The start of spring means one thing - it’s officially convertible leasing season.
So if you want to feel the warm wind in your hair while putting the brakes on your spending, check out our list of the cheapest drop-tops you can lease right now.
On Monday March 20th 2023, the UK experiences what astronomers call a vernal equinox - when the length of the day and the duration of the night are equal.
In Europe, this equinox traditionally signals the green light on spring proper.
A week later, on Sunday March 26th, the clocks also spring forward, giving us all an extra hour of daylight to enjoy.
If you really want to take advantage of the UK’s sunnier months, leasing a convertible car ticks a lot of enjoyment boxes.
And to help you manage your budgets in the face of a cost of living crisis, below we’ve picked our Top 5 inflation-busting convertibles which are the cheapest available to lease.
You should also remember that a convertible isn’t just for summer. Creature comforts in the cabin, including toasty heated seats, mean you can get the top down year round while keeping a big smile on your face.
Fiat 500C | from £237 per month*
No, the Fiat 500 convertible isn’t a sports car - a type of vehicle you might often associate with a convertible.
But it’s still one of the most versatile and affordable soft tops on the market and has oodles of retro personality.
Rather than the entire roof lifting back and folding away into the boot - as you see with a lot of other convertibles - instead the Fiat 500C’s fabric roof simply slides back on rails.
It essentially acts like a full-length sunroof.
And one of the big benefits of this is that the car’s roof pillars remain in place as you retract the material back, which means the car is nice and composed when you hit a bumpy road.
This sort of roof also makes for less wind buffeting while allowing you to just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Mazda MX-5 Roadster| from £324 per month*
The word ‘iconic’ probably doesn’t do the Mazda MX-5 justice - a convertible sports car that has been setting the standard since its UK launch back in 1990.
Heated seats are standard, no matter which trim level you choose, which is perfect for when the weather turns chilly mid-journey.
The roof is also folded down manually, rather than being electrically-operated, which means it’s an absolute doddle to get down and takes very little time, too.
The MX-5 Roadster is available with a choice of two petrol engines - a 1.5 litre unit with power of 132 PS, or with a 2.0 litre ‘Skyactiv-G’ mill with 182 PS.
While we’re focusing here on the traditional fabric soft-top convertible, you can also lease the MX-5 as a ‘Retractable Fastback’, or ‘RF’, which has a hard roof that folds into the rear at the touch of a button.
Abarth 595 Turismo | from £341 per month*
Performance specialists Abarth is a subsidiary of Fiat, and the 595 Turismo is based on the Fiat 500C.
The two cars are, however, very different beasts and this little Abarth hot-hatch has power of 167 PS and can hit 62 mph from a standstill in just 7.3 seconds.
Just like the Fiat 500C (see above) the full length fabric roof of the Abarth 595 Turismo slides away to reveal the heavens above.
Lease customers can also expect plenty of kit as standard, including high-end Koni suspension at the front and rear, 17 inch alloys, and a sports leather and Alcantara steering wheel with carbon fibre detailing. Nice.
The sporty Abarth 595 Turismo will also return up to 40 miles to the gallon, making it as cheap to run as it is to lease.
MINI Convertible | from £346 per month*
How do you make the super fun MINI hatchback even more entertaining? You lease the soft-top Convertible version, that’s how.
The great thing about the MINI Convertible’s roof is that you actually get a sort of two-for-one experience.
If you press the electrified roof button once, you’ll unlock ‘sunroof mode’ - where the fabric simply slides back half way without retracting fully, which is perfect for colder days when you don’t want full exposure to the elements.
Press the button again, and the roof will fully disappear into the top of the boot, revealing an abundance of sky above your head.
You can enjoy the MINI Convertible in lots of different trims, from the entry-level, 136 PS Cooper Classic, to the balls-to-the-wall 231 PS John Cooper Works.
Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet | from £352 per month*
Yes, this popular VW SUV really does come with the option of a soft-top.
The T-Roc, which sits between the Taigo and the Tiguan in the German firm’s range, was recently named ‘Best Small SUV’ at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2023, so the Cabriolet model sits on a critically-acclaimed platform.
The electric roof takes around 9 seconds to retract, and can be operated at speeds of up to 18 mph - ideal for when the drizzle hits during your urban commute.
And despite the compromise on luggage space that everyone makes when they lease a convertible, the boot of the T-Roc Cabriolet still weighs-in at a decent 284 litres.
Entry-level models also get 17 inch alloys, heated seats and sat-nav, as well as adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, and parking sensors front and rear.
There’s a choice of two petrol engines - a 1.0 litre powerplant with 110 PS or a 1.5 litre TSI with power of 150 PS.
And an electric option….
We’re focusing here on affordable convertibles, which means you’ll be looking at a traditionally-fuelled vehicle.
But there are a couple of budget friendly fully-electric soft-tops to consider, too.
Abarth 500e Cabrio
And if we had to choose, we’d go for the brand new Abarth 500e Cabrio.
A 42 kWh battery translates to power of 155 PS and 235 Nm of torque and means the pocket rocket rag-top can hurry from 0-62mph in just 7.0 seconds flat.
You can also expect a range of around 185 miles between charges.
Like the Fiat 500C and the Abarth 595C (see above) the fabric roof simply slides, rather than folding away, which means the roof pillars remain in place and you enjoy all of the handling-boosting torsional rigidity that comes with it.
Launch ‘Scorpionissima’ models are exceedingly well-equipped as standard.
Lease customers can expect tech such as autonomous emergency braking and lane keep assist, while the 500e Cabrio’s ‘Sound Generator’ pipes a mock engine/exhaust noise into the cabin to replicate Abarth’s track weapons of the past.
*Prices include VAT. Credit is Subject to Status, Ts and Cs and Arrangement Fees apply. Excess mileage may apply. Stock levels and prices correct as of 14/03/23.
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