Mini is one of the most unique products in the local market, blending premium with quirky design and functionality. A new Mini hatch is available, and the brand dropped one off for me to sample recently!
Related: Mini Countryman C (2024) Review
Pros:
-Fun-to-drive dynamics
-Feels light and nimble
-Bespoke and unique in a world of uniformity
-One of the last performance hatches
-The interior is beautiful to behold
Cons:
-Options list can inflate the price quickly
-Lack of paddle shifter(option) takes away from dynamic experience
-We expected more character from the Cooper S drivetrain
-The central screen is tasked with too many functions
My Mini story
I have a bit of a history with the Mini Cooper. The first BWM-gen Mini, realised at the turn of the century, was a pop culture hit, and my father purchased the supercharged Cooper S in 2003. I'll never forget that black-on-black model, with the dual-exit chrome exhaust tips, that bonnet vent for the supercharger, and the aviation-inspired cockpit with so many retro goodies. I was besotted with the car, and when I was old enough, I learned how to drive in it.
It remains one of the best-handling cars I have ever driven, and the whine from its supercharger combined with that low-slung driving position makes it one of the great hot hatch driving experiences. Don't let marketing jargon fool you into thinking that any Mini model has 'Go-kart handling'. Take it from me: I've raced karts, and the last thing you'd want for your road car is handling that is overly sensitive and tough on the forearms. Mini products have done well in steering by offering ideal weighting, sharp turn-in and good feedback, which doesn't roll off the tongue as easily as 'Go-Kart handling' but is more accurate.
So when a black-on-black Cooper S arrived outside AutoTrader HQ, I was instantly transported back some 20 years! You may think that my history with the Cooper S will make me biased towards the model, but let me assure you that with this enthusiasm also comes high expectations and scepticism that leave lofty standards for the F66 generation!
Styling
The looks of any Mini are important; it needs to be modern and straddle the line between sexy and cute in a way that very few automotive brands can pull off. I am happy to report that from the front and side profiles; the latest Cooper looks better than the model it replaces, managing to look more cohesive and balanced, to my eyes at least. The problem, to my eyes, stems from the rear, where the new triangular lights and flat boot section make it look slightly awkward.
The rear lights are perhaps the most controversial aspect of the new Cooper!
Interior & Space
The interior features a large, round infotainment screen, a two-tone textile dashboard, and a revamped toggle bar for key controls such as the engine Start/Stop, gear selector and drive modes. With the lack of an instrument cluster and a bare centre console that houses a small storage box, the interior of the Mini is unique in the automotive world. The screen itself isn't as large as you may think, with the media functions taking up a smaller square within the round screen, which also houses the speedometer, climate control, parking assistant and information gauges.
The infotainment system works well, with good resolution, the latest Mini operating software, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The climate control system, as is almost everything else, is operated through the screen, which means things get quite busy. I would appreciate more physical buttons to simplify things.
The drive modes, called "Experiences," include Balance Mode, Personal Mode, Timeless Mode, and Vivid Mode, which all alter the interior's look and feel. Modes such as Go-Kart and Green also alter the interior's look, feel and driving characteristics. The Experiences are a bit of a gimmick at first, but you quickly settle on a mode you prefer and would likely stick with. The general material quality, fit, and finish are solid, with some hard plastics in place. Still, the overall impression is that this is a well-made product and certainly an improvement with each generation.
Regarding practicality, if you're buying a 3-door hatchback, don't expect it to be a family car. Although rear occupant space has improved, it's still not a place you'd want to spend time on an extended trip. The boot offers just 210-litres of space, which expands to 530-litres with the rear seats folded flat, meaning that this can be a practical mobility for a couple without children.
Related: The 4 best similar cars to the MINI Cooper C 5-Door
Drivetrain
The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine delivers 150kW and 300Nm of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The engine code is B48A20, and it is used in various states of tune and with different internals across the BWM product portfolio. The engine is generally considered relatively reliable, a solid performer, and efficient. The brand claims a 0-100km/h time of 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 242 km/h.
Driving impression
I'm fortunate to have access to a previous-generation Cooper at home, so I could directly compare the ride, handling and steering, but, of course, the performance comparison would not be fair since the press unit is a Cooper S. The first thing I noted was a marked improvement in ride quality and comfort versus the previous model, however, the heavier, more satisfying feeling of the previous model's steering is gone, and in its place a lighter, slightly more vague-feeling set-up.
From an out-and-out handling perspective, don't expect the last word in performance hatch dynamics. The Cooper S is keen to rotate, and its ability to feel light and nimble makes it fun to drive on the road, where its tendency to torque steer under heavy acceleration again gives you, as a driver, the sense that you're in something engineered for road-going fun, and certainly not a hot lap-conquering track day car. Straight-line performance includes the torque steer, but the general power and torque are more than adequate, with the Cooper S feeling fast and responsive. As a daily driver, I found the latest Cooper very agreeable, balancing some grin-inducing performance hatchback traits with a degree of comfort and usability that made the daily grind more bearable.
The lack of steering-mounted gear shift paddles (an optional extra) and a head-up display (also an option) are irksome as the minimalist nature of the interior, with the relocated gear lever. Removal of a traditional instrument cluster means manual gearchanges (important in a performance hatch) are impossible without optioning the paddle shifters. At the same time, the need to take your eyes off the rod to look at your speed in the infotainment system is less than ideal, meaning a head-up display is a must-tick option, which should be standard if the brand is doing away with a traditional instrument binnacle.
Fuel economy
Mini claims that the Cooper S will consume petrol at a rate of 6.4 L/100km; however, our week with the product, which was a genuinely mixed cycle, resulted in a figure of 7.5 L/100km, which is still good for a 2.0-litre turbo!
Safety
EuroNCAP has yet to crash test the latest Mini hatch, but its Countryman sibling achieved a 5-star rating, so it is safe to assume that the latest model will achieve similar results.
Pricing
At R646 395 before options and around R772 000 for our test unit with options, the Cooper S is certainly not cheap for a compact car. The model comes as standard with a 5-year/100 000km maintenance plan.
Verdict
The latest Mini Cooper S is arguably in its best position yet, with almost no natural rivals to its quirky hot hatch recipe. It's not a perfect car, but for Mini enthusiasts, it's great that the recipe has remained similar throughout the last 20 years!
