Overview
The 2010 Mini Cooper Convertible symbolizes the belief that a car is not simply a car. A car is more than just a mode of travel; in this case, a car is a fashion accessory as well as a performer. Having celebrated its 50th birthday the Mini Cooper has been around for decades, its recently popular return shows the value of this classic. This vehicle comes this year with no large changes which shows that its personality and timeless flair is of value. However, one change that has occurred is its size for the modern era. The previous 10-inch wheels have been upgraded to a more impressive 15-inch set.

Technology
Although the small car is reminiscent of your childhood go-kart and not a sports convertible, do not underestimated the power behind the vehicle. A combination of the short 97.1-inch wheelbase, coupled with the MacPherson struts in front, and the multi-link rear suspension with lightweight aluminum rear trailing arms gives this vehicle the ability to twist and corner in a far more efficient manner than most other cars at the same price value.

Performance
The steering is quick and responsive; the size of the vehicle definitely gives the driver much more control and feel than other average sized vehicles. The Mini Cooper Convertible arrives in 3 trims: The Basic, S, and the John Cooper Works. The various trims’ MSRP ranges from $24,250 to $34,00 which gives the user a lot of flexibility in regards to what kind of features and benefits they need for their lifestyle. For those who want the power of a sports convertible but are still worried about their environmental impact, don’t worry the convertible, in its various trims, reaches fuel economies of 28/36, 26/34, and 25/33 respectively. Rather than spending time describing each various trim, this article will cover the basics of the S trims because of its median pricing. The S model comes equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder motor, which puts out a respectable 172hp, and 177 ft-lbs of torque at a mere 1600 rpm. This MINI will reach 60 mph in just over 7 seconds, but it feels even quicker, due to the small size of the car, and how low it sits to the ground. However, one will also feel some torque steer but that’s the beauty of the Mini Cooper. It performs smoothly with power, and you can feel it perform.

Exterior
The smiling grille, silver chrome, large bug-eye headlamps, a dizzying array of paint colors, door trims, and even body add-ons gives this little vehicle much more flexibility and style more than most other vehicles. The convertible soft-roof holds a unique box-arc shape and can even be retracted halfway if one doesn’t want the entire convertible feel. All these customizations allow the convertible to be your own unique car. Nobody wants to be seen with the same exact fashion accessory as someone else, and this convertible will allow you to do that for yourself, in the automobile world.

Interior
A large tachometer sits in front of the driver and there is a small LED screen inside it that shows various bits of information such as a digital speedometer, clock, thermometer, and the trip info that includes average and current miles per gallon, distance to empty, dual trip meters, etc. Just to the left of that round dial is another smaller one called the Openometer, which tracks your top down, engine-on time for up to 7 hours. However, the Mini Cooper, as its name insinuates, is a mini. Like other sports cars, the Mini Cooper Convertible is not meant for heavy storage. The vehicle can seat 4 but the two seats in the back do not possess much leg room.

Safety
Driving a sports car and pushing this mini will be tempting but if you should push it past the limit, the car’s Dynamic Stability Control, Traction Control, a Limited Slip Differential, will combine to save both yourself and your car. It was awarded an average of 4 out of 5 stars out of all side and front crash tests. More importantly, the low center of gravity found in this little vehicle gives a lower chance of rolling over.

Reliability
The fact that this brand has existed for just over 50 years proved that not only has the Mini been consistently reliable, the time has allowed this vehicle to evolve and improve. A nice 4-year / 50,000 miles is award as this Mini is indeed a sports car.