Best Cars for Sun Lovers 2017
Recommended for Sun Lovers
The 911's cloth top works at speeds of up to 31 mph and takes about 13 seconds to lower. That's respectable, but the car's powered wind deflector is the real treat: It motors out and up from behind the rear seats at the push of a button to quell wind noise, even at highway speeds. All of that comes in one of the most viscerally fun-to-drive machines you can buy, with styling that should age well for years, if not decades, to come.
Recommended for Sun Lovers
Settle into an F-Type roadster and you're just 11 seconds away from wind in your hair and sun on your face. That's one quick top. The only thing quicker is the car itself, which hits 60 mph in 5.5 seconds in its slowest form, according to Jaguar. Get all the way up to a V-8 F-Type R and 60 mph takes just 4 seconds flat.
Recommended for Sun Lovers
The Model S makes this list for its panoramic moonroof, which can make you forget the roof is even there. That its opening and closing is controlled by a touchscreen only adds to the "Wow!" factor. Remember the glass-canopied jet cars they said we'd be driving by now? The Model S may be as close as we come in our lifetime … and it doesn't seem like much of a letdown.
Recommended for Sun Lovers
There are more practical cars on our list, to be sure. And most offer a more expansive view of the sky with the top down. But none match the Alfa Romeo's visceral thrills. The wind rushes into the passenger compartment and gently swirls behind your head, but other than that, it's all sound and fury. You hear every turbo whistle, rev of the engine and gearshift. If a peaceful, leisurely experience is your thing, this ain't your car.
Recommended for Sun Lovers
Available with a turbocharged V-6 or V-8 engine, the E-Class cabriolet is a comfortable soft-top cruiser with room for four adults and power to spare. The top drops at speeds up to 25 mph, and two air deflectors — one atop the windshield, the other behind the backseat — electronically deploy to keep the wind from mussing your 'do. Mercedes' optional Airscarf system blows adjustable heat at your neck to extend top-down convertible season through the cooler months.
Best Deal for Sun Lovers
Enjoying the sun doesn't mean you have to drop the top, as anyone who lives in a northern climate can appreciate. The Forester makes our list because of its ginormous panoramic sunroof option. On those bluebird days, the Forester will take you up the slopes — or just to the grocery store — and bathe you in sunshine at the same time.
Recommended for Sun Lovers
The 2 Series is everything a small, four-seat luxury convertible should be: playful in its handling, refined in its ride quality and with a timeless style. The M240i's turbo six-cylinder packs thundering acceleration, but the 230i's turbo four-cylinder is also punchy. Sun lovers with their weekend baggage (suitcases, not significant others) know the cargo compromises of a convertible, but the 2 Series' trunk has 11.8 cubic feet with the roof up, nearly as much as many compact sedans. The dropped top doesn't diminish that space by much: With it down, there's 9.9 cubic feet.
Recommended for Sun Lovers
The 640i convertible is powerful and surrounds you with a richly finished interior, and with its low-slung styling and sleek proportions, it exudes understated elegance. And BMW's Driving Dynamics Control includes five driving modes: two Sport settings, two Comfort settings and Eco Pro to help you find just the right driving style for the sunny day you're enjoying.
Recommended for Sun Lovers
Where other cars encourage you to go fast, the A5 reminds you to relax and enjoy the serenity of being outside. It's a pleasant luxury cabriolet, with dynamics tuned more toward comfort than speed. (Though it can go from zero-to-60 mph in about 6 seconds.) It's pretty to look at, and that good-looking exterior is wrapped around one of the best-looking interiors in the class. Go ahead, relax, you deserve it.
Best Car for Sun Lovers
Sun lovers are often looking to get a tan behind the wheel. We consider anything with a removable top, be it convertibles or soft-top SUVs.
The MX-5 Miata is our top pick for sun lovers because it's just so darn easy to drop the top: Just undo a clip and flip it back. Boom. Done. Even the best power-retractable hardtops seem to take an eternity compared to the Miata. Further helping you enjoy the sun is the fact that the MX-5 was designed from Day 1 to be a convertible. It's a car born for sunny days.