SHIFT the collar at the base of the Cooper S’s gearlever into sport and the LED-laced bezel of the Mini’s central display lights up in a crimson hue, emblazoned with the words “maximum go-kart feel”. With the car’s throttle characteristics and reactions to steering inputs at their most sensitive and the (optional) dynamic damper control primed for wheel-scrabbling, white-of-the-eyes cornering, the exhaust produces fruity splutters and pops on a trailing throttle. It’s almost as if the superb six-speed ‘box is begging to be slammed through its ratios…
And yet, as much as the Cooper S will enthrall and entertain with its tenacious levels of grip, commendable body control and a rev-matching system that creates a rollicking heel-and-toe effect on downshifts, go-kart aping – which used to be its predecessors’ raison d’être – seems incongruous to the current flagship of the F56-generation Mini.
Despite that the new 2,0-litre direct injection four-cylinder motor sounds a mite clattery at idle, it provides maximum torque of 280 N.m (300 N.m
on overboost) from 1 250 to 4 750 r/min, which results in prompt throttle responses and strong flexibility. The transmission’s positive action through the gate is a boon, but in this iteration of the S, incessant cog-swapping is unnecessary.
In fact, the majority of the test team noted that, when in default “mid” mode, the Cooper S revealed its finest traits. Even shod with optional 18-inch run-flat footwear, the Mini’s ride is remarkably pliant until it needs to traverse riffle-like imperfections such as cats’ eyes, of which the bumps feel more prominent than they should. The heightened body rigidity is evidenced by reduced levels of NVH in general driving conditions and, once a driver’s become accustomed to the rev-matching throttle behaviour, the Cooper S exhibits all the elements of a premium compact hatch, albeit one clad in distinctively shaped and brightly painted sheetmetal fashioned in Oxford.
The sense of maturity pervades many aspects of this newcomer. Apart from lengthening, widening and heightening the Cooper, Mini contemporised the iconic design by adding a hexagonal radiator grille and wide chrome surrounds for the sweptback headlamps, adorned the formerly bluff front-end with a snout-like profile and enlarged the rear light clusters.
On balance, the team liked the latter elements the least and some editors remarked that, when the S was viewed at variations of its front three-quarter view, the car’s proportions seemed askew. However, the consensus was that the car wears its extra bulk gracefully and the overall look remains relatively true to those of its predecessors; it even incorporates a few cues from the original Mini.
The cabin layout reveals several departures from those of previous Minis, mostly for the better. Apart from improved shoulder-room and more head clearance (despite the fitment of an optional panoramic sunroof), the ventilation outlets have more conventional designs and the retro, centrally mounted speedometer has been replaced by an infotainment display replete with the aforementioned LED-laced bezel that lights up in a cascade of colours depending on which operating functions are selected – one tester nicknamed it the “disco ring”.
The instrumentation cluster located above the steering column includes a speedometer, rev counter and electronic fuel gauge. The electric window switches have been relocated to the inner door trims, a conspicuous red toggle starter switch is located on the bottom of the facia and a BMW iDrive-derived controller pad sits above the handbrake lever on the centre console.
All these nods to convention may be anathemas to some Mini loyalists, but there are still quirks. The sports seats are supportive, but not all testers found them comfortable on longer trips. The dual-zone automatic air conditioning was welcomed but its fan seemed a trifle wheezy and the optional armrest was universally panned – it interferes with operating the handbrake or controller pad when in position and impedes some drivers’ left elbows during gear shifts when rotated upwards. The dial that operates the exterior lights is located to the right of the steering wheel and towards the bottom of the facia, therefore it requires a stretch to operate (the automatic light function does help). Furthermore, with the optional DVD changer installed, the main glovebox becomes useless for storage and, as for the excitably luminous LED-laced bezel in the centre of the facia, some testers wondered if its novelty value would last any longer than the gaudy Seventies dance craze that seemed to have inspired it.
Levity aside, there is an appreciable improvement in the perceived quality of the fit and finish. The switchgear has a pleasant weight to its operation and the intuitive nature of the Mini controller’s navigation, which was widely praised by the team, endows the Cooper S with a luxury-car air and premium gravitas that was sadly missing in its predecessors. Having said that, the newcomer is not quite a match for conventional compact hatches in terms of its packaging. With standard features such as automatic lights and wipers, keyless start, auto air-con, cruise control, an audio system with auxiliary and USB input as well as Bluetooth, to name a few, the Cooper moves beyond the ranks of the edgy boutique hatchback, but its improved, yet merely adequate, rear legroom and paltry 136 dm3 luggage capacity – even though run-flat tyre technology renders a spare tyre superfluous – are nevertheless drawbacks.
As a daily commuting tool, the Mini can be quite economical to run, as our fuel-route figure of 6,7 litres/100 km, which is lower than CAR’s fuel index for the model, suggests. By making use of the green mode, tank distances in excess of 684 km are possible.
We also noted that, while the Cooper’s braking performance was good, under hard driving conditions the middle pedal felt somewhat vague, although we don’t believe that to be a cause for significant concern.
Test Summary
Whereas previous versions of the Cooper S were visceral, hard-edged “go-karts” that could be mentioned in the same breath as benchmark hot hatches, the third New Mini is an altogether more sophisticated, user friendly proposition, backed by a five-year/100 000 km maintenance plan (which is, significantly, another BMW-like characteristic). Has the newcomer lost some of its predecessor’s character and charm by virtue of its enlarged proportions and sops to practicality? It depends on your perspective, but even if the Cooper has grown up, it’s still a blast to drive – and a better overall product.