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MINI Cooper: Britain’s best hot hatch

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6 December 2006

New Mini Cooper S

MINI Cooper S

MINI Cooper 1.6 S

What is it?

It looks like the old one but is nearly all new. It has a turbo engine shared with Peugeot, a longer nose, a higher waistline, better economy and safety, a little more space – and no more weight.

What’s hot?

  • New turbo 1.6 more efficient than old supercharged engine
  • Direct injection helps give terrific throttle response
  • Steering and handling as much fun as ever, ride improved
  • Is a ready-made design icon with world’s biggest speedo
  • Built in Britain by BMW, and very well, too

What’s not?

  • Space still tight in the back, boot is laughable
  • Optional Sport suspension spoils the ride, best avoided
  • Expensive – but residual values will be high

What you need to Know?

P11D Value: 15,982
Monthly Rental*: 272
Tax Band when posted: 17%
Monthly BiK: 45 (20%)/£90 (40%)
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder
CO2 Emissions: 164g/km
Power/torque: 170bhp/177lb ft
Economy: 40.9mpg

Monthly rental courtesy of HSBC DriverQuote. Based on 36-month/36,000-mile contract hire agreement with maintenance.

Business Car Manager Road Test Rating

It’s a new Mini which still looks like a Mini, building on the old one’s good points and fixing most of the snags. Crucially, no other hot supermini gives as much fun as this one.

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Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton is an award-winning journalist and the founder of Business Car Manager (now renamed Business Motoring). Ralph writes extensively about the car and van leasing industry as well as wider fleet and company car issues. A former editor of What Car?, Ralph is a vastly experienced writer and editor and has been writing about the automotive sector for over 35 years.

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