The first Minis were among the most popular cars on the market when they were released by the British Motor Corporation at the end of the 1950s. But the love affair wasn’t to last. By the end of the twentieth century, Minis were no longer selling in the numbers they once did, despite nostalgia from drivers.
Then BMW bought the brand and rebuilt the Mini from scratch. Now it’s arguably one of the best superminis out there, able to compete with the likes of the new Volkswagen Polo and the Audi A1.
What’s It Like To Drive?
The engine performance of the new Minis is good. All new models come with a turbocharged, three-cylinder engine except the Cooper S and the SD. The Cooper S comes with a 2.0 litre, four cylinder engine, and the SD comes with four cylinders and is able to output more than 170HP. Those who want a top of the range experience can opt for the John Cooper Works Hatch, which can produce over 213 HP at an engine speed of between 5200 and 6000 RPM.
According to reports by What Car, the drive is very smooth and very fast, especially if you choose one of the higher end models.
What About The Interior?
Driving position in the Mini Cooper is good, but one of the problems that some drivers have encountered is the difficulty in adjusting the height of the seat. Some reports suggest that the lever to alter the angle of the backrest is hard to reach, especially for those who have bigger hands.
Then there’s the problem with the dashboard. One can immediately see the retro styling that BMW was trying to achieve when viewing the interior of the Mini Cooper, but compared to many modern alternatives, including the Polo, it can look a little bit messy. Drivers who are new to the Mini Cooper experience will have to spend a little bit of time working out how all of the various quirky features work. For instance, there’s a nifty little engine start toggle that has to be flipped before the car can be started.
Perhaps in keeping with the car’s retro theme, there’s also the fact that the infotainment screen is in black and white. While many drivers won’t find this too much of a disappointment, it is worth noting that the car’s two main rivals do have color versions. It seems strange that BMW decided to omit a color screen, given the fact that the price difference between color and a mono-tone screens is negligible.
Is There Much Space?
When it comes to comfort, the Mini Cooper is one of the best cars out there on the market. The generous legroom means that there’s plenty of space up front, even for taller drivers. With that said, other practical elements driver expect are lacking, or downsized. For instance, there aren’t many useful cubbies and pockets around the doors and behind the front seats aren’t particularly spacious.
Is It Worth Owning?
The downside of the car is that it is not as practical as an Audi A1 or a Polo, but it is fun to drive, and like its major rivals, cheap to run.
The mini especially the Cooper is a spiritual (and more practical) decedent of the MG B. As was the original VW Golf GTI.
As such the rear seatroom & bootspace is secondary to the classy sporty image.
I’ve owned 2, they’re great cars.