The top 10 most practical convertibles
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However, because these models are based on conventional sedans, the trunks are spacious enough to allow useful storage with the top down.
Like the best soft tops, retractable metal roofs typically open and close at the touch of a button and can be raised or lowered in less than a minute. For added convenience, some models like the BMW 3 Series Convertible allow owners to raise and lower the top from outside the car via an optional key fob remote.
The VW Eos’ folding hard top is unique in that it incorporates a power sliding glass sunroof so drivers can enjoy the sky even if they don’t want to drop the top.
The Volvo C70 includes a button in the trunk that raises the layered pieces of the roof to allow easier access to the storage area below.
A fourth model on our list, the Chrysler Sebring, can be ordered with a soft or a hard top. “A retractable hard top makes for a no-compromise convertible,” says Eric Andrew, a brand and marketing manager for Chrysler. “If you live in cold-weather places like Chicago, Detroit or New England, having a retractable hardtop makes it less of an intellectual exercise to try and talk yourself into buying a convertible. On the other hand, those who live in warmer climates are still choosing a traditional cloth top.”
Besides being more complex and heavier, hard tops also cost more than soft tops. Specifying the hardtop option on the Chrysler Sebring adds $2,000. The Mazda MX-5 Miata, which didn’t make our list by virtue of being a two-seater, costs $2,800 more with an optional folding hard top. Click on the “slide show” link below see our list of the other convertibles that came close to making the most practical list.
On the upside, convertibles — including retractable hard-top models — have a slightly better resale value than regular cars, says David Wurster, president of Vincentric, a Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based research firm that specializes in tracking long-term ownership costs.
“On average, convertibles enjoy about a 1 percent better residual value after five years than the typical sedan,” Wurster says. “This is primarily due to their inherent limited supply in the resale market compared with sedans, coupes, SUVs, vans, trucks and wagons.”
Most four-seat convertibles skimp on rear leg- and headroom compared to conventional models, but all of the vehicles on our list have rear seats large enough to accommodate adults in moderate comfort on short trips. And unless a convertible is strictly a third (or fourth) car in a family’s fleet, we find that having four seats versus two is one of the key attributes necessary to make a convertible practical enough for everyday use.
Cargo space on four-passenger models is also typically more generous than in two-seaters, and you will also find the rear seat useful for carrying more than just people.
The model on our list with the highest storage capacity is an unconventional choice for a convertible: The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited has more than 45 cubic feet of cargo volume. Some might not consider a Jeep to be a true convertible, but its top can indeed be removed, even if it has to be taken off the old-fashioned way — by hand.
Which brings up another important point: A top's mechanical operation affects practicality as well. Tops that retract automatically and store beneath power-operated lids are much more convenient than those that require the driver to get out of the car and snap a flexible cover into place. Of the 10 models on our list, only the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and Toyota Camry Solara Convertible require a soft cover to be installed separately.
A folding rear seat or a pass-through to the trunk can help maximize a convertible’s cargo-carrying ability by allowing drivers to carry long items like skis. The BMW 3 Series Convertible and Volvo C70, among others, offer pass-throughs to their trunks. And fold-down seats, like those available on the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, can make bringing home a large appliance easier than expected.
Our list of 10 practical convertibles is limited to four-passenger models, all of which offer greater utility than two-seat roadsters across the board, even if the rear seat is used only as additional storage space. We also looked at rear-seat legroom and headroom in order to evaluate each model's people-toting abilities. Cargo space (both with the top up and down) was another primary consideration.
With multiple variables, we decided to present a selection of practical convertibles from different price ranges instead of ranking them and calling one model more practical than another. While the majority of our selections cost less than $50,000, we also included selections from the $50,000-$100,000 segment, as well as the mid-six-figure range, for the benefit of affluent open-air aficionados.
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