It’s a go-kart feel, if that’s your thing. The 2025 MINI Cooper S Convertible was a blast, my wife and I running it through the downtown streets of Toronto on a hot June day. All-inclusive pricing starts at CAD $50,269 (the other two convertibles in the lineup, the 2025 MINI Cooper C Convertible and the 2025 MINI John Cooper Works Convertible are priced at CAD $46,269 and CAD $62,269, respectively).
The 3-in-1 roof is new – fully open, sunroof mode, or closed. So you can choose your vibe with the soft top. It only takes 18 seconds to open it. We only went full top off for a portion of the drive, through Toronto’s lower east side, by the lake. The sunroof mode slides back 40 cm to let in light and air for front passengers, adding versatility for warm days.
2025 MINI Cooper S Convertible: Roof Opens in 18 Seconds
The 2025 MINI Cooper S Convertible features the return of the Always Open Timer, a feature that tracks time spent with the top down. It’s a fun feature that encourages drivers to maximize their open-air summer adventures.
Upgraded Powertrain
Plenty of pep, for city driving – the MINI is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that generates 201 horsepower plus 221 lb-ft of torque. That’s an increase from the previous model’s 189 hp and 207 lb-ft.
One thing I thought about as I drove the MINI Convertible through Toronto was our coastal drive from Vancouver to California, down the Pacific Coast Highway, in 2019, and how it would have been great to have been driving the MINI for that trip. Zero-to-60 mph in around 6.7 seconds would have been more than good enough for those windy, mountainous roads. “Go-Kart Mode” combines light, sounds and a more sharpened throttle response and gear shifting for an elevated performance.
2025 MINI Cooper S Convertible: What About the Interior?
The interior starts with the circular, 9.4-inch OLED touchscreen. Everything else in the interior was just fine. What do you expect from a vehicle a notch over $50K? Each of the seven “Experience Modes” blends ambient lighting and display themes for whatever your mood is on a particular day.
Vescin, a high-quality, synthetic leather upholstery made from recycled materials, covers the sport seats. The heated steering wheel (slightly smaller in size, again giving you that go-kart feel) and seats add comfort for cooler summer nights, while the textile-covered dashboard and ambient lighting elevate the premium feel.
The legroom in the backseat is tight for adults, though. The luggage department with its Easy Load function allows you increase the size of the luggage compartment opening, making it easier to load cargo.
Some reviewers talked about the infotainment system being slow to respond. I didn’t find that at all in the week that I drove it, mostly pumping Sirius radio channels through the Harman Kardon stereo system.
Safety Features
Safety features, including Active Blind Spot Detection, Lane Departure Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Warning, provide peace of mind on busy summer roads. The optional Driving Assistant Plus with Active Cruise Control supports relaxed highway cruising, ideal for long summer drives.
Overall the 2025 MINI Cooper S Convertible is lower end luxury, ideal for those who live in big cities. I’ll be honest – I was nervous driving the “go-kart” between big trucks and aggressive drivers on busy highways around Toronto. But if you can get around that, plan your trips accordingly, like we did, the MINI is a great buy for the spring, summer and fall months, especially for the money. Our week with it was a blast. I definitely recommend test driving one while the summer weather is still with us.
Images by Mark Keast
I am a 50-something Torontonian who loves everything about my city. It’s been my home, my playground, for my entire life. I went to school here. I met my wife here. I own real estate here. I love writing about the transformation of my city on the world stage, which hasn’t been anything short of dramatic. That continues on, as I write this. I write on the real estate scene. I write on travel and fashion. I like following the world of luxury watches.
But I love writing about cars – check that, luxury cars, a level of superior, engineering sophistication, high performance and style, that transports you not just from one destination to another but also out of whatever you are going through on a particular day, whatever mood you are in, all to another head space. It’s complete and total exhilaration, head to toe.
Check out my stories, and email me direct at mkeast@regardingluxury.com
