Category Archives: MINI

MINI, Motoring, Performance, Supermini

Sporty MINI Cooper just gets better

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Mini Cooper S Exclusive 5-door

By Bill McCarthy

The MINI Cooper remains an iconic brand, a world away from the original Alec Issigonis-designed Minis of the mid-60s, which became a cultural icon. However, it still brilliantly leverages its 1960s heritage and updates it with modern technology and style.

Not cheap, but still aspirational, it comes in many forms: from the huge (relatively) Countryman for family practicality, to the iconic Cooper, with the extra driving appeal that harks back to its rally success and winning the Monte Carlo Rally three times.

So what’s new?

There are three versions – Classic, Sport and the Exclusive driven here – with a pricey, but not outrageous, sub-£30k starting price. Then there are the optional extras…

Following hard on the heels of the latest three-door model, this latest five-door S Exclusive offers more interior space and innovative technology while retaining the brand’s fantastic handling.

The extra doors transform it from a niche vehicle into a usable everyday car. With sharp performance and a high-end interior, the five-door is now more practical without losing its charm and desirability.

Bigger and more dynamic

This model features a wheelbase that is 72mm longer than the three-door version. This important change results in more legroom and greater comfort for rear passengers.

Iconic design for the 21st century

The model retains the iconic MINI silhouette, characterised by its short overhangs, long wheelbase, and large wheels. It retains the familiar round headlights and an octagonal grille, while the rear features clean surfaces and flush-fitting twinkling, patterned taillights. This helps deliver the Mini uniqueness.

High tech immersive interior

The cabin represents a significant leap forward, dominated by a familiar but updated 24cm, dinner-plate-sized circular OLED display that runs the MINI Operating System 9.

All major vehicle functions like infotainment, connectivity, and navigation are controlled via this touchscreen or by using the voice-activated “Hey MINI” Intelligent Personal Assistant.

The screen also features a myriad of secondary controls allowing targeted personalisation of the vehicle’s performance, including features like a dash cam.

An optional head-up display projects key information directly into the driver’s line of sight, minimising distraction.

For sustainability, the dashboard is made from recycled polyester using a special knitting method, and the car features the colourful MINI Experience Modes. The driver picks one of seven modes to alter the screen display to create a relaxed ambience.

On the road

This Exclusive model features a 204 bhp four-cylinder engine and atuo transmission. It hits 62 mph in 6.8 seconds. Quick, yes, but many EVs are quicker, though they lack the growl of the two-litre engine under acceleration and the sheer driving pleasure. Economy is decent as well, with a claimed 44.5mpg seeming pretty close to the mark.

The suspension and damping are tuned to offer both comfort and agile handling, making every drive feel composed and responsive. This is complemented by precise steering and powerful brakes.

The result is the quintessential Mini experience – engaging and surefooted, with a satisfying engine note and a trademark grip that makes navigating winding country roads a delight.

Practicality and safety

The five-door design enhances everyday usability. Two additional doors provide easy access to the rear seats, and the 278-litre boot – expandable to 941 litres with the seats folded – feels more spacious than it is.

This practicality is complemented by safety features, including a full suite of airbags, collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure assist.

Are the options worth it?

This model comes packed with nearly £6k worth of options. Are they worth it, or is the standard car more than enough?

The Level 3 Pack is ideal for tech-savvy drivers or frequent commuters who will regularly use advanced driver aids, premium audio, and comfort features.

Overall, these options may be worth it if you value a fully-loaded, high-tech driving experience and intend to use the features. They may also enhance the car’s resale value.

Factfile

  • MINI Cooper S Exclusive Auto
  • Price: £31,465 (37,065 as tested)
  • Mechanical: 1998cc, 201bhp four cylinder petrol engine driving front wheels via seven-speed auto transmission
  • Max speed: 150mph
  • 0-62mph: 6.5 seconds
  • Combined mpg: 44.8 WLTP
  • CO2 emissions: 143g/km
  • BiK rating: 37%
  • Insurance group: 25
  • Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles

Crossover, Manufacturer, MINI, Motor reviews, SUV, Vehicle type

A Mini flying machine

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Mini Countryman John Cooper Works

By Bill McCarthy

Countryman is a name that hardly describes this firecracker from MINI, conjuring up images of genteel tweed and green wellies.

The JCW version of the small SUV is anything but genteel, offering brutal power with the two litre petrol engine delivering 306 bhp and 450Nm of torque, via twin turbo technology, all wheel drive and the latest eight-speed Steptronic transmission.

It is also hugely practical in typical SUV style having a wide girth and sitting high off the road. This offers  excellent space with good head and legroom and a decent boot of 450 litres increasing to 1,390 with the rear seats folded.

It certainly looks hot, particularly this model, fully blinged up with scoops and spoilers in contrasting black and red black trim with JCW badging throughout. The go-faster stripes are there and in this case justified, together with colour coded sports brake calipers and door mirrors, sporty alloy wheels and twin exhausts.

The large air inlets on the front of the vehicle are designed to serve the cooling requirements of both the drive and the brake system. 

Much of the exterior is colour coded in red and black with contrasting sports pedals and bright trim, with high quality fixtures and fittings. It is dominated by the Mini’s trademark dinner plate-style dash which houses the touchscreen infotainment system which controls sat nav, music and connectivity.

Also familiar are the toggle switches with central console houses a control dial for the various functions, sitting behind the gear lever.

‘On the road performance is brutal. Mated to the eight-speed auto gearbox, the car rockets to 60mph in around five seconds.’

 The part-leather Recaro sports seats are surprisingly comfortable and supportive, with contrasting colour stitching while the JCW branding is visible on door sills.

On the road performance is brutal. Mated to the eight-speed auto gearbox, the car rockets to 60mph in around five seconds. It zips seamlessly through the gears, but if you want a more engaging drive, switch to the paddles behind the multi-function steering wheel.

That kind of pace requires handling to match with the  chassis improved thanks to the single-joint spring-strut-type axle for the front wheel and the multi-joint rear axle.

An adaptive chassis with electronically controlled dampers is available as an additional option. 

What this means is the handling is sharper and ride firmer although not so firm as to be uncomfortable with the firm suspension not unduly troubled by ruts and potholes, but delivering an exhilarating drive when driven hard. The firm says the  powertrain has been designed to offer a spontaneous response to the slightest movement of the accelerator, but I did detect a slight lag when flooring the accelerator pedal, with steering not the most responsive if you’re being ultra picky.

Economy is still pretty decent with an average of around 39mpg available and lowish emissions for the type of car.
The intelligent controller of the ALL4 drive system delivers drive on demand to both axles. It is connected to the stability control system  and constantly calculates the ideal power distribution ratio between the front and rear wheels.

In normal driving conditions power goes to the front wheels, but if the traction controller detects a danger of slip on the front wheels, within a fraction of a second, drive is transferred to the rear wheels.

Equipment levels are good, but in typical BMW/MINI style, extras can cost and arm and leg, but standard kit includes LED headlights, Mini Driving Modes, navigation with 6.5 inch display with touchscreen function and smartphone mirroring a redesigned graphical display and Real Time Traffic Information (RRTI). 

The Comfort Plus pack is provided as standard including front and rear Park Distance Control (PDC) with Park Assist, a rear view camera, seat heating and folder mirrors.

Eighteen-inch John Cooper Works light metal wheels in Black Grip Spoke design are also offered as standard.

It may be an SUV, but despite its bulk on height off the road, give it its head and it is an exhilarating drive in true John Cooper tradition, with only the slightly heavy steering a drawback.

Factfile

MINI Countryman John Cooper Works ALL4 2.0i 
Price: £35,550
Mechanical: 306bhp, 1998cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving all wheels via eight-speed Steptronic gearbox
Max speed: 155mph
0-62mph: 5.1 seconds
Combined mpg: 38.7-40.9
Insurance group: 38E
CO2 emissions: 156g/km
BiK rating: 37%
Warranty: 3yrs/unlimited miles