Available as:
Hatchback, Convertible MINI Cooper
Price: £14,900 - £18,020
Our choice:
The 1.6-litre petrol engine just feels more MINI than the diesel and is cheaper to run as a company car, although it's heavier on fuel.
Summary:
The MINI Cooper raises the performance, spec and appearance of the MINI to more desirable levels, but it is cheaper to insure than the Cooper S.
Summary:
The MINI Cooper raises the performance, spec and appearance of the MINI to more desirable levels, but it is cheaper to insure than the Cooper S.
What You Get...
- Alloy wheels
- Alarm
- Manual air conditioning
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Overview:
As with the MINI One, the Cooper comes with 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines, but raises the performance stakes. With its low running costs, including insurance rates, it's by far the most popular model in the range. The petrol unit develops 121bhp, while the diesel has 110bhp. Acceleration is sharper and flexibility is improved, complementing the direct, goes-where-you-point-it responsiveness of the chassis and making the drive even more fun. Minimalist fuel-saving and emissions-cutting technologies, including engine stop-start, are standard on all Coopers. As with any MINI, the hard part will be speccing the car to your personal taste. More equipment comes as standard in the Cooper, including alloy wheels and more chrome trim. But there are still plenty of gaps in the spec and there's an enoromous list of colours, trim variations, wheels, extras and option packs to help you fill them. Ordering a MINI can be, quite literally, a bewildering business.
Good points:
MINI has captured the public's imagination like no other new car brand in recent memory, largely because of the way the cars look. But this is perfectly matched by the way they drive. A MINI feels as if it's hot-wired into your thoughts, reacting immediately to every driver input, and with the increased power and torque of the Cooper engines, it's even more fun. All of this keeps resale values high: Coopers are among the most valued of all used MINIs. Running costs are helped by the Minimalist fuel-saving features, and insurance rates are low. The fun of owning a MINI continues to the retro-inspired interior with its enormous central instruments and toggle switches, and even to the buying process. There are thousands of ways of speccing a MINI, allowing you to tailor one to your exact preference.
Bad points:
Because MINIs are so personalised and built to order, discounts are low, and some of those individualisation features are expensive and can soon rack up the final price. Avoid the larger wheel and tyre options: the suspension is already stiff, and they only make things worse. If you want useable rear-seats, you should either go for the MINI Clubman, or even the larger Countryman, as the standard hatch is very small. You won’t get much in the boot, either. The instruments aren’t easy to read and the minor switchgear is fiddly, and some of the interior trim isn’t up to the classy image of the car.
Recommended optional extras:
Bluetooth
TLC servicing package
Other MINI trims:
Trim above
MINI Cooper S
£18,180 - £21,630
Trim below
MINI One
£13,460 - £15,870
Further Information:
- See all MINI reviews
- See all MINI reviews
- Read our in-depth MINI hatchback review
- Read our in-depth MINI convertible review
MINI hatchback read edition review
| MINI Cooper |
|
£14,900 |
| MINI Cooper D |
|
£16,180 |
MINI convertible read edition review
| Cooper Convertible |
|
£17,300 |
| MINI Cooper Roadster |
|
£18,020 |
| Cooper D Convertible |
|
£18,370 |
