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Full 2012 MINI Cooper Roadster Review
What's New for 2012
The 2012 Mini Cooper Roadster is an all-new model.
Introduction
There's a new addition to the family of those quirky, zippy and fun cars known as Minis. The 2012 Mini Cooper Roadster is a simpler, more basic convertible that still delivers the twisty road entertainment that has become synonymous with the Mini brand. With a convertible Mini already in the family, however, some may wonder if the Roadster is really necessary.
Placed next to the regular convertible, the Mini Roadster's most prominent difference is its raked-back windshield. In back, there's also a hint of a conventional trunk lid in place of the convertible's odd tailgate hatch. In the absence of rear seats, the Mini Roadster benefits from more luggage space than the convertible. Unfortunately, that is just about where the Roadster's advantages end.
The Roadster's fabric top is the source of most of the car's drawbacks. With the top up, the lack of an inner liner means that all of the roof's internals are visible, while road and wind noise are noticeably louder. And just as with the Mini Convertible, rear visibility leaves much to be desired. The top is also manually operated and not at all easy to deploy from a seated position. With the top down, the wind buffeting at highway speeds is nearly intolerable. We heartily recommend that buyers purchase the optional power-assist top and wind deflector.
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