Mini Cooper S
When the first New Mini was launched way back in 2001 it was a perfect blend of visual cues from the British classic, spritely handling and decent build quality. Shame it took the stewardship of German behemoths BMW to get the combination just right but there you go. Since then there’s been two further updates to the Mini, each one becoming more and more of a caricature of the original – think how the Batman films progressed after the Michael Keaton reboot and you’re somewhere near.
Union Flags aplenty
This is the new Mini – the fourth generation and it’s altogether more grown up – Christian Bale’s Batman if you like. Gone are the Mini Hatch and even Mini One monikers – if you want a ‘normal’ Mini it’s called the Mini Cooper. It may be less overblown than previous generation Mini’s; the Cooper S has lost its bonnet scoop, exposed fuel cap and twin central exhausts. That’s not to say its entirely morose, though. The Union Flag is still there in the rear lights which, along with the headlights can be adapted to a few different permutations but apart from that it’s altogether more subtle in every way.
Two petrol engines
Should you want internal combustion rather than electric there’s two petrol engines to choose from; a 156hp, 1.5l in the Cooper C and a 2.0l with 204hp in the sportier Cooper S. There’s no manual gearbox anymore which is a shame but if you go for the Sport spec model with either engine you do get the sport DCT transmission which comes with paddle-shift, as opposed to the other two specs – Classic & Exclusive that get the standard auto.
Still a hoot!
Along with being very clever with space, Mini’s have always been notable for how they drive. Despite looking totally new, this Mini’s underpinnings are actually taken from the outgoing model so absolutely no fun has been lost as that chassis was brilliant. With the extra weight modern cars carry it’s increasingly difficult to maintain a fun factor yet the Mini still does a great job of keeping the driver feeling part of the whole driving process, rather than a quasi passenger who’s only there because the law currently states they have to be. Put this Mini next to the original Mini and it’s fair to say the similarities would be almost none-existent. And yet, sit inside and the shape of the windscreen and the way it sits relative to the driver is very familiar.
More eco-friendly
And it’s inside this new Mini where the most significant improvements can be found, with the possible exception of the steering wheel that’s taken chunky to a whole new level. Just as all chrome has disappeared from the bodywork for environmental reasons, the interior has gained more recycled materials, most noticeably the woollen dashboard. We loved the metal toggle switches from previous gen cars which have unfortunately all-but gone, replaced by more more involvement with the infotainment screen and some plastic switches including an authentic key-turn to start the engine.
Excellent new infotainment system
Now, putting more functions into a touchscreen isn’t always welcome and there has been something of a reverse trend of late with some manufacturers reverting to buttons and dials. However, the new Mini has supersized its traditional circular screen that housed a speedometer in the original Mini and it’s actually better than ever. Where previous Minis have clumsily arranged the touchscreen features within a square on a circular screen, this new, oversized system utilises the entire screen and is surprisingly user-friendly.
Want your Mini to be a go-kart?
One factor that keeps the Mini fun is the ability to flick between the various pre-loaded touchscreen themes via a toggle switch labelled ‘Experience’ in a similar fashion to changing the face on your Apple Watch. There’s an eco theme as you may expect but the most fun are ‘Classic’ for that authentic Mini experience and ‘Go-kart’ (which gets a cheering crowd sound when selected) in a nod to the go-to method of describing Mini handling characteristics.
Should I buy a new Mini?
The new Mini is an excellent little car, no doubt about it. It’s fun to drive, beautifully built and reeks of quality. It has lost some of its characteristic cheekiness, though, maybe we’ll see some of that return in the JCW editions due out this Autumn?
By Ben Harrington
2024 F65 Mini Cooper S Sport Specifications:
Engine – 2.0-l 4-cyl petrol, Transmission – 7-speed auto, Layout – Front engine, FWD, Power – 204bhp,Torque – 300Nm Emissions – 142g/km CO2, Economy – 45.6mpg, Maximum Speed – 150mph, Acceleration – 6.6s – 0-62mph, Price – £31,050 OTR
The 2024 Mini Cooper is available now, priced from £23,150. For full details go to:www.mini.co.uk
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