Us Brits do love our soft-tops. So there should be a clear winner out of these three, because only one of them is a full convertible.
That one is the Mini, whose fabric hood folds all the way down. The DS 3 and Fiat 500, on the other hand, only give you an enlarged opening roof panel, so the body structure remains in place around you even on the three days each year when it doesn’t rain.
There are similarities that run between all three cars, however. One is that they all have turbocharged petrol engines, but each of these has its own character.
In the 500, you have a the 0.9-litre Twinair unit. This needs lots of revs; give it some stick and it does pick its skirts up, at least a bit, but it also makes an unholy racket.
It sends a lot of vibes through the car, too. So it’s easy to feel how much better the 1.2-litre unit in the DS 3 is. Its engine is one of its stand-out features, in fact – it comes within 5bhp of the Mini’s 1.5, and both cars accelerate to 62mph in the same 8.9 seconds.
The DS 3 rides with impressive plushness, too, though its handling is a bit all over the place. It feels eager as you throw it at a corner, but its shocks don’t take charge of body movement the way the more firmly sprung Mini’s do.
The 500, too, lacks body control when the steering wheel is being twirled. It doesn’t like driving over poor surfaces, either. The Mini, however, turns in well, crouches instead of rolling and sticks to the road like a Mini should. There’s no sign of a shimmying chassis, either.
None of these three are dynamic stars, to be blunt. But the Mini is the most entertaining and the DS comes close to matching it, leaving the cheaper 500 chasing shadows.
Fiat’s evergreen it-car is still a fashion item par excellence, however. And being the cheapest of the lot carries a certain appeal – even though once whole-life costs are taken into account, the Mini makes just as strong a case for itself. Either will cost you less to own than the DS 3, though.
If what you need is a five-seater, however, there’s only one choice. That’s the DS 3, which will also do a good job of protecting all those passengers from buffeting when the top’s open.
The Mini is more blowy to ride in, but it’s also quieter. And just as importantly, it’s the one of these three whose cabin feels like that of a true premium car. It’s classy, well made and well equipped, and despite the absence of a roof it’s easily the sturdiest, most solid feeling of the three to drive.
Thus we have a winner, and it’s the one that costs the most to buy. Not to own, though. And as well as getting you back the biggest proportion of your investment when you sell it, the Mini Convertible will give you the most pleasure in between times.
1st Mini Convertible
For - Comfort, handling, cabin ambience, refinement
Against - High list price, offset pedals, rear seat comfort
Verdict - The current definition of a fine small convertible
2nd DS 3 Cabrio
For - Interior space, driving position, engine
Against - Floppy-feeling body, gearshift, depreciation
Verdict - Good fun, but outdone by the Mini
3rd Fiat 500C
For - Desirability, low CO2, low price, low PCP costs
Against - Gruff engine, inflexible driving position
Verdict - Has some winning ways, but can’t be recommended here
DS 3 Cabrio 1.2 Puretech 130 Elegance
Engine size: 1.2-litre, petrol, turbocharged
List price: £19,195
Target Price: £18,683
Power: 129bhp
Torque: 170lb ft
0-62mph: 8.9sec
Top speed: 126mph
Fuel economy: 62.8mpg (official combined)
CO2 emissions: 105g/km
Fiat 500C 0.9 Twinair 105 Lounge
Engine size: 0.9-litres, petrol, turbocharged
Price from: £17,200
Target Price: £16,121
Power: 104bhp
Torque: 107lb ft
0-62mph: 11.1sec
Top speed: 117mph
Fuel economy: 67.3mpg (official combined)
CO2 emissions: 99g/km
Mini Convertible 1.5 Cooper Pepper Pack
Engine size: 1.5-litre, petrol, turbocharged
List price: £19,815
Target Price: £18,379
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 162lb ft
0-62mph: 8.9sec
Top speed: 129mph
Fuel economy: 57.6mpg (official combined)
CO2 emissions: 114g/km