Here comes the summer!

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." nextpage

BUDGET: Mitsubishi Colt, £9,999

This is the only cabrio with an electronically retracting hard top roof that you can get for under £10,000, though the quicker Daihatsu Copen runs it pretty close at £11,495 on the road. In fact, with the exception of the soft-top versions of the Smart Fortwo, this little Colt is the cheapest way into the world of top-down motoring.

It has a slightly hunchbacked profile when its roof is up but looks much more stylish when it is down. Performance from the 1.5 litre engine is reasonable and turbo models are available for those wanting extra power. All the convenience of a folding hard top - for the price of a supermini.

CLASSIC: Mazda MX-5, £15,750

Now in its third incarnation and still the classic budget roadster, offering a low-slung driving position and rear wheel drive thrills for the purist. Mazda has now come up with a clever hard-top version of the car with a roof that can be raised or lowered in just 12 seconds - far quicker than most of the competition.

But the traditional car with a manually-operated fabric roof has the sharper handling because of its lighter weight - and its roof can be raised or lowered in a matter of seconds.

These days, congestion and speed cameras conspire against the pleasures of the open road, so Mazda's spirited 1.8 petrol engine should be ample for most needs. A 2.0 litre is also available for those needing some extra kick.nextpage

EXECUTIVE: Jaguar XK Cabriolet, £66,995

This effortlessly elegant cabrio remains the car many people aspire to own and who can blame them? The XK's seductive curves make it one of the most desirable cars in its, or any, market sector - though it is arguably at its best with the top down.

Some of the XK's design cues were repeated in the well-received XF and these are the cars that are starting to turn round Jaguar's fortunes. The XK is helped by the use of aluminium in its construction process, which makes it a lighter, stronger vehicle than its predecessor.

It's a comfortable car - but more of a two plus two than a proper four-seater as space is limited in the back. The XK is no slouch but unless you opt for a supercharged version it is happier as a relaxed cruiser than an out and out sports car. The supercharged version is quick but it costs an extra £10K.nextpage

PREMIUM: BMW 1 Convertible, from £22,335

There's likely to be a battle royale in the premium compact convertible market this summer between BMW and Audi, whose 1 Series Cabriolet and A3 Cabriolet have been launched within weeks of each other.

The 1 Series Cabriolet is a good effort from its BMW. It looks stylish - reminiscent of 3 Series rag-tops from the 1980s - and is impressively rigid for an open-top car. It drives well and does not ride too firmly either.

While BMW chose the hard-top route for its 3 Series Convertible, it has stuck with a fabric roof for the 1 Series version. Not that you would know the difference. The fabric top is very well-made and fits snugly. It retracts electronically - but can't match the A3's roof for speed.

You can get two adults in the back for short journeys and the lack of a hard-top means the boot is of a reasonable size. The Beemer is rear wheel drive and comes with a wide range of engines, with the 120d likely to prove the most sensible option at just under £25K on the road. It faces tough competition from the closely-matched A3, however, and it may all boil down looks in the end. nextpage

SPORTY: Nissan 350Z Roadster, from £28,295

Nissan's forthcoming GT-R supercar may be getting all the column inches but don't forget its humbler sister the 350Z Roadster. The soft-top version of the 350Z is a belter - with street appeal that would shame something twice the price.

It's quick, fun and affordable - and not every convertible can tick all three boxes. The eager Nissan scorches to 60mph in six seconds thanks to its 3.5 litre V6 power plant and its performance rivals a Porsche Boxster costing £15,000 more. It is also solidly-built, generously equipped and looks good with the roof up or down.