Review MINI Roadster

"All engines are smooth, but the powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged engines in the Cooper S and JCW suit the car's playful character best." The MINI Roadster is the first two-seater convertible MINI has ever produced, and is deisgned to compete with the Mazda MX-5 and Audi TT Roadster. The fabric roof folds away in just 10 seconds and the boot is a useful 240 litres, whether the roof is up or down. Only Cooper models are available, including one diesel, the Cooper SD, with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox. Drive 5.0 /5 Turbocharged engines suit the Roadster Only Cooper models are offered, with just one diesel, the 143bhp Cooper SD. The petrol range includes Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works models, with 120bhp, 181bhp and 208bhp respectively – the latter is capable of 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds. All engines are smooth, but the powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged engines in the Cooper S and JCW suit the car's playful character best. Remove the roof and the exhaust sounds fantastic, letting out pops and bangs when you lift off the accelerator. The car reacts quickly to your steering inputs and stays flat in the corners, so it's great fun to drive enthusiastically. An automatic rear wing pops-up when you drive faster than 50mph and retracts when you drop below 37mph. Comfort 3.0 /5 Firmer suspension than the MINI Convertible With only two seats, there's plenty of space for the driver and passenger. Sports seats, which hold you in place but are still comfortable, are standard on all but the Cooper, while all models get air-conditioning, parking sensors and a DAB radio as standard. The suspension is firmer than the four-seater MINI Convertible, which results in sharper handling, but things can get bumpy on poor surfaces. A sports suspension pack, which makes things even firmer, is an option and fitted as standard to the JCW model. Reliability 4.0 /5 All MINIs are engineered by BMW MINI was forced to recall 29,868 vehicles in the UK in January 2012 because of a fault with the electric water pump. Other than that MINI's reliability record has been good. The Hatchback, Clubman, Convertible, Coupe and now Roadster models all sit on a virtually identical platform, so the car's mechanicals are tried and tested. It's worth remembering that although built in MINI's Oxford factory, the Roadster is engineered by BMW, which has an exemplary track record for the longevity of its products. Practicality 3.5 /5 Surprisingly large boot You might lose the small rear seats from the MINI Convertible, but you gain a much bigger boot – 240 instead of 125-litres. Occupants can also gain access to the boot via a useful through-loading hatch. The simple fabric roof is semi-automatic as standard in the UK, and takes 10 seconds to retract into a cubby hole behind your head. It requires unclipping using a handle above your head, but does the rest itself from there. Because the outer skin of the roof is facing upwards, there's no need for an additional cover when it's stowed. Value for money 4.2 /5 Cheaper than an Audi TT The Roadster costs around £500 more than the equivalent Convertible, which is reasonable when you consider the chassis has been stiffened by an extra 10 per cent – to make the handling a little bit more responsive. Entry-level prices are on a par with the Mazda MX-5, and the rapid Cooper S undercuts the slower entry-level Audi TT 1.8 TFSI by more than £4,000. As with all MINIs, it's easy to spend lots of money on optional extras, although standard equipment is generous. Running costs 4.5 /5 Cooper SD is capable nearly 63mpg The most economical model is the Cooper SD, which gets fuel economy of 62.8mpg and emissions of 118g/km, although order it with an automatic gearbox and that changes to 52.3mpg and 143g/km. All the engines feature stop-start, and even the most powerful JCW model gets 38.7mpg and 169g/km, while the Cooper is capable of 49.6mpg and 133g/km. As with all MINIs, the Roadster will hold its value well.