The MINI JCW Convertible Named 2025 Sunday Times Car of the Year

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The MINI John Cooper Works Convertible has been named The Sunday Times Car of the Year 2025, beating out far more expensive performance cars for the title.

According to The Sunday Times’ Motoring Editor Nick Rufford, the JCW Convertible stands out for its balance of everyday usability and genuine driving engagement. “Supercars may be more exotic, but they don’t deliver everyday thrills at circa £37,000,” Rufford said. “Climb in, slip it into Drive and the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible zooms off with puppyish enthusiasm.”

Built at MINI Plant Oxford, the JCW Convertible sits at the top of the range, featuring an uprated 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and a revised chassis setup over the Cooper S. The result is sharper handling and a livelier character that, according to Rufford, “slingshots through bends in a way that would have delighted John Cooper.”

The recognition also highlights a surprising trend: the MINI Convertible continues to be a sales success. In markets like the United States, demand for the latest generation has grown substantially compared to its predecessor—an unexpected development in a segment that most brands have abandoned entirely.

David Beattie, Director of MINI UK and Ireland, called the award “a proud moment for both our team and our customers,” adding that it reflects MINI’s commitment to “playful performance, everyday versatility, and unmistakable design.”

Our Take:

The JCW Convertible’s win underlines something MINI has always understood better than most: small cars can still deliver big fun. As the market moves toward heavier, more complex performance cars, the JCW Convertible keeps things refreshingly simple—proof that engagement and character still matter.

The post The MINI JCW Convertible Named 2025 Sunday Times Car of the Year appeared first on MotoringFile.

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