge difference to the level of noise isolation when driving at high speeds. 

If you’ve never had an open-top car before, the entry-level pricing of the Mazda MX-5 makes it the convertible of choice. Unlike the similarly priced Mini Convertible and the Fiat 500c, the Mx-5 will give you the thrill of driving a sports car.

It’s lightweight and a decent amount of grip means you won’t have to shy away from picking up the pace on twistier segments.

Our Rating:

10. Ford Mustang Convertible

  • Doors:
  • Engine:
  • Fuel:
  • Body: Convertible
  • Drive:
  • CO2:

Pros

  • Naughty V8 Engine.

  • Lots of equipment as standard.

Cons

  • Cheap feeling interior.

  • Expensive to run.

It might well be one of the most iconic cars on this list, but it’s probably also one of the most divisive. If you’re expecting a plush interior of the level that you’d get from a BMW or an Audi, you’ll be sorely disappointed by the hard black plastics inside of the Ford Mustang Convertible

Still, the driver should have no trouble getting comfy, as the steering wheel can be adjusted for height and reach and there’s plenty of adjustment in the seat. It has also got four seats, making it somewhat practical. Don’t be surprised if those in the back start complaining about legroom though...

It’s not as sharp as the A5 Cabriolet at turning and there can be a bit of shuddering when the car hits a rougher surface due to the absence of the roof holding it all together. However, you can upgrade to the Magneride suspension and this is all but eliminated. 

The 5.0 litre V8 engine is the real deal. You’ll be struggling to wipe that silly grin off your face as you thunder down the road to one of the dirtiest soundtracks on sale. This much noise should be illegal...

Our Rating:

Summary

Whether you’re looking for a sports car or a city car, a luxury car or a budget range model,  there’s nothing stopping you from experiencing the thrill of open-top-motoring in your new car.

Ready to take the next step towards owning the car of your dreams?. Then check out our convertible lease top picks and see how much you can save on your next lease deal. Or if a sports car is a bit out of your price range head over to our car leasing comparison page to find the best daily lease deals hand-picked by the Lease Fetcher Team.