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Call it a cabriolet, a convertible, a drop top, a targa or a spider – driving an open-top car feels like freedom. Here, from top-of-the-range luxury tourers to compact, nippy numbers, is my pick of the latest models.
Mercedes-Benz sub-brand Maybach announced its canvas-topped, four-litre bi-turbo V8-engined SL 680 in 2024 (from £241,350). Like most manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz has moved away from the mid-2000s trend for heavy and complex folding metal hardtops, with canvas roofs now stronger and more soundproof than ever. Bearing a resemblance to its sportier sibling, the Mercedes-AMG SL 63, the SL 680 is covered in chrome, has a sumptuous interior and the option of a Maybach monogrammed bonnet. Not exactly subtle luxury – but who wants discretion when you’re cruising in the sun?
Also in the convertible grand tourer market is the Bentley Continental GTC. The latest iteration (from £222,600) comes with a hybridised V8, tipping the GTC over the 2.6-tonne mark, but it still packs a punch with 771bhp and huge amounts of torque. But for me, in this category, the Aston Martin DB12 Volante edges it in looks and sheer exhilaration. This self-declared “super tourer” (the 2+2 seat version costs £204,500) loses nothing of its sharp handling and performance, with its four-litre bi-turbo V8 that churns out 671bhp. Like the Bentley, it’s possible to hold a conversation in the cockpit – even at motorway speeds – and with the canvas roof up, it’s cosy and quiet.
Another British-made convertible is the new three-litre turbo six-cylinder Morgan SuperSport (£102,000). A step-change from the usual, no-frills fare by the small Malvern-based carmaker, the SuperSport is Morgan’s nod to the modern age. Since 1909, the British carmaker has almost exclusively made open-top cars but the SuperSport is the first to be designed with an optional removable hardtop, along with a better fit and finish, contemporary design details – such as its exposed ash wood frame in the boot area – and more sculptural surfaces. It does a good job of matching up to the practical drivability of its mass-manufactured rivals, yet still retains the marque’s hand-built character and charm.
The highly technical, hybrid-powered McLaren Artura Spider (from £221,500) is a three-litre V6 with a 7.4kWh battery producing 690bhp. Its retractable carbon hardtop roof folds away in 11 seconds, and it feels like a junior supercar. It sports a brilliant blend of raw performance and near silent 21 miles of all-electric driving, meaning the Artura Spider can wake up quietly, cruise calmly through the city and save its combustion engine for a B-road blast. It’s more than enough performance, but for those looking for a sensational show of speed, it’s worth stepping up to the V8-powered McLaren 750S Spider (from £276,000).
Porsche offers a number of different convertible takes on the 911, but for me the standout is the 911 Targa 4 GTS T-Hybrid (£154,400), complete with its metal and glass folding roof. A work of engineering brilliance, it’s a spectacle to watch as the entire rear glazed section lifts clear of the car to allow the small canvas roof section to fold neatly into the rear. The Targa 4 GTS can carry out all the usual daily duties, while its 3.6-litre, six-cylinder turbo engine will still hammer its way around a racetrack.
Maserati’s V6-powered, four-seat GranCabrio (£130,985) proves the Modena-based marque can still pull rank among the grand tourers – a category it practically created in the 1950s. Fast, fun and well-finished, it channels la dolce vita better than any of its competitors (even despite my slight niggles with the quality of some interior plastics and materials, and the slow, dual-screen infotainment unit which sits as the centrepiece). Maserati also leads the way with an all-electric convertible, the 2025 GranCabrio Folgore (£182,400). While it lacks some of the vocal drama of its combustion-engined sibling, it sits at the top of a small segment of all-electric convertibles. At the other end is the peppy, pocket-sized 153bhp Abarth 500e Convertible, which represents a comparative bargain at £32,985. With an automatic canvas roof that slides all the way back, dinky proportions and sprightly performance, the spicier sibling to the Fiat 500e is a solid little urban hot hatch, albeit with a 157-mile real-world range to match.
If you are looking for a convertible SUV, it’s relatively slim pickings. The rugged Jeep Wrangler (£63,465) is still hugely capable off-road and can switch to a convertible by taking the roof and side panels off, but its basic ride and interior hold it back. For a car that can storm down a rutted sandy lane while the blazing sun beats down on your back, there’s very little that can touch it – although the aesthetic appeal of the retro-styled Ford Bronco ($38,995) is hard to resist. The only downside being you’ll have to import if you’re not based in the US or China.
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