Convertibles are likeable, even in our weather – which is quite like the climate in the Middle East, but with a lot less sand and not a single oil sheikh. The trick is to have the roof up during the day and to drop it only at night, when the air is cooler and green-eyed monsters in lesser transport find it harder to focus on the privileged driver driving topless.
That privilege can now be enjoyed in Mini’s latest lifestyle ride, the revised Cooper Convertible. Arriving two years after the hatchback had its full model change and preceded by the quirky Clubman, this chop-top variant completes BMW’s renewal of the Mini range. It looks similar to its predecessor from some angles, but the new compact drop-top is actually all-new, from the rubber underneath to the roof overhead, with a bigger entertainment element to boot.
Not so amusing for the Mini is its greatest rival, the 207 CC. Peugeot popularised the affordable hard-top convertible with its 206 CC and continued the good work with the 207 CC, which was introduced here in late 2007. Currently, there are some 300 206 CCs and 100 207 CCs running around. More importantly for the Mini, which sells in niche numbers anyway, the Peugeot shares the same 1.6-litre engine, courtesy of a joint venture with BMW. But the two vehicles are otherwise as different as chalk and cheese. Our mission in this story is to check out the chalk and taste test the cheese, so to speak, and draw a conclusion along the way.
First and foremost, let’s talk about the duo’s styling, surely the most important consideration for motoring fashionistas who wish to go topless. Put simply, the Mini is cheeky and the Peugeot classy. Despite a nice choice of hood colours (standard black, chocolate brown or denim-inspired blue), the Mini comes across as a giant pram with the roof deployed. It’s a pretty pram all the same, particularly in Interchange Yellow or Horizon Blue (the bespoke colours reserved for the newcomer, which also gets its own 17-inch rim design described as Black Star Bullet), but the Mini obviously looks cuter with its roof down. In marked contrast, the 207 CC looks stylish whether its top is erect or retracted. A classic case of having curves in all the right places, the Peugeot is a lovely blend of aggression and elegance that is also more solidly built than the old 206 CC. As for paintwork choices, the Mini is streets ahead of the Peugeot, which offers just five colours vis-a-vis the Mini’s 12.
Inside the cockpit, the French car clearly has a lower and sportier driving position than the British cutie, accentuated by the “faster” rake of the close-coupled A-pillars. The Mini has an upright windscreen that seems to be miles away from the driver, whose seating position is seemingly inspired by an oversized go-kart, versus the pocket-sized coupe that the Peugeot hot seat aspires to.
The dashboard design in the 207 is less flashy than the Mini’s, but the controls are logically placed and the white-faced, chrome-ringed instrument dials are cool. Although the car shares most of its dash with its less glamorous hatchback sibling, the CC gets extra equipment, including double the airbag count (from two to four), electric folding side mirrors and directional headlights. The Mini Convertible’s dashboard is carried over from the regular Mini, which means funky meters and delightful designer details. But it has added one of the most frivolous features ever seen in a modern cabrio. Called the Always Open Timer, this gauge (optional overseas but standard for Singapore) keeps track of the time spent “roofless” on the road.
In “roofed” cabin mode, the CC provides better all-round visibility, especially over the driver’s left shoulder, where he would see a thin pillar instead of the Mini’s thick fabric. In both cars, the rear view is partially blocked by a pair of aluminium roll hoops. But the Peugeot has a proper rear windscreen, whereas the Mini has a letter box slot for a window. Stowing the top would, of course, improve visibility immediately in either vehicle. But even with the top stowed, the rear view of the Mini is mostly a pile of textile, compared to the Peugeot’s clean rear scene with a touch of boot deck.
The roof of the 207 CC comes on slower but smoother, with the slick hydraulics taking 25 seconds to “flip” the two-piece hard-top. The Mini Convertible’s takes just 15 seconds to convert, but holding the switch for this (it’s at the centre of the windscreen header rail, together with the interior lights cluster) is slightly harder work than pressing the Peugeot’s button that’s just beside the handbrake.
In alfresco mode, the sky is the limit for headroom. But space on the back seat is otherwise just about adequate in the Mini – and wholly inadequate in the Peugeot. The Mini also has greater cargo-carrying versatility, thanks to its 50:50 split-fold rear seat back that easily expands the boot space from 125 litres to 660 litres. With the canopy closed, you can reposition the parcel shelf to squeeze out a bit more room for cargo, while the chute-style boot tailgate (now with internal rather than external hinges) can support an outsize load of up to 80kg, perhaps secured with a bungee cord.
The 207 CC’s boot is more straightforward than the Mini’s, offering 449 litres of easily accessible space as a coupe and a less accessible 187 litres as a cabriolet.
The Peugeot’s dashboard area and door bins are more practical than the Mini’s for odds and ends, apart from the cramped glovebox (the fuse array takes up most of it), which is, however, air-conditioned. The Peugeot’s dual sun-visor mirrors, by the way, are larger than the Mini’s and illuminated, making them ideal for the vain (hopefully of the female sex) to touch up their faces before they hit the road.
On the move, the 207 CC feels noticeably more rigid and refined than its British competitor, especially with the top put up. Enclosed in solid metal, the French cabin enjoys superior insulation against turbulence, traffic and tarmac. The canvas-clad Mini lets in more noise from the outside and its body rigidity is less impressive than the Peugeot’s, the latter characteristic reflected (no pun intended) by the Mini’s rear-view mirror vibrating every now and then. The sleek 207 CC also cuts more efficiently through the air, with a drag coefficient of 0.30 compared to the boxy Mini’s 0.35.
Both cars run on essentially the same engine – a 1.6-litre 16-valves 4-cylinder, with a healthy 120bhp and high operating efficiency. But the Mini is hooked up with a 6-speed automatic, complete with small steering shifters, whereas the Peugeot uses a 4-speed Tiptronic gearbox. With two less ratios to play with, the 207’s gearing is necessarily longer than the Mini’s and thus more suited to highway cruising than road and track attacks. Even so, the Tiptronic transmission kicks down a gear or two readily when prompted, but its gear-to-gear responses are never as immediate as the more closely stacked Mini 6-speeder.
The Cooper certainly feels more urgent than the CC, happily rushing from point to point and pushing hard in corners. Both drivetrains boast smooth power delivery and a free-revving nature. But the Mini unit has 111kg less weight to carry and thus offers a punchier pickup, which is most obvious in the initial sprint from standstill to 60km/h or so. The Mini’s exhaust note is also deliciously fruitier, especially with the top down. And the buffeting by the wind during roof-down driving feels better than that of the refinement-conscious 207 CC, heightening the sensation of stronger performance in the Mini. As for handling, the Peugeot is always stable and predictable, with plenty of grip from the sporty tyres, while the Mini is more eager for corners, with a far sharper turn-in and excellent balance from the apex to the exit point.
So which car wins this open-air contest? If its huge $27,000 premium is not a factor, then the Mini Cooper Convertible gets our vote, being the unadulterated “funster” here. If you place a premium on day-to-day comfort, a steel ceiling and good old value for money, then the Peugeot 207 CC is the winner. Either way, you and your passengers will enjoy lots of fun in the Singapore sun. Drop that top and live it up.
Peugeot 207 CC 1.6 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
Type: Inline-4, 16-valves, DOHC
Capacity: 1598cc
Bore x stroke: 77mm x 85.8mm
Compression ratio: 11.1
Max Power: 120bhp at 6000rpm
Max Torque: 160Nm at 4250rpm
Power to weight: 86.3bhp/tonne
Gearbox: 4-speed automatic
Driven Wheels: Front
PERFORMANCE
0-100km/h: 12.6 seconds
Top Speed: 195km/h
Consumption: 13.9km/L (combined)
SUSPENSION
Front: MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Rear: Torsion beam, coil springs
BRAKES
Front / rear: Ventilated discs / discs
TYRES
Type: Continental SportContact 2
Size: 205/45 R17 (front and rear)
SAFETY
Airbags: 4
Traction Aids: ABS, ESP
MEASUREMENTS
Length: 4037mm
Width: 1750mm
Height: 1387mm
Wheelbase: 2540mm
Kerb Weight: 1391kg
Turning Circle: 10.6m
+ Sheer style with roof up or down, refined ride and tidy handling, smooth hard-top operation
– Virtually useless rear seats, less nippy than it looks, a bit of girl’s car image
Mini Cooper Convertible 1.6 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
Type: Inline-4, 16-valves, DOHC
Capacity: 1598cc
Bore x stroke: 77mm x 85.8mm
Compression ratio: 11.1
Max Power: 120bhp at 6000rpm
Max Torque: 160Nm at 4250rpm
Power to weight: 93.8bhp/tonne
Gearbox: 6-speed automatic
Driven Wheels: Front
PERFORMANCE
0-100km/h: 11.1 seconds
Top Speed: 191km/h
Consumption: 14.9km/L (combined)
SUSPENSION
Front: MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Rear: Multi-link, coil springs
BRAKES
Front / rear: Ventilated discs / discs
TYRES
Type: Goodyear Excellence
Size: 195/55 R15 (front and rear)
SAFETY
Airbags: 4
Traction Aids: ABS, DSC
MEASUREMENTS
Length: 3699mm
Width: 1683mm
Height: 1414mm
Wheelbase: 2467mm
Kerb Weight: 1280kg
Turning Circle: 10.7m
+ Merry mix of cheeky and chic, decent practicality for four, quality features throughout
– Loss of structural stiffness, Openometer is a tad indulgent, mini in size but maxi in price
