Small, Fun, Expensive.
The Mini Cooper is a fun little car to drive around, but is the premium price tag worth it?
The second generation Mini Cooper was introduced in 2006 and was replaced with a new generation starting in 2014. *It should be noted that due to some safety and other features becoming standard in 2010, you should look for an 2010 and newer Mini*. It's a small car that after BMW's acquisition of it, is supposed to be a sporty performer with some more upscale features. Why am I talking about a car that is no longer "new" or "budget"? It's because it is still economical (just like the older Jetta and Golf TDIs). Its not that old of a car but because it is no longer part of the current generation, you should be able to find plenty within a reasonable price range. The Mini Cooper used to be by itself, but since its introduction to North America and the second generation, it has grown to include different cars based on its design of various shapes and sizes. Lets take a look at the main Cooper:
Different Styles:
The Mini Cooper comes in a number of different styles and trims but for the sake of trying to still be economical, both price wise and fuel wise, I will just talk about the original 3-door hard top and a bit about the convertible. So, the Mini is a very small 3-door hatchback with only 4 seats. If looking for a reasonably-priced Mini the engine will be a 1.6L, 4 cylinder non-turbo ( the S models have the same engine with a turbo). They have either a standard 6-speed manual or optional 6-speed auto transmission.
Styling and Comfort Impressions:
If you like the look of hatchbacks then you will love the look of the Mini. The design is supposed to help the car performance like a Go-Kart with great handling, so you will notice the wheels pushed as far to the corners as possible and the car sits quite low to give it a better center of gravity and balance. It has nice big headlights but overall the exterior design is quite simple and smooth - it really does look like a large toy car - which is great. The wheels are nicely proportioned and are not too large like some competitors. The top of the car is quite flat and the windows are nice, straight and decently large for a small car like this. One thing that the Mini has always provides that many car companies do not is the massive amount of paint options and combos. The ability to have the top of the car a completely different colour than the rest just looks fantastic and of course there are optional race stripes to add as well. One should easily be able to find a colour combo that suits them either brand new or used.
Now, getting to the inside. This is where people become divided, you either love it, or hate it. Mini thought it would be a good idea to place the speedometer as a giant circle in the center of the dash, not in front of the driver. The driver gets a large RPM dial in front of them with a small digital screen showing the speed and other information. So if you ever drive with "back seat (or passenger seat) drivers", beware as they now can clearly see how fast you are going as well as how much gas is left. While it is odd that the speed readout is in the center of the car, it is very large and can still be seen from the corner of your eye, but it's still weird.
Like the Fiat 500, the theme on the inside is round. However, instead of all the radio and air controls being round knobs or buttons they are a series of toggle switches. The window controls are also found in the center instead of on the doors. The windows are large and square which means visibility is pretty good in most directions. The front seats are quite comfy and have a number of different adjustment options. Due to it being a short car in terms of length and height, head room isn't the best, especially with a sunroof. However, I was able to find a comfortable sitting position with my hair barely touching the ceiling (with a sunroof). The convertible has a slightly lower roof. The rear seats are small. Leg room is almost non-existent with the front seats pushed all the way back. Only child seats would fit or small children if there are short people up front. I would say it is slightly better than the Fiat, but the lack of headroom means you need to slouch down a bit, taking up even more of the little leg room. * If you really like the Mini Cooper but just need a bit more room, the Clubman may be an option as it is almost the exact same design but slightly longer and with a few extra "doors"* Visibility out the back is OK due to the head rests laying almost flat with the seat backs, but it is a small window none the less. The convertible has an even smaller rear window.
Trunk space is not that bad considering the small size of the car. The space is square and the rear seats split and fold forward. Unfortunately the loading floor is not flat with the seat backs rising above the rest by about 5 inches. Trunk space in the convertible is much smaller, only fitting about 1 small suitcase.
Driving Impressions:
This part is simple, its just a great car to drive. It is very fun. The engine may be small, but the car is also small and light meaning it doesn't need a lot to move it around. The engine is smooth and quite peppy with the transmissions doing a good job whether it's manual, auto, and the "sport" mode in the auto is good too. Due to its Go-Kart like dimensions, the handling is fantastic and it feels very stable, ahtough a bit rough sometimes on broken surfaces due to its sporty suspension and short wheelbase. It is quiet with not much wind or road noise coming through. The engine does make some noise under hard acceleration, but it also sounds very good, so you want to hear it. The sound system works nicely as well with loud and clear music. The visibility in most directions is pretty good as the windows are large and the support pillars are narrow, with only the small rear window getting in the way. It also goes without saying that the Mini is very easy to maneuver around small streets and parking lots due to its small size.
Overall:
This is a fun little car to look at, to be seen in, and to drive. If there are only two people usually using the car and they live in a big city or just want something that is sporty and is good on fuel, the Mini can fill that spot. However, due to the tiny rear seats if you constantly have a third person that is older than a toddler, you may need to look at something a bit larger. The Mini Clubman is based off the Mini in shape and design but is a few inches longer with a third small door for easier access to the rear seats and funky "barn door" trunk doors. The Mini would also be a perfect second car for a family. It sits low to the ground so if you live in an area with a lot of broken pavement, it may not be the best option. If you are really looking for a fun little convertible, the Mini is a great option as well. Finally, Mini recommends that all their cars be filled with premium gas due to the engine's tuning and performance, especially the turbo models. However, after reading what a lot of owners say, you can usually get away with using regular grade gas, maybe just not during cold winters.
I would personally love to the have the Mini Cooper, but due to my size I would have to go up to the Clubman, which isn't a bad thing.
Facts/ Figures:
Price ( for mid trim level): was about $26,000+
FWD
Max HP: 121
Max Torque lb/ft: 114
MPG (approx*): 29 city. 37 highway.
Cargo room (approx*): 6 / 24 CuFt
Length: 147"
Width: 66"
Tank Size (gal): 13.2
Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 435
Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $15,000+
* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic.
**No pictures featured are my own, they have been taken either from Google images or the manufacturer's website and their rightful owners should get any credit for them. This review featured all pictures from the manufacturer's websites ( some through Edmunds.com).Links:
Mini Canada
Enjoy!
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J.K.
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