Express & Star

Spring has always been the time to buy a soft top. Peter Carroll takes a look at a range of different cabrios - from humble cars priced at under £10,000 to the latest in Italian exotica - which one’s right for you?

RUGGED: Jeep Wrangler, £17,995

So what’s a dirty great off-roader doing in a feature on cabrios? Well, the versatile Jeep Wrangler IS a convertible as it comes with a removable hard top. To be honest it’s a bit of a fiddly operation to remove the so-called Freedom Top, but if we get a decent spell of weather this summer it will be worth it.

The Wrangler has boxy looks that hark back to the Jeeps of old, much better road manners than previous models and it’s a quieter drive too - though still a tad harsh compared with more run-of-the-mill cars. But it’s fantastic off-road and possesses a real fun factor that’s missing from too many cars of today.

The latest version of the Wrangler is also safer than its predecessors and more economical thanks to its 2.8 diesel engine. There’s plenty of room for five and their luggage in the long wheelbase Wrangler Unlimited model, which Jeep promotes as “the only four-door convertible in the world.”