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Best Small Convertibles of 2022

Seeing as there aren’t many large drop tops out there, small convertibles are relatively common and easy to find. These sporty little autos are usually a whole lot of fun, and there’s plenty of variety to choose from within this segment. There are affordable options like the Mazda MX-5 Miata, and there are significantly more expensive and luxurious offerings that include the Porsche 718 Boxster. If you’re shopping for a younger driver, cute cars like the Smart EQ fortwo Cabrio are excellent for use as a daily runaround, too.

An array of new soft- and hardtops are available for 2022, and opting for a used model from 2021 will get you nearly the same level as modernity for a lower price. 

See Also:

15 models
BuzzScore
Design
Performance
MPG
Interior
Infotainment
Reliability
Safety
Value
#1
2022 BMW Z4 Roadster
#1
BMW Z4 Roadster
$49,900 - $63,700
Price (MSRP)
25/32 mpg
City/Hwy
255 hp
Horsepower
8.8
8.8
BuzzScore
9
Design
10
Performance
8
MPG
8
Interior
9
Infotainment
8
Reliability
8
Safety
10
Value
#2
2022 Porsche 718 Boxster
#2
Porsche 718 Boxster
$62,600 - $100,100
Price (MSRP)
20/26 mpg
City/Hwy
300 hp
Horsepower
8.8
8.8
BuzzScore
10
Design
10
Performance
8
MPG
8
Interior
8
Infotainment
9
Reliability
8
Safety
9
Value
#3
2022 Audi TT Roadster
#3
Audi TT Roadster
$54,600
Price (MSRP)
23/30 mpg
City/Hwy
228 hp
Horsepower
8.6
8.6
BuzzScore
9
Design
8
Performance
8
MPG
8
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
9
Value
#4
2022 Porsche 718 Spyder
#4
Porsche 718 Spyder
$98,300
Price (MSRP)
17/23 mpg
City/Hwy
414 hp
Horsepower
8.6
8.6
BuzzScore
10
Design
10
Performance
7
MPG
8
Interior
8
Infotainment
9
Reliability
8
Safety
9
Value
#5
2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata
#5
Mazda MX-5 Miata
$27,650 - $33,150
Price (MSRP)
26/34 mpg
City/Hwy
181 hp
Horsepower
8.4
8.4
BuzzScore
9
Design
9
Performance
9
MPG
6
Interior
7
Infotainment
10
Reliability
8
Safety
9
Value
#6
2021 Mini Cooper Convertible
#6
Mini Cooper Convertible
$27,400 - $31,400
Price (MSRP)
26/37 mpg
City/Hwy
134 hp
Horsepower
7.9
7.9
BuzzScore
8
Design
7
Performance
10
MPG
8
Interior
8
Infotainment
8
Reliability
8
Safety
6
Value
#7
2022 Mini John Cooper Works Convertible
#7
Mini John Cooper Works Convertible
$38,900
Price (MSRP)
24/33 mpg
City/Hwy
228 hp
Horsepower
7.8
7.8
BuzzScore
8
Design
7
Performance
10
MPG
8
Interior
8
Infotainment
8
Reliability
8
Safety
6
Value
#8
2021 BMW 2 Series Convertible
#8
BMW 2 Series Convertible
$41,850 - $52,950
Price (MSRP)
23/33 mpg
City/Hwy
248 hp
Horsepower
7.8
7.8
BuzzScore
7
Design
7
Performance
9
MPG
7
Interior
8
Infotainment
8
Reliability
9
Safety
7
Value
#9
2020 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
#9
Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
$29,390
Price (MSRP)
26/35 mpg
City/Hwy
164 hp
Horsepower
7.5
7.5
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
#10
2020 Fiat 124 Spider
#10
Fiat 124 Spider
$25,390 - $28,145
Price (MSRP)
26/35 mpg
City/Hwy
160 hp
Horsepower
7.4
7.4
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
Unrated
2018 Caterham Seven 310
Caterham Seven 310
$36,000
Price (MSRP)
TBC
City/Hwy
154 hp
Horsepower
N/A
0
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
2018 Caterham Seven 360
Caterham Seven 360
$38,000
Price (MSRP)
TBC
City/Hwy
182 hp
Horsepower
N/A
0
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
2018 Caterham Seven 420
Caterham Seven 420
$42,000
Price (MSRP)
TBC
City/Hwy
213 hp
Horsepower
N/A
0
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
2018 Caterham Seven 620
Caterham Seven 620
$62,000 - $65,000
Price (MSRP)
TBC
City/Hwy
314 hp
Horsepower
N/A
0
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
2020 Caterham Seven 270
Caterham Seven 270
$37,900
Price (MSRP)
TBC
City/Hwy
137 hp
Horsepower
N/A
N/A
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

Some of the Best Small Convertibles

The top brands for this category are typically associated with luxury, but some cost-effective autos can be found in between:

  • Porsche - With the 718 Boxster and the 718 Spyder, the German automaker produces some of the most costly products in this category. Notably, the latter is vastly more expensive than the former.
  • Audi - The TT Roadster and the A3 Convertible are Audi’s main contenders for this segment, and the former is definitely more athletic in its performance and design. The A3 is also the more frugal choice.
  • BMW - The Bavarian manufacturer’s two products for the segment are the Z4 Roadster and the 2 Series convertible. The former puts a larger focus on performance and is slighter in size.
  • Mazda - This company may only make one car that falls under this category, but the MX-5 Miata deserves the sterling reputation it has. It is cheap to purchase and comes with a punchy engine to boot.

Common Specifications

The small convertible vehicles have certain characteristics that are typical with most versions in this category:

  • Kind of top - Most frugal versions come with a soft top roof, but select luxury products have the option for a hard top available.
  • Luggage compartment capacity - These kinds of machines are known for tiny amounts of trunk space. This is mainly due to their diminutive size combined with the added space required for the mechanism used for the roof.
  • Price - The cost of these cabrios vary greatly depending on the brand and performance-focus. You can pick up the Fiat 500c for under $20k but some premium models from Porsche cost just under $100k.

What to Consider Before Buying

There are still many of those who opt for drop-tops over their fixed-roof counterparts. While there are many reasons to purchase these, there are a few downsides that need to be considered as well:

Pros

  • Open-air driving experience
  • Variety of different engines
  • Diminutive dimensions mean they are easier to drive
  • More exclusive than fixed-roof products

Cons

  • Hefty asking price compared to non-convertibles
  • Little size means a sacrifice of interior space
  • Security risk with soft tops
  • Cabins are noisy
  • Not many with back seats

FAQs

How do I decide on the right car for me?

If you’re extremely indecisive about which one to purchase and cannot base your decision on a single test drive, simply rent the auto in question for a while to see if you want to take it home for good.

With so many of these for sale, what should I look for when buying one?

The best small convertible cars offer decent performance figures and impressive fuel economy. The interior will be modern and premium materials are liberally used. Obviously, the degrees of each of these factors depend on the price point, but for the most part, the best option will score high on all of them.
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