The slow disappearance of the British convertible

© A. Krivonosov

Convertibles in the UK have gone from a regular fixture of model line-ups to an almost niche product. According to CarGurus research, the country's 30 biggest car brands now sell just 11 new open-top models between them — the lowest figure in two decades.

The decline is sharp: in 2005 buyers had 37 new convertibles to choose from, which means the choice has shrunk by roughly 70%. The segment dropped 31% in the past year alone, and is down 62% compared with 2020. Another metric tells the same story: only 9 of the UK's top 30 manufacturers still offer a convertible. In 2020 there were 14 such brands, and in 2010 — 19.

The survivors are BMW, Fiat, Ford, Mazda, MG, Mini, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen. But even here the ranges are shrinking. BMW has cut its convertible offering from five models to two in a year, Porsche has dropped the open-top 718, and Jeep has exited the segment entirely. Manufacturers are increasingly steering investment toward higher-demand, higher-margin territory: crossovers, EVs and hybrid SUVs.

The paradox is that buyer interest in open-top motoring hasn't gone away. The used market tells the opposite story: according to the CarGurus Price Trends index, the average price of a used convertible has risen by around 10% over the year, reaching roughly £18,000. By average price, convertibles now trail only coupes and pickups, beating even SUVs.

The reason is simple: new supply is falling while emotional demand stays. A convertible is rarely bought as the most practical family car. It's bought for the feeling, the design, the summer drives and that «wind in your hair» sensation that no big screen or high ground clearance can replicate. When fewer new cars enter the market, well-kept used ones start holding their value much harder.

Electrification isn't saving the segment either. Of those 11 new UK convertibles, only two are fully electric — the MG Cyberster and the Fiat 500e. That suggests carmakers haven't yet found a mass-market formula for the electric convertible: the battery adds weight, the body needs extra reinforcement without a fixed roof, and the price quickly drifts into image-statement territory.

The bottom line isn't that nobody wants convertibles. Quite the opposite: they've simply become too rare and too irrational for big production plans. Which is exactly why open-top cars are quietly leaving showrooms — and at the same time becoming more visible to anyone shopping not for transport, but for a mood.