Arizona is a beautiful desert landscape weaved with spectacular skyscraping rock formations and cavernous sandstone canyons that stretch as far as the eye can see. The scenic roads that weave through the cities and deserts are the perfect settings for convertible cars to cruise through on sunny, temperate days. And with no tolls to be seen at all and plenty of roundabouts in lei of traffic lights, it’s also an ideal state for an aesthetic, fun-to-drive droptop. A convertible with a hardtop, all-wheel-drive system, and well-rounded livability is consummate for making the most out of the temperate Arizona weather while also prepped for those occasional summer monsoons.

Porche 911 Targa 4

The Targa 4 carries all of the blissful drive and handling dynamics of the renowned Porche 911 but offers the novelty of top-down thrills. With a husky 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged boxer engine under the hood, straight-line performance from the Targa 4 can be exhilarating. Outputs of 370 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque are ceded to all four wheels as standard and power the Targa 4 from 0-60 mph in a quick 4.1 seconds with the default seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission in play. A seven-speed manual gearbox is available, too, offering drivers maximum engagement.

At a starting MSRP of $110,300, the Porche 911 Targa 4 is a pricey option but its premium inside and out, contemporary, and consummately well-rounded.

 

BMW 4 Series Convertible

The BMW 4 Series Convertible may not be as much of a sports car as other BMWs featured in any other body configuration but it’s more of a luxury lifestyle vehicle than a performance-centric one. Even so, it’s still a truly enjoyable compact to cruise and with either a 248 hp turbo-four or  320 hp turbo-six powering the rear wheels, there’s plenty of oomph to catch a styling wind tunnel hairdo. With the hardtop raised, there’s 13 cubic feet of cargo room proffered within the trunk, while that’s not much in general, it’s decent in comparison with class rivals.

BMW offers the 4 Series Convertible at an MSRP of $53,100, a relatively attractive price for the high-end segment.

Mercedes-AMG SL63

With a thunderous 577 hp V8 motor running the show, a traditional rear-wheel-drivetrain guiding the antics, and a convertible hardtop casing only two seats, the Mercedes-AMG SL63 is the middle-aged or retired couples typecast. It’s premium luxury all the way with the SL63 Roadster, its cabin is modern and featureful and packed with driver-assistance and safety technologies. Thanks to the lack of back seats, a practical 13.5 cu.-ft. of trunk space is provided, too, the perfect amount for a set of golf clubs, a gym bag, and a laptop case.

One will have to dish out a hefty $154,450 for the AMG SL63 but everything about it, from its unforgettable aesthetic to its exceptionally well-balanced drive dynamics all make it feel worth it.

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Roadster is a little more temperate than the AMG-tuned SL63. That’s not to say that its V6 and V8 engine options don’t offer exhilarating off-the-line acceleration or that its drive and handling characteristics are mundane, but only that it’s a little more reasonable as a daily cruiser. This is made clear with the base model which with all of its default underpinnings, returns relatively decent fuel economy figures of 20/28/22 mpg on the EPA drive cycles. Its drive is also more-so tuned toward comfort than performance a pursuit that fits its leisurely and high-class cabin.

For an MSRP of around $100,000, the SL-Class is a luxury getaway on wheels.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

If you’ve experienced everything and every place the tar roads have to offer, then the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is the convertible that’ll get you off the beaten path. While zooming down a dusty road doesn’t seem ideal in an SUV with a retractable roof, tackling some challenging obstacles with the roof opened up could be an effective way to keep cool and look cool. It’s a fairly capable 4×4 off-roader and with its recent enhancements, it has also been given some decent road manners where it proves suitably comfy and composed.

It’s a rather rudimentary package overall but its $31,545 starting MSRP is fitting for what you get.