2008 MINI Cooper Convertible - Styling Review

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TheCarConnection.com's editors award top honors to the 2008 MINI Cooper Convertible for its styling and design.

The Convertible version of the Cooper MINI falls into a special category of car, Car and Driver says: “They attract attention mostly for their snappy styling." The MINI has always been "replete with British charm," as Edmunds says in their review, and the Convertible is no exception. It does the unimaginable: It takes the effortless fun of the hatchback and one-ups it with a roof that lowers or opens like a sunroof. The basic MINI silhouette is left mostly undisturbed--a good thing--but the convertible roof does slope a little at the rear, adding to the retro style. And as Motor Trend notes, “the colorful MINI is irresistible.”

Not only is the outside of the car appealing, but the interior of the 2008 MINI Cooper Convertible continues the retro funk that very few cars achieve. Edmunds raves, "the modernistic interior is a design student's dream," reminding one of this car's appeal for younger generations, while still maintaining its old fan base as well. Cars.com reports that “the interior shares the same whimsical design as the hardtop, characterized by a large speedometer in the middle of the dashboard rather than in front of the steering wheel — which seems to drive some people into a rage.”

There are two fixes for the unorthodox instrument placement, Edmunds reports of the Cooper. MINI offers an expensive Premium Package with a changeable digital readout--or you can choose a “Cockpit Chrono Pack that puts the speedo in front of the steering wheel (next to the tach) and fills the big circular void left in the dash's center with four gauges, including a pair for oil pressure and oil temperature. Optional chrome detailing inside and out added a final chic touch.”