Cooper S 2dr
2022 MINI Convertible
The 2022 Mini John Cooper Works Convertible just wants to have fun. It’s not the best performance bang for your buck. Beauty isn’t its strong suit. And the interior isn’t making up for other shortcomings — LOL if you want to make use of the trunk or put an adult in the backseat. But dammit. The JCW Convertible sure knows how to spread a smile across your face. It all starts with the little 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder under the striped hood. Mini attaches one of the shoutiest exhausts available on any car to this engine, and it’s literally popping and crackling with character. Lose the roof, and you’re simply that much closer to the theatrics. Nobody expects this tiny car to make such angry sounds, but no matter what mode or setting you’re in, the JCW makes it known that the drive is about to be an experience. We knew all of the above from driving past JCW models, but Mini made a number of changes to the 2022 JCW lineup that applies to both the Hardtop and Convertible. We’ll start with the looks, as they’re easily the most controversial of the bunch. Mini gave the JCW a totally new front with updated LED headlights and a much larger grille with squared-off openings for greater engine cooling capacity. It all looks drastically meaner than the previous JCW. What that car's grille was still ensconced in honeycomb, the face had a playful and friendly demeanor. The new JCW face is looking at you with a bloodthirsty hunger for air and incoming bugs. We will say that photographs don’t portray it in the best light, as even though it may appear tall and menacing without scale, the Mini’s small overall size dampens the grille’s effects. Beyond the changes up front, Mini has fitted the JCW with a new rear diffuser and retained its signature Union Jack taillights that are oh-so-fun to see at night. It all hangs together well enough, but we can’t be calling the Mini cute anymore. Instead of resembling a soft, friendly rabbit, it’s much more of a rabid raccoon now. Another important change for 2022 is a newly-tuned and optional adaptive damping system. Mini says new frequency-selective damper tech allows the car to ride a hair smoother on poor roads. Meanwhile, its stiffest setting is 10% more aggressive than before, increasing agility even further on the track, Mini claims. However! Our test car was not fitted with these dampers, and instead had the standard, fixed JCW Sport suspension. As all Minis tend to, this JCW Convertible is rather stiff and uncomfortable when you’re not aiming for apexes. Is it acceptable for those who are accustomed to a stiff-riding vehicle? Yes, in that context, it’s fine. But don’t even consider trying to take a sip of water on a poor road. You’ll soon be wearing the beverage, and your passenger might be, too. We’re hoping to get a shot at the adaptive dampers one day to see what difference …
Full Review
The 2022 Mini John Cooper Works Convertible just wants to have fun. It’s not the best performance bang for your buck. Beauty isn’t its strong suit. And the interior isn’t making up for other shortcomings — LOL if you want to make use of the trunk or put an adult in the backseat. But dammit. The JCW Convertible sure knows how to spread a smile across your face. It all starts with the little 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder under the striped hood. Mini attaches one of the shoutiest exhausts available on any car to this engine, and it’s literally popping and crackling with character. Lose the roof, and you’re simply that much closer to the theatrics. Nobody expects this tiny car to make such angry sounds, but no matter what mode or setting you’re in, the JCW makes it known that the drive is about to be an experience. We knew all of the above from driving past JCW models, but Mini made a number of changes to the 2022 JCW lineup that applies to both the Hardtop and Convertible. We’ll start with the looks, as they’re easily the most controversial of the bunch. Mini gave the JCW a totally new front with updated LED headlights and a much larger grille with squared-off openings for greater engine cooling capacity. It all looks drastically meaner than the previous JCW. What that car's grille was still ensconced in honeycomb, the face had a playful and friendly demeanor. The new JCW face is looking at you with a bloodthirsty hunger for air and incoming bugs. We will say that photographs don’t portray it in the best light, as even though it may appear tall and menacing without scale, the Mini’s small overall size dampens the grille’s effects. Beyond the changes up front, Mini has fitted the JCW with a new rear diffuser and retained its signature Union Jack taillights that are oh-so-fun to see at night. It all hangs together well enough, but we can’t be calling the Mini cute anymore. Instead of resembling a soft, friendly rabbit, it’s much more of a rabid raccoon now. Another important change for 2022 is a newly-tuned and optional adaptive damping system. Mini says new frequency-selective damper tech allows the car to ride a hair smoother on poor roads. Meanwhile, its stiffest setting is 10% more aggressive than before, increasing agility even further on the track, Mini claims. However! Our test car was not fitted with these dampers, and instead had the standard, fixed JCW Sport suspension. As all Minis tend to, this JCW Convertible is rather stiff and uncomfortable when you’re not aiming for apexes. Is it acceptable for those who are accustomed to a stiff-riding vehicle? Yes, in that context, it’s fine. But don’t even consider trying to take a sip of water on a poor road. You’ll soon be wearing the beverage, and your passenger might be, too. We’re hoping to get a shot at the adaptive dampers one day to see what difference …
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Retail Price
$31,900
MSRP / Window Sticker Price
| Engine | 2.0L I-4 |
| MPG | 23 City / 33 Hwy |
| Seating | 4 Passengers |
| Transmission | 6-spd man w/OD |
| Power | 189 @ 5000 rpm |
| Drivetrain | front-wheel |
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