By: Bill Zervakos
Okay, first and foremost I have to say I’m way too old to be a Mini owner but I must also say, the Mini S is one, really fun little pocket rocket. Virtually everyone knows that the latest iteration of the Mini Cooper is a well, mini two-door, four passenger car that BMW has brought into the 21st century. The Gen 2 of the Mini Cooper has been reworked literally from the ground up while maintaining its signature styling.
Slightly longer, with a new grille design and turn signal lights fully integrated into the headlights and lots more chrome, it is a very sharp looking little car. The Cooper S comes with a sports suspension and a slightly raised hood to accommodate the turbocharger. The base powerplant is a 1.6 liter 118 horsepower with 114 lb-ft of torque, and the “S” comes with a new 172 horsepower turbocharged 1.6 liter that generates 172 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. There is an overboost function that will increase the torque an additional 20 lb-ft for a short burst, and that lets the Cooper scoot off the line very enthusiastically.
There is a new ignition system where the fob slips in a slot then you push a button to start the engine. The speedometer is larger and now houses several control displays including for the navigation and entertainment systems. While the Mini continues with the toggle switch theme, which is funky, it leaves a bit to be desired in functionality for chunky fingers like mine but I suppose since the Mini is somewhat iconic I’m guessing the toggles will be used for quite a while.
The base car rides on 15 inch wheels and tires while the “S” model runs on 16’s. The tester was a hardtop S car, with a panoramic roof that ironically was a bit of a problem in Phoenix. Unfortunately there is no shade to cover the roof, just a mesh net that allows way too much heat through for my comfort. The Mini is also available in a convertible with a Sidewalk package that has a unique look.
The Cooper is a four seater but if you have someone over 5 feet in the back seat, the only way they’ll be comfortable is if the front seats are forward and therefore one’s knees will likely end up pressed against the dashboard. One of my son owns a Mini S, and since his children are six and four and a half, it works just fine for them.
Bottom line though, the Mini is about driving fun. It’s feels like a go-kart and no matter how old you are you can’t help but smile while buzzing around in this car. For those of us that must have a performance element in our cars, the Cooper S is just the ticket because it’s very sprightly and getting on freeways or passing is no problem at all. This is a front-wheel drive car and with the S power, there is a touch of torque-steer if you jump on it, but nothing serious enough to detract from the driving fun.
So, if you happen to be looking for a seriously fun run-about, the Mini Cooper or Cooper S may be just what you’re looking for. I’d suggest driving one and finding out for yourself.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine:
1.6 Turbocharged I-4
172hp @6000
177 lb-ft torque @4000
Price:
Base $19,885
As tested, $23,000
EPA Est. 29/36
Base Warranty 48 months 50,000 miles
