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NEW YORK (MONEY magazine) -
When the Mazda Miata drove onto the scene in 1989, the tiny roadster rekindled America's waning love of convertibles.
Other automakers rushed to join the convertible party, but their efforts largely failed to match the Miata's appeal. And besides, people were growing infatuated with those ever-larger SUVs that were rumbling down the road.
Well, Mazda's at it again with the MX-5, Miata's successor, and this time there's plenty of worthy competition.
See our gallery of six red-hot convertibles
Convertibles are staging a big comeback. There are more models and higher sales right now than ever before. And today's drop-tops are not mere extravagant toys. All six of the new top-down cars we tested proved strong in everything from style and performance to value, quality and safety. These convertibles are still a joy to drive, but they deliver more than just the wind in your hair.
Year-round use
One ground-breaking feature of today's convertibles (expensive models, anyway) is the folding hardtop that goes up or down with the push of a button. It replaces the traditional softtop, and it has rescued models like the Mercedes SLK and Lexus SC 430 from winter exile in the garage, turning them into 12-month vehicles even in the snowbelt. Likewise, today's cloth-top models are incorporating tightly fitted layers of insulated material to ward off chilly air and outside noise. Stronger construction and high-tech materials are making convertibles more suited for everyday transportation. Modern, rigid vehicle structures have sharply eased the shake, rattle and roll that used to hamper the ride and handling of roofless cars.
Improved safety
Most new convertibles employ electronic stability control, which prevents spins and accidents. Many also feature steel roll hoops, including pop-up bars on pricier models like the Mercedes SLK that protect your head during a rollover. The latest Porsche Boxster we drove added head air bags that deploy from the windowsill. That's a convertible first.
Lower prices
You can spend $60,000 and get an excellent convertible like the Corvette or the Mercedes SLK55. But even drivers with lower budgets can take the top down in style. Three models we tested start at around $25,000, including the Mini Cooper. Another, the two-seat Pontiac Solstice, goes on sale later this year for $20,000.
See our gallery of six red-hot convertibles
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