Best Compact Convertibles of 2022

The world of compact convertibles is growing to include cars that are capable of glamor and practicality. Whether you’re getting a rental or buying new or used, it is important to understand what makes the best compact convertibles so good. Some are affordable, and some aren’t the safest, but with our guidance, you should end up with a winner in 2022.  

BuzzScore
Design
Performance
MPG
Interior
Infotainment
Reliability
Safety
Value
#1
2022 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet
9.1
BuzzScore
10
Design
10
Performance
8
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
9
Reliability
8
Safety
9
Value
#2
2022 Audi R8 Spyder
8.9
BuzzScore
10
Design
10
Performance
6
MPG
10
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
8
Safety
9
Value
#3
2022 Porsche 911 Targa 4
8.8
BuzzScore
10
Design
9
Performance
8
MPG
8
Interior
8
Infotainment
10
Reliability
9
Safety
8
Value
#4
2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster
8.8
BuzzScore
10
Design
10
Performance
7
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
8
Reliability
8
Safety
9
Value
#5
2020 Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster
8.8
BuzzScore
10
Design
10
Performance
7
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
8
Reliability
8
Safety
9
Value
#6
2022 Mercedes-AMG C43 Convertible
8.6
BuzzScore
8
Design
8
Performance
8
MPG
8
Interior
9
Infotainment
8
Reliability
10
Safety
10
Value
#7
2022 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet
8.6
BuzzScore
9
Design
9
Performance
8
MPG
8
Interior
8
Infotainment
10
Reliability
9
Safety
8
Value
#8
2020 McLaren 570S Spider
8.6
BuzzScore
N/A
Design
N/A
Performance
N/A
MPG
N/A
Interior
N/A
Infotainment
N/A
Reliability
N/A
Safety
N/A
Value
#9
2022 Audi A5 Convertible
8.5
BuzzScore
8
Design
7
Performance
9
MPG
8
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
9
Value
#10
2022 BMW 4 Series Convertible
8.5
BuzzScore
8
Design
8
Performance
9
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
7
Value
#11
2022 Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet
8.5
BuzzScore
8
Design
9
Performance
7
MPG
8
Interior
9
Infotainment
8
Reliability
10
Safety
9
Value
#12
2020 McLaren 600LT Spider
8.5
BuzzScore
N/A
Design
N/A
Performance
N/A
MPG
N/A
Interior
N/A
Infotainment
N/A
Reliability
N/A
Safety
N/A
Value
#13
2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Convertible
8.3
BuzzScore
8
Design
7
Performance
9
MPG
8
Interior
9
Infotainment
8
Reliability
10
Safety
7
Value
#14
2022 Audi S5 Convertible
8.3
BuzzScore
8
Design
8
Performance
8
MPG
8
Interior
8
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
8
Value
#15
2022 Jaguar F-Type Convertible
8.3
BuzzScore
10
Design
8
Performance
8
MPG
8
Interior
8
Infotainment
7
Reliability
8
Safety
9
Value
#16
2022 BMW M4 Convertible
8.3
BuzzScore
8
Design
9
Performance
7
MPG
8
Interior
8
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
8
Value
#17
2022 Jaguar F-Type R Convertible
8.3
BuzzScore
10
Design
9
Performance
7
MPG
8
Interior
8
Infotainment
7
Reliability
8
Safety
9
Value
#18
2020 Jaguar F-Type SVR Convertible
8.3
BuzzScore
10
Design
10
Performance
7
MPG
8
Interior
7
Infotainment
7
Reliability
8
Safety
9
Value
#19
2020 BMW i8 Roadster
8.3
BuzzScore
9
Design
9
Performance
10
MPG
6
Interior
7
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
7
Value
#20
2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider
8.1
BuzzScore
N/A
Design
N/A
Performance
N/A
MPG
N/A
Interior
N/A
Infotainment
N/A
Reliability
N/A
Safety
N/A
Value

What to Consider Before Buying

There are various advantages and disadvantages to owning a small top-down auto. Think about the following prior to simply forking over the cash for one of these beauties:

Pros

  • Wind in your hair driving
  • There’s lots of headroom with the top folded
  • Generally sporty dynamics
  • Status, street-cred and fun-factor

Cons

  • Limited trunk space, especially in hardtop cars
  • Back seat space is tight
  • They don’t come cheap!

Our Compact Convertible Picks

  • Audi R8 Spyder - Right at the top of our list is the four-ringed wonder that shares underpinnings with the Lamborghini Huracan. It looks sassy, boasts a naturally-aspirated V10 and an all-wheel drivetrain.
  • Porsche 911 Turbo - The iconic Cabrio remains one of the sweetest-looking in the segment, and comes in at number two on our roster. It has 640 horses under the hood and loads of racing pedigree, to boot.
  • Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster - Able to give you thrills at a top speed of just under 200 mph, the GT Roadster’s twin-turbo V8 and rear-wheel drivetrain merge with a beautiful interior that has this car taking up third place in our rankings.
  • BMW 4 Series - With the new-look 4 Series set to reach US soil in 2021, now is a good time to snatch up one of these dynamic drop-tops. The 4 Series is a blast to drive, but as with its competitors, it lacks back-seat legroom.
  • Audi A5 - This drop-top is a popular choice in the USA and is within our top ten, thanks to its clever packaging and brisk performance. Its small-capacity four-cylinder engine offers good punch, and it's about as safe as a Volvo, to boot.

FAQs

What is the average trunk size of a compact soft-top?

Trunk sizes vary between four- and two-seaters. The Audi A5, for example, offers 7.2 cubic feet, while the Mazda MX-5 gets just 4.6 cubes.

Are they hard to maintain?

These vehicles should be as easy to maintain as any other body shape, but folding roof mechanisms can fail, which could end up being expensive to fix.

Which one is the best to drive?

Even though it doesn’t quite make it into the upper echelons of our listings, if we had to pick a fun-to-drive compact convertible, it would be the MX-5. This little bundle of joy is excellent to drive and offers a pure experience that is difficult to replicate. Additionally, cars from McLaren, like the 600LT and 570S Spider promise unforgettable experiences, too.
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