Best used convertible cars 2024

Updated: 3 January 2024

It might seem strange in a country that experiences more than its fair share of rain, but the UK loves a convertible. In fact, sales figures show that drivers in the UK have long bought more drop-tops than those in most countries in Europe.

If you’ve ever driven one, you’ll probably understand why that is. There’s something intoxicating about breezing around on a fine day with just the sky above your head and – if you’re lucky – the sun on your face. Folding down the roof turns what could be a humdrum journey into an adventure.

Oh, and if you were thinking 'what's the difference between a convertible and a cabriolet?' there isn't one – some brands use one term and some use the other. So which are the best used convertible (or cabriolet) cars you can buy? Here are our 10 favourites.

If you’re looking for a stylish around-town runabout, there are few cars better than a Mini. Already a very appealing, characterful car that’s enjoyable to drive, the Mini Convertible is even more fun when you whip off the roof.

It has a fabric roof that folds electrically in 18 seconds and you can pop it up or down while driving at speeds of up to 20mph. That’s really handy if it suddenly starts to tip down with rain.

You have a choice of petrol or diesel engines, plus sporty Cooper S and John Cooper Works models if you want to raise the fun factor even more. This car doesn’t have much space for back-seat passengers or for stuff in the boot, but there are far more expensive cars that won’t make you smile as much as the Mini Convertible.

If you want one of the best compact convertibles – but with a lot more interior space than the Mini offers – take a look at the Audi A3 Cabriolet. It’s great for cruising around in comfort and style, and has interior quality that would shame cars costing twice as much. Its conveniently compact size means driving around town is easy and it’s relaxing on long journeys too. Even the boot’s usefully big, with space for six carry-on suitcases.

You can choose from a wide range of well-equipped models, including some very efficient diesels and the sporty, powerful S3 Cabriolet. On all models, the fabric roof will fold down in 18 seconds as you cruise at speeds up to 31mph. The roof on high-spec models has thicker insulation, which makes the car feel even quieter when it’s raised.

Read our full Audi A3 review

The BMW 2 Series Convertible is about the same size as the Audi A3 and has a similar amount of space – there’s room for four adults and a boot big enough to hold your luggage for a week-long holiday. You may find that you prefer the BMW’s sportier look and driving experience, compared with the Audi.

That sportiness doesn’t come at the expense of everyday comfort. With the roof down, ‘wind buffeting’ – when the air blows into the interior – is kept at bay, so you can better enjoy the weather and scenery. You can choose from several well-equipped trim levels and petrol and diesel engines, which range from fine-for-everyday to really-quite-powerful, so there’s likely to be one that fits your needs.

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The BMW Z4 gives you the fun driving experience you expect of a two-seat sports car, but with the comfort and features of a BMW saloon car. Being behind the wheel is exciting and enjoyable, especially in the more powerful models. But you can also settle down into a comfortable cruise when you just want to get home. While doing so, you can take advantage of the many standard features, including sat nav on many models.

You get quite a big boot, so you won’t need to pack especially light when you go on holiday. The latest version of the Z4 (pictured), sold from 2018, has a fabric roof that opens and closes in 10 seconds at the touch of a button. Older versions, sold from 2009, have a folding hard-top roof, which takes longer to go down and uses up about half the boot space when folded.

One of the best convertibles for outright fun and also one of the most affordable, the Mazda MX-5 is a modern drop-top legend. It’s a brilliant sports car, modelled on classic British convertibles of the 1960s. It’s light, accelerates rapidly and you sit low down with the wind in your hair. It’s fantastic fun.

There are two versions of the MX-5 – the soft-top MX-5 Roadster, which has a roof that easily folds up and down by hand, and the hardtop MX-5 RF. The hardtop has a section above the seats that folds back, but the back window stays in place. So you can enjoy being out in the open as you drive, but the car is quieter and more secure than the soft-top with the roof closed.

The C-Class Cabriolet excels at so many things, it’s hard to know where to start. It’s a beautifully designed and very comfortable convertible available with a wide variety of engines and trim levels. All versions are well-equipped and will seat four (just).

Petrol and diesel engines range from frugal to powerful, while the performance AMG models have lots of oomph and a loud, sporty noise that’s even easier to appreciate when the fabric roof is down. The driving experience is more comfort-focused than rivals such as the BMW 4 Series, but the C-Class feels solid and safe on any type of road.

If you want to experience top-down motoring while sitting in the lap of luxury, look no further than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet. It’s one of the most practical convertibles you can buy, with space for four adults and a boot that gives you as much load space as a Ford Focus when the roof is up. 

The engines, whether petrol or diesel, are excellent. The diesels are a particularly good option if you do lots of long journeys because their low fuel consumption means you can go very long distances between refills. This gives you more time to luxuriate in the sumptuous, high-tech interior. The fabric folding roof can raise and lower in 20 seconds as you travel at speeds up to 31mph.

Read our full Mercedes-Benz E-Class review

Another Mercedes convertible, but the Mercedes-Benz SLC is quite different to the C-Class Cabriolet and E-Class Cabriolet models. You still get the elegance and sophistication you expect of a Mercedes but the SLC is a compact, fun, two-seater sports car with a folding metal roof. This hard-top keeps you insulated from the elements when you don’t want to feel them, but lets them whistle around your hair at the push of a button when you do. While the high-performance AMG models have powerful petrol engines, you can also get an SLC with an efficient diesel to keep fuel costs down.

Comfortable seats will keep you secure through the corners and there's even a reasonably practical 335-litre boot – certainly big enough for a couple of bags on a weekend away.

In terms of ticking lots of boxes, the BMW 4 Series Convertible is one of the best convertibles around. It’s bigger and more spacious than the Audi A3 and BMW 2 Series, and feels sportier to drive than the Mercedes E-Class yet is still very comfortable. Four adults will have enough space on a long motorway journey and it’s fun for the driver on winding country roads. 

The current version of the 4 Series Convertible, sold from 2021, has a fabric roof. Older models (as pictured) have a folding hard-top roof, which creates a bit more headroom but takes up a lot of space when folded into what’s otherwise a generous boot.

The Audi TT Roadster is a great option if you like the style of a two-seat roadster but want the greater comfort you get from some four-seat convertibles. You can use it for a stress-free commute during the week, then have some fun zipping around the countryside at weekends. Its interior is just as comfortable and has the same high-tech features as Audi’s saloon cars and it also has plenty of storage space.

You have a choice of engines with varying levels of power, including some diesels that are great if you want to minimise your fuel bill. There’s also the sportier TT S and very high performance TT RS. The roof folds up and down electrically in just 10 seconds as you cruise at speeds up to 31mph.

You’ll find lots of used cars for sale at Cazoo, all available to buy through our trusted dealers.

Cazoo makes selling a car just as easy – just enter a few details for an instant online valuation. If you accept the offer our partners will get in touch to arrange payment and collection of your car at a time that suits you.