PACKING a PUNCH
by Metropol | May 27, 2026 8:33 am
It’s easy to appreciate the appeal of a Mini, writes Metropol’s Ben Selby.
While the current model has evolved considerably from the original design by Alec Issigonis introduced nearly 70 years ago, the qualities that define a Mini – its enjoyable driving dynamics, vibrant personality, and engaging experience – remain evident. In terms of character, the Mini Cooper Convertible S JCW Sport has plenty of it, but not in the way you might think.
First off, it might be bigger than the original, but by modern car standards, it’s quite petite, brilliantly encapsulating many aspects of Mini-ness and reimagining it for the modern day.
The JCW (John Cooper Works) treatment is also obvious with features like a chiselled front lip, a blacked out and wider front grill with JWC emblem and blacked out 17-inch alloys which looks rather nice complemented with the British Racing Green colour scheme. Power comes from a TwinPower turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission.
Lowering the roof is an all-electric affair and gives drivers the choice of three different styles, fully closed (obviously), retracting back partially for a sunroof ambience or going whole hog and retracting entirely. All of which is done by holding down a toggle switch above the rear-view mirror.
Inside it’s a plethora of Mini character, dominated by the 240mm OLED Central Infotainment Display. The heated and massage capable front seats are hip-hugging and offer good support. Also, features like wireless phone charging, parking assistance plus, steering assist and adaptive cruise all come as standard in the JCW.
The rear seats aren’t much chop, but you can fold them flat to allow for more boot space. Mini also allows you to increase the size of the boot opening with built-in fold out supports to allow easier access to the load space when the roof is up.
Naturally a Mini’s go-kart handling is its party piece and its very much business as usual here. In sport mode it is playful and well balanced, though not as sharp as the hatch variant. That said, the steering is super direct and serves up plenty of feedback and with a faint whoosh of turbo noise, it does bring on a chuckle.
However, despite its hot hatch stance, I found it to be a great laid back sunny day cruiser. The sweet spot with the Cooper Convertible S JCW Sport is gentle progressive acceleration, easing into each bend, roof off and the wind in your hair while the band Chicane pulsates through the Harman/Kardon premium sound system. Throw in that raspy engine note and there is a dash of joie de vivre to every drive. Remarkably, despite sporty pretensions, its happy place is chill vibes and soaking up the sunshine at a relaxed pace.
Incredibly charming, decent power and buckets of character means this Mini Cooper has a lot going for it, especially if you value the journey as much as the destination.
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FACT FILE
2026 Mini Cooper Convertible S JCW Sport
Price: $70,990
Engine: 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine
Transmission: 7-speed DCT Automatic
Power: 150kW
Torque: 300Nm
Wheels: 17-inch Sprint Spoke Black Alloys
Combined Fuel Consumption: 6.9L/100km
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/packing-a-punch-2/