10 Fuel-Efficient Convertibles for Late-Summer Cruising
July 4th may be gone, but there's still a whole lot more convertible season for car lovers to enjoy.
We regularly marvel at the fact that, prior to the recession, buying a convertible meant sinking your cash into a Chrysler Sebring/200, a Jeep Wrangler or a higher-end luxury vehicle from BMW, Audi or Mercedes-Benz. The convertible is still more costly than its hard-top competitors, but gas prices that are below $2.50 a gallon and 45 cents lower per gallon than they were at this time last year are making convertibles worth even a frugal driver's consideration.
In 2014, TrueCar looked into convertible buying habits and found that drivers in California, Florida, Texas, New York, and New Jersey were the most likely to buy them. Not surprisingly, folks in Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota, Montana and Idaho who face short summer and cold winters are a bit less likely to take the plunge.
With vehicle sales up just 1.5% through June, according to MotorIntelligence, we aren't exactly surprised that folks would hold off on a convertible. Still, car buyers 35 to 54 years old and nearly 40% of the female car-buying public love the convertible and are forcing the industry to give them more options. However, there are just four convertibles on the road today that are capable of 30 miles per gallon or more -- and Tesla doesn't make any of them.
With U.S. fuel efficiency standards closing in on toward 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, as the Environmental Protection Agency has mandated, more fuel-efficient vehicles have become both more plentiful and less expensive. The average fuel economy (window-sticker value) of new vehicles sold in the in August was 25.3 mpg, according to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. That's still less than halfway to the EPA and Department of Transportation's goal that they set back in 2012, but it beats the roughly 19 miles per gallon that the Department of Transportation measured for the same pool of vehicles in 1995. It's also closing in on double the average mileage of the light-duty vehicles on U.S. roads in 1980. Here are just ten convertibles that are helping the category catch up:
This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.
Starting price: $31,995
Miles per gallon: 22 city, 30 highway, 26.5 mpg
This is the last run for the Eos, which stuck around just long enough after its introduction in 2006 to watch the U.S. market fall out of love with the hard-top convertible. Lucky for the fortunate few who were able to scoop up one of the last ones, Volkswagen just loves pouring standard features into cars across its various lines, which is why the Eos is treated like and Audi when it comes to perks. The Eos comes with front and rear LED lights standard, with retina-searing xenon headlights thrown in for good measure. Inside, the Eos gives away leather seats, dual climate control, heated seats, touchscreen sound system, satellite and HD Radio and Bluetooth connectivity, all with the price of admission. It doesn't skimp under the hood, either. The same 2.0-liter, 200-horsepower engine is available in all models and gives this drop-top a whole lot of punch for a plaything. Unfortunately, the Eos doesn't leave room for much else. The nine cubic foot trunk is already down to Fiat proportions, but drop the standard folding hardtop with sunroof and your trunk space shrinks to five cubic feet. Pack light.
Starting price: $47,000
Miles per gallon: 23 city, 30 highway, 26.5 mpg
Of course, if you want an actual Audi, you can always just get one. The 220-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, quattro all-wheel drive, customizable driving settings with Audi drive select, acoustic folding roof, 12-way heated leather power front seats, automatic climate control and touchscreen entertainment system with Bluetooth capability are all strong arguments for spending the extra cash.
However, little throw-ins like a rearview camera, rain/light-sensing wipers and headlights, garage door opener and keyless stop, start and entry are all quite enticing in their own right.
Starting price: $38,650
Miles per gallon: 23 city, 34 highway, 28.5 mpg
The 2 Series may be the entry-level 3 Series's less-fortunate sibling, but it's still a Bimmer.
With a bit more plastic in the interior, a bit more petrochemical upholstery on the sheets and just a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, 240-horsepower turbo engine under the hood, it's basically a baby step above the company's Mini badge. However, with its sport setting, stability control and performance suspension, this soft-top bargain BMW wants to give you all the fun of driving this brand at the cost of some of its more luxurious components. You still get the iDrive touchscreen computer system, rain-sensing wipers, automatic climate control and keyless ignition, but the satellite radio is extra, leather and wood are nonexistent and the more high-tech safety features are noticeably absent. Meanwhile, you're in a BMW convertible for less than $40,000.
Starting price: $47,000
Miles per gallon: 25 city, 32 highway, 28.5 mpg
The former SLK250 is Mercedes's answer to the U.S. automakers' "pony" cars like the Mustang and Camaro.
The base 2.0-liter 4-cylinder sits just fine with those drivers who'll never need more than 241 horsepower and love their vehicle for more aesthetic reasons. The more muscle-minded buyer will wonder why you ever settle for anything less than the AMG V8 and 400 horsepower of the SLK55.
However, all of the above look the same when you're sitting in commuter or beach traffic. With that in mind, you may as well take the one that gives you the same retractable hardtop, memory seats, heated mirrors, garage door opener, integrated compass and Bluetooth audio streaming while sucking down way less gas.
Starting price: $36,600
Miles per gallon: 24 city, 35 highway, 29.5 mpg
Yes, it's another Audi.
A whole lot of other Audis have the same features, including Audi Connect capability. However, none of them is available at this price, which is dirt cheap for an Audi, or with this mileage. Forget that said price tag gets you those blinding xenon headlights with LED trim, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, leather seats, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, an SD card slot with 32 gigabytes of operating capacity and rain-sensing wipers and light-sensing headlights. Because you chose and A3 instead of any other Audi, your AT&T Audi Connect service gets you the Audi MMI connect app with access to thousands of online radio stations, picture navigation and both Facebook and Twitter access. That's all exclusive to the A3 and all yours just for being a savvy shopper. Oh, and the combined mileage of more than 25 miles per gallon isn't so shabby either.
Starting price: $25,490
Miles per gallon: 25 city, 34 highway, 29.5 combined
The iconic Beetle dates back to World War II, but, by the mid-1970s, other compact cars began encroaching on the Beetle's turf and Volkswagen was staring down bankruptcy. To right the ship, Volkswagen had to ditch the Beetle in favor of the Golf hatchback.
Thus began the more than 20-year absence of new Beetles from U.S. roads. By the time a New Beetle concept car surfaced in 1994, engineers had figured out how to put the engine up front, how to give it front wheel drive and a more spacious interior to make it look like an updated version of the original while giving it little tweaks like a flower vase on the dashboard. The current Beetle's power soft top, 6.3-inch touchscreen apps display, rearview camera, blind spot monitor and 210-horsepower turbocharged engine don't get the reception that accompanied the Beetle's comeback and spawned the "new futurism" of updated Mustangs and Camaros, but the car's still just as sweet.
Starting price: $24,915
Miles per gallon equivalent: 27 city, 36 highway, 31.5 combined
The Miata is every bit the same powerhouse as the Porsche Boxster it competes against.
O.K., so the engine is is a little pokier at 155-horsepower from a 2-liter, 4-cylinder -- no matter which trim you pay for. That said, the two cars have similar acceleration (zero to 60 in 6.5 seconds for the Porsche, 7 seconds for the Miata), similar ratings from Consumer Reports (90 for Porsche, 89 for Mazda) and similar customer satisfaction. The Miata's available hardtop that kicks the starting price up above $27,000 only closes the gap further.
Redesigned this year with lower ground clearance than ever and with musclebound, stingray-style curves, the Miata is also 148-pounds lighter. That's great for its mileage and for the addition of perks like a Mazda Connect touchscreen and communications system, but it also makes that engine feel almost Porsche fast.
Starting price: $25,950
Miles per gallon equivalent: 27 city, 38 highway, 32.5 combined
Mini has never been an adequate description of all this car has to offer.
The Mini's toys, including Mini Connected entertainment center featuring a 6.5-inch high-definition display, Apple-designed Bluetooth interface and app for smartphone and iTunes connectivity and optional GPS all make this remarkably zippy 134 horsepower subcompact a fun ride. The Sirius satellite radio, Pandora and HD radio just provide the soundtrack, but the most indulgent item built into the dash is a Rain Warner that sends a message to your smartphone when rain is coming and your car's top is down. Between that feature and the top that lets you open just a sunroof-sized portion if you desire, this Mini convertible is no econobox.
Starting price: $20,345
Miles per gallon equivalent: 31 city, 40 highway, 35.5 combined
Chrysler isn't known for producing particularly fun convertibles, so consider its Italian cousin an exception. The cinquecento measures a scant 140 inches long and 64 inches wide, gives parallel parkers a 30.6-inch turning radius for squeezing into tight spots and finds room for 10 cubic feet of trunk space -- nearly double that of the Mini.
The retractable, pool-cover-style sunroof, power outlets, five cupholders, cruise control, power windows and 40 miles-per-gallon highway mileage -- not to mention 31 mpg in the city -- can't get this car to go where the Jeep Wrangler does, but it's a stylish, efficient vehicle for when you're not off-roading.
Starting price: $12,490
Miles per gallon equivalent: 122 city, 93 highway, 107 combined
Electric charge range: 68 miles
Smart is upgrading the look and feel of this car, but the gas-powered Fortwo won't get its U.S. update until later this year. The electric model may have to wait until 2017 to get the same treatment.
For years, the combustion-engine version of this two-seater wasn't great on gas. However, the EV came as a power convertible top or as a coupe with a panoramic roof and threw in with power heated exterior mirrors, rain and light sensors, a radio app and automatic temperature control. It still takes up to four and a half hours to charge it from zero, but it doesn't burn through a lot of power.
All this said, we'll mention that the forthcoming upgrade widens the wheelbase, gives drivers a smartphone dock for better access to the car's myriad apps that substitute for dashboard items and adds items you likely thought were standard: Bluetooth hands-free calling, cruise control, power steering, power windows and crosswind assist for its tiny frame. None of that will bulk up this vehicle's 47 horsepower, however, but it may make it a little easier to love.