The ten cheapest new convertibles are shockingly expensive

It remains a strange issue, that of the convertibles. Two model generations ago there was an open version of almost every B or C segmenter, often with a steel folding roof, and now almost every affordable convertible has disappeared from the scene. Meanwhile, in other areas, manufacturers find the tiniest hole large enough to stuff a model into, as cars like the Volkswagen Taigo, Renault Arkana, Toyota Corolla Cross, and the entire Cupra and DS brands prove conclusively. Apparently the automotive sun worshiper segment is just not profitable enough. Or rather: convertibles, like station wagons, are not popular everywhere, and therefore simply no longer interesting in these globalized times.

This is, of course, not news at all. Three years ago we wrote words to this effect and cried at the grave of the convertibles that had already passed us by then. Even then we were concerned about the prices of the remaining copies. You guessed it: looking back, the range back then was as extensive as it was affordable. For the maximum shock effect – cold showers are said to be healthy – you will find below the ten cheapest convertibles of 2023 and those of 2020, side by side. There are some caveats to that. In both cases we have not considered the Fiat 500C, for the simple reason that we do not consider that car to be a full-fledged convertible due to its fixed roof arches. This is just the case for the Smart Fortwo due to the removable roof arches, but that car is about to be scrapped. Smart is taking a new, different path with the electric #1 and you guessed it: an open car is not part of that for the time being. For the sake of form, we still report what such an open, electric Fortwo should cost at least: €27,910. This makes the Smart for those who can still get hold of one by a long way the cheapest convertible.

The differences between the ‘old’ and the new list are really shocking. Even if we ignore the 2020 Smart, the base price of new open-top driving rises by more than 10,000 euros. Four of the six models have been scrapped or are about to be scrapped, the rest have almost without exception become very much more expensive.

After the Smart, the Mazda MX-5 is now the cheapest convertible in the Netherlands. With that we immediately have a very nice car, but that is also allowed for the almost 40 grand that such an MX-5 costs at least nowadays. With that price, it will just as well overtake the Mini Convertible, undoubtedly also because the range of that car has been somewhat stripped down with a view to the upcoming new version. For €40,430 you can now immediately step into a real Cooper, although we all know that the option list at Mini is as long as it is unavoidable.

In third place we find the car that is actually the last representative of that somewhat sober convertible segment of yesteryear. The Volkswagen T-Roc Convertible is not a Golf with its high carriage, but it is an ideal thing for those who want an open roof, but do not want too much fuss.

On to the 60

With that we immediately had the 40-mille segment. We even completely skip the ‘50,000 euros’ category. Thanks to the disappearance of the BMW 2-series convertible, the open Mercedes C-class and a significant price increase for the BMW Z4, this is no longer there, after which we will steam through to 60,000 euros and more in one fell swoop. Much more. Let’s put it this way: if you have to go to the Porsche site for a list of ‘the ten cheapest …’, and the BMW 8-series, then you know that the subject in question is very wrong. Moreover, it is by no means the case that all models in this list have a long life ahead of them. The Jaguar F-Type, for example, is in its last year and the Mercedes-Benz E-class convertible is being replaced by a model whose price we have yet to see.

As comfort and refuge there is of course the second-hand market, at least for the time being. That is why this weekend follows a list of five used convertibles. Spoiler alert: they are much less expensive.