- Doors and Seats
3 doors, 4 seats
- Engine
1.6T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
135kW, 240Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 6.3L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Mini Cooper S
Pigeonhole: Unashamed retro style but with loads of modern gear to make it safe and snappy.
Philosophy: A German company takes a British icon and gives it a modern makeover.
Trivia: The original Mini wasn't sold in Australia as a Mini because the marketers didn't think the name would sell. Instead, it was called the Morris 850. Similarly, the hot versions were the Morris Cooper and Morris Cooper S.
What the brochure says: Let's Mini.
Who's buying it: You had a Mini when you were young and like the idea of having one again but without the hassles.
Why you'd buy it: It's much bigger, has much more space and is much more comfortable than the original. Nicely engineered and has plenty of standard equipment. It's about the cutest thing on the market and it's good fun to drive.
Why you wouldn't: You're paying a premium price for what, after all, is a modestly sized car. There are others for the same money which will comfortably outperform it.
Standard equipment: Plenty. The Chilli model, which is $3000 dearer than the standard Cooper S, gets 17-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, cloth/leather upholstery, a multifunction steering wheel, climate control air-conditioning and a particularly good harman/kardon eight-speaker audio system, which is on top of the Cooper S's electronic stability and traction controls, and sports suspension.
Safety: Six air bags look after the occupants pretty well in the case of a collision. Then there are the electronic handling and braking aids designed to help you avoid the crash in the first place.
Cabin: Scads of classic cues to the original, including the big, circular central instrument (the rev counter in the case of Australian models) and the little pod atop the steering column for the speedo. Toggle switches abound, as does a fashionable metallic look. Plenty of room in the front, not much leg room in the back. Oh yes, and unlike the original, this one's a hatchback, so at least the available space is adaptable. And the glove box is air-conditioned.
Seating: Pretty good in the front, with reasonable side bolstering. Good range of adjustment, and there's heaps of headroom. The back seat's difficult to enter and leave, and once there, leg room's at a premium.
Engine: The busy, supercharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder has had its output upped five kilowatts in the latest model to 125 kilowatts.
Transmission: Slick six-speed manual which encourages playfulness. There's no auto option on the Cooper S, but why would you want it?
Steering: Like the original, it's sharp and accurate. A tight turning circle and good all-round visibility make parking easy.
Ride: Forget about the original (and the need for a kidney belt). Although it's firm and even a bit bouncy, it's generally pretty good.
Handling: It's about as close to a go-kart as you can get with a roof on. Neat and nimble.
Fuel: It depends on how hard you push it, of course, and how much work the supercharger's doing. But the factory claims a city and country average of 7.3 litres/100 kilometres, which ought to be achievable on a gentle day. The tank holds 50 litres.
Brakes: Good discs all round, with anti-lock as standard equipment. They do the job.
Build: With BMW behind it, and a not inconsiderable price, you'd expect it to be good and it is.
Warranty: Two years/unlimited distance. Shorter time, longer distance than usual.
Security: It's not bad, with remote central locking and the doors lock automatically once the car has been driven over 16 kmh.
Audio: Excellent harman/kardon system with eight speakers.
Cost: $41,500, and it can bounce along merrily with a comprehensive options list. It's not cheap, but it's hard to put a price on this sort of fun and fashion item.
Verdict: To put a hard edge on it, it's not a bargain, but one of the most fun cars in the business. It drives well, is well-equipped and captures the spirit of the original without the shortcomings.