What’s hot?
- Lively performance with the 0-62mph sprint being demolished in just 6.8secs and a top speed of 146mph, while fuel is used at a claimed combined consumption of just 49.6mpg with CO2 emissions of 133g/km.
- Six speed manual box, albeit stiff to use at slow speeds, comes into its own when using revs near the 6500 red-zone being slick and quick to use.
The cabin retains the MINI feel while raising the bar in terms of quality. And that big central speedo? It’s now the sat nav screen - Surprisingly good ride and road manners even in Sport mode, while the Mid (the normal default driving mode) or Green (fuel saving) modes also radically alter the nature of the car for longer, more economical, journeys.
- The cabin retains the MINI brand feel with funky instrumentation and quality materials used throughout. The large central dial is now a multimedia computer monitor allowing for three modes of car set-up using adaptive suspension and engine calibration, plus access to MINI Connected for navigation, entertainment and Bluetooth connectivity for both phone and audio.
- The soon to be launched MINI Connected XL will further enhance phone integration with journey’s planned on the phone automatically downloading to the car’s navigation system and will also have a ‘find my car’ function for busy car parks or mornings after!
- Pop-up adjustable heads-up display allows easy reading of speeds and navigation without taking the driver’s eyes off the road.
- While remaining very much a MINI, the use of a ring of LED daytime running lights gives the new car a distinctive presence on the road.
- Prices have been pegged to an austerity-age 1.64% increase over the old model with the Cooper S starting from £18,650.
What’s not?
- Despite a wealth of suspension modifications, MINI, even in this base hatchback model, no longer boasts much of a dynamic driving experience possible because its wheelbase has grown to be longer than that of a VW Golf Mk3 of the 1990s!
- Rear passenger space is still much more restricted than other rivals in this sector and the car remains a two-person transport solution.
- Overhead instrumentation restricts the length of the sun visors, so an extra driver’s side visor is added and feels very much an after thought.
- Claimed fuel economy figures are unlikely to be matched in real-world driving and I suspect the urban figure of 37.2mpg to be nearer the average mark.
