Mini Cooper

Exterior

The Mini Cooper is indeed a very cute car. Its retro design and cube-like appeal look very attractive. Up-front, there is a huge hexagonal grille, circular headlights and a nicely curved bonnet. The windscreen is placed nice and high; you'll also notice the floating roof and a strip of chrome running around the base of the cabin. The Cooper has soft lines with a lot of rounded details that look quite funky. Also, the headlamps have semi-circular LEDs around them. By and large, the Cooper looks wider and has a nice stance, which has always been the case.

Variants

The Mini Cooper variants are as follows: D 3 Door, S 3 Door, D 5 Door, S 3 Door Oxford Edition and JCW. Features include a multi-function steering, automatic climate control, parking sensors, cruise control, a leather steering wheel, optional Harmon Kardon Hi-Fi system, adjustable headlights, auto rain-sensing wipers and a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen system. On the safety front, it gets ABS, EBD, ESP, dual front airbags and traction control system.

Interior

Inside the cabin, the Mini gets a retro-styled theme. The levels of fit and finish are top-notch, and, optionally, there's a huge 8.8-inch central screen on the dashboard exclusive of the on-road price. Mini Cooper can also be upgraded with few other additional options such as a sunroof, an iDrive-like infotainment system and leather seats as well. The sporty seats provide ample comfort, thanks to the good bolstering. Headroom and legroom at the rear is much better than before, with room available for up to three occupants; one being a child, preferably.

Engine Specifications & Performance

The Mini Cooper is powered by a 1.5-litre, diesel engine that produces 114bhp and 270Nm of torque, and a 2.0-litre petrol engine that makes 189bhp and 280Nm of torque. The diesel engine is paired to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, while the petrol engine is paired to a 7-speed automatic gearbox. On starting the three-cylinder diesel motor, there is the typical three-cylinder thrum. The engine gets smoother as you pick up pace, and the motor pulls without any hesitation. Performance is pretty good, and 0-100kph comes up in 9.90 seconds, while it manages to reach a top speed of 190kph. And the transmission works quite efficiently as well. The Mini Cooper new model feels nimble, and stays planted around corners. It instils confidence in the driver to push even harder. The steering also delivers the typical go-kart-like feel Minis have been known for. Ride quality too, has improved over the older models.

Mileage

The Mini Cooper's ARAI-certified fuel efficiency figure is rated at 20.70kpl for the Cooper D and 17.33kpl for the Cooper S.