Drivers seeking a new convertible car now face the fewest options in decades, as manufacturers prioritise SUVs and electric vehicles, according to analysis. Online marketplace CarGurus described open-top cars as an “increasingly rare sight”.
The study found the 30 UK car makers offer just 11 new convertible models collectively, a sharp drop from 29 models six years ago and the 37 available at the segment’s 2005 peak.
Recent cuts include BMW reducing its range from five to two models, Porsche dropping the 718, and Jeep ceasing to offer any. Despite the industry’s shift to electrification, fully electric convertibles remain rare, with only two models on sale in the UK.
Conversely, demand for used convertibles is increasing, with average prices up 10% year-on-year to around £18,000, CarGurus reported.
The company’s UK editorial director Chris Knapman said: “For years, convertibles were a core part of many manufacturer line-ups, and they brought character and desirability to a brand’s range.
“Today, they’re becoming an increasingly rare sight as carmakers focus investment on SUVs and electrification.
“Demand for open-top motoring clearly hasn’t disappeared.
“Used convertible prices are rising, and there’s still strong enthusiasm for cars that get the wind in your hair as part of a more evocative driving experience.”
Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said: “Brits have a long-established love affair with convertibles.
“The fact that prices for these models in the used car market are staying strong suggests that it’s not drivers but the auto companies who are changing tack, perhaps because they are playing to the global market and see soft top vehicles as too much of a GB niche.
“Perhaps drivers craving a wind-in-the-hair experience will have to switch to cars with a panoramic sunroof, while convertible devotees continue to seek out the sportier models still being produced by small volume companies.”
