The best convertibles and cabriolets – driven, rated and ranked

Best for: Value for money

There’s a reason why the Mazda MX-5 is the world’s best-selling roadster.

For a car that offers up as many thrills as the little Mazda does, it is remarkably habitable. The ride is rarely harsh

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

Actually, there are many. Nearly 35 years after the original made its debut, the compact Japanese two-seater continues to serve up affordable driving fun and represents one of the quickest and easiest ways to enjoy good weather at the drop of a hat (or roof).

A large part of the MX-5’s appeal lies in its traditional front-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout, which delivers agile, engaging, throttle-adjustable handling.

Then there’s the fact that it retains largely the same compact footprint as the 1989 original and weighs around 1000kg. Few driver’s cars feel as lithe and right-sized on the road. 

It also means that even the entry-level 130bhp 1.5-litre car feels zingy, although the more muscular 181bhp 2.0-litre model gets firmer suspension, a strengthening strut brace and a limited-slip differential.

The MX-5 is pretty much as easy to live with as any Mazda, thanks to its light and precise controls, excellent build quality and low running costs - and its why it's the best convertible on sale today. 

Best for: Handling

It would be a stretch to call the Porsche 718 Boxster one of Porsche’s best-kept secrets, but its entry-level status and the shadow cast by the legendary 911 mean this mid-engined machine doesn’t always get the credit it deserves.

The Boxster combines transparent sporting pedigree with the kind of wonderfully tied-down comfort levels that make the model endlessly absorbing

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

When the roads are good and the sun is shining, few cars are more entertaining than this. All Boxsters get better when the roof is down – something that can be easily achieved with the touch of a button. 

The arrival of four-cylinder engines in 2016 robbed the Boxster of some of its audible appeal, but there’s no doubting the potency of the turbocharged units, which beat the old 2.7- and 3.2-litre flat sixes for easily accessible straight-line pace.

If you do want the full mechanical orchestra, the flat-six 4.0-litre GTS will happily provide it – or if you have a larger budget, there’s even the epic, 911 GT3-engined, Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder RS.

Regardless of engine, it’s the Boxster's chassis that shines the brightest, with the perfectly balanced, tactile handling drawing you into the action. Then there’s the perfectly weighted steering, the strong and delicately balanced grip, the cast-iron body control and brakes that are as progressive as they are powerful.

Sure, it’s not cheap, but the incredible engineering and depth of ability on offer make the Boxster feel like it’s worth every penny.

Best for: V8 lovers

The Ferrari Roma represents a fresh take on an affordable Ferrari, yet it retains the essence of the Prancing Horse’s classic models. 

In practice, the Roma doesn’t lose much in the way of refinement, whether roof up or roof down

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

This front-engined, V8-powered 2+2 exudes timeless aesthetics, shares its platform with the Portofino and is available as a drop-top Spider as well as a fixed-head coupé. 

Despite losing its roof, its handling and appearance are still top-notch. It remains relatively compact, appealingly attainable and a daily-usable sporting GT. 

The Roma delivers the performance, excitement and handling vibrancy expected of a true Ferrari, combined with a cabin and character designed for extensive mileage.

Powered by a 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8, the Roma generates over 600bhp and a top speed nearing 200mph.

Its comfortable and sophisticated interior is particularly striking, offering ease of use and cutting-edge technology. That said, those haptic touchpad controls are less than ideal at best and frustrating as worst.

Best for: All-around ability

The McLaren Artura Spider is a totally different proposition from the other models on this top 10 list - and it's so good that we named it Britain's Best Driver's Car of 2025. 

The Artura is a very ambitious and skilfully executed example of modern supercar packaging and lightweight design.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

Combining a 690bhp 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with a 94bhp electric motor, the Artura is a plug-in hybrid. Its 7.4kWh battery offered around 17 miles of electric range in the real world during our tests. 

While the Artura Spider is brutally fast (it'll hit 0-62mph in less than 3.0sec), perhaps its best party trick is its silent start-up, owing to its hybridisation. Silently wiggling through traffic (with the roof down, of course) never gets old.

When the V6 does burst into life, you're greeted with a sumptuous engine note, with performance boosted by that electric motor.

Comfortable, agile and with a real sense of occasion, the Artura is an excellent convertible, if you can afford that £220,000 list price. 

Best for: Grand tours

Mid-engined sports cars and supercars were for so long far better sampled as hard-top ‘berlinettas’ than cloth-roofed ‘spiders’, because they traded so much body rigidity for that convertible status. But modern carbonfibre-tubbed supercars like the Maserati MC20 are changing all that.

The MC20 is joyfully light-hearted in dynamic terms, thunderously characterful and versatile enough to use often.

Richard Lane, Deputy road test editor

The MC20, which will change its name to the MCPura as part of a mid-life refresh, is a supple-riding, light-touch grand tourer among mid-engined options.

It has surprisingly gentle suspension, fluent, low-effort steering and a turbocharged V6 engine with lots of accessible torque that responds well to a more relaxed pace. 

Remove the roof and you can simply enjoy more of the car’s charms in a richer groove and in the laid-back touring mode of operation that its tuning encourages.

The roof itself is a folding metal panel with a built-in photochromic glass panel so, unlike with so many cloth roofs, you needn’t fold it back at all to enjoy an enhanced view of the world outside.

Best for: Luxury

Could this be the ultimate iteration of the Bentley Continental GT? If you’re going to have one of the most opulent, expensive and attention-grabbing grand tourers of the lot, you might as well go the whole hog and choose the convertible, so you can more clearly see the world that you’re lording it over.

Bentley’s chassis engineers are becoming increasingly well practised and familiar with the capabilities of both the platform and the chassis technologies they are working with.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

Bentley's hugely decadent W12 has been retired now, but the Conti has always been at its best with the twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 and in driver-oriented S guise.

With 543bhp, it has more than enough velvet-lined muscle to get a real wriggle on when you’re in a hurry, while aurally it runs the gamut from bellowing brute to something altogether softer and more restrained when just cruising.

The V8 also acts like less of a boat anchor in the nose than the W12 did, which helps the big Bentley feel remarkably light on its feet when pressing on through a series of corners.

Of course, it's still a luxury GT at heart, so the air suspension can waft with the best of them, while the interior embraces you and three travelling companions in true splendour. The richness of the materials, quality of the craftsmanship and sheer sense of occasion are hard to beat. 

Throw in the appeal of a folding fabric roof that’s coupé-quiet when erected yet drops in a matter of second to allow you bask in the glow of admiring (or resentful) looks and you have one of the most opulently desirable drop-tops on the planet. Just add the Côte d’Azure for the ultimate convertible experience.

Best for: Daily driving

Like the BMW Z4 roadster, the BMW 4 Series Convertible has swapped a folding metal roof for a lighter cloth affair.

The 4 Series’s standard equipment tally is marginally more generous than that of the 3 Series, but buyers should expect to spend extra on the optional M Sport Pro package

Felix Page, Deputy editor

It's also changed its engine selection, which might be off-putting for some. Diesel is out, and petrol options are now limited to the rear-driven 420i with 184bhp, or the 369bhp four-wheel-drive M440i.

Regardless, it's still one of the best convertibles on sale today, largely because BMW has boosted cabin isolation and cruising refinement for this generation.

It's the sort of convertible you can easily hold a conversation in when the roof is down and the windows are up. And if refinement really is a high priority for you, you'd do best to avoid the M440i and its run-flat tyres.

Driver appeal is stronger than it was in the floppier former version and perceived cabin quality has likewise taken a leap.

This is a very complete convertible, in other words and - front-end styling aside, perhaps - an easy one to recommend to anyone.

Best for: Commutes

The CLE Cabriolet might be the best choice for you if you’re after refined thrills and excellent cruising manners. 

The CLE Cabriolet feels like a well-composed convertible with just enough material richness and cabin isolation to match its luxury billing

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

This is the largest convertible in the mid-sized segment, but don’t let that put you off. It drives every bit as well as the coupé version of the CLE, matching its hard-top counterpart in terms of refinement, comfort and technology. 

Its comfort is bolstered further by the standard fitment of Mercedes’ Aircap feature, which has been fine-tuned to improve cabin isolation. 

It’s a convertible for those who value laid-back cruising over hardcore handling and is at its best when you adopt a relaxed pace. The CLE Cabriolet delivers a smooth, easygoing and comfortable driving experience. 

It’s no great drop-top sports car but, at a cruise, it’s a solid performer that can be enjoyed roof up or roof down. 

Best for: Weekend trips

The Mini Convertible has been a British staple since 2004 and it's still a top pick in the drop-top scene today. 

The idea of an agile, frothy and style-focused drop-top will appeal to many, so even if it isn’t quite as sharp as the standard hatch, they’ll find plenty to like about the Convertible

James Attwood, Associate editor

Okay, so Mini is technically owned by German giant BMW, but at least this latest-generation Convertible is actually being built back in Oxford for the first time in nine years. 

Like the regular Mini hatch, the convertible is available in C, S and performance John Cooper Works guise, starting with 154bhp and rising as high as 316bhp in its punchiest variant. 

You should know, though, that there's no manual gearbox this time around, and unless you opt for the Sport trim level, you also won't get paddle shifters. 

Either way, the Mini Convertible feels as good to drive as evere, with an entertaining chassis and superb stability. It's a shame there's no EV on the way, though.