Supposedly Mini, but with Maximum Joy
A HAPPY BLUE LIGHT TO A GREY WEATHER – WITH DECADES OF HISTORY
This year, winter came to Warsaw just few days before Christmas. It unfortunately was a winter that is typical to recent years, and it turned the city into grey and wet concrete jungle and its image could be warmed up only by Christmas lights and… the blue Mini Cooper! Thanks to showroom Mini AutoFus I had the chance to get to know the newest generation of the (not only) city legend.
Mini is a car that does not need a formal introduction to anyone. Charismatic car debuted in 1959 and its design is doubtlessly one of the icons of motorization in general. It was a car for the masses, and became not only a symbol of urban design but also successfully partook in various rallies and races – it won its first Monte Carlo rally in 1964. However, over the past few decades lots has changed and in 1994 the British brand was taken over by BMW, which decided to bring Mini back into production at the beginning of the current Millenium.
TAILOR MADE MINI COOPER
The Mini Cooper I got for the test was painted Starlight Blue and was the five-door version. The model was placed between the basic Mini One and Cooper S, of course not taking into account the ultimate sport version John Cooper Works. Under the hood we can find an inline three turbocharged engine producing 136 horsepower. In the tested model the engine was coupled with an optional, yet fantastic, double-clutch gearbox with seven gears.
Every Mini can be tailored to one’s individual needs using the very good online configurator. My model was equipped with Chilli package, including a two-zone automatic air conditioning, driving mode selector, sport add-ons and interior finish with textile and ecological leather. The interior is coherent and the focal point is definitely the radio and sat-nav screen, place inside an LED strip. The latter, by changing its color can visualize not only the engine revolutions, but also air conditioning temperature or radio volume level. It is an interesting solution drawing from the famous, centrally placed dials – remarkable and clever!
WELL-MADE WITH ATTENTION TO DETAILS
After opening the car with the remote, Mini coquettishly blinks to you with its extraordinarily large, round indicators and from the driver’s door a Mini logo will be projected onto the ground. It is a small accent, quite popular nowadays, yet still very enjoyable. The interior is cosy and well-profiled seats are very comfortable. In the tested car they were additionally heated, what was more than appreciated with the cold weather outside and well worth paying for as an extra.
It is characteristic to Mini to pay attention to details. Centrally in front of the driver there is a large, round speedometer with on-board computer display. Leather steering wheel with multi-function steering is sized conveniently, and with a well-known from the BMW cars gearstick forms a harmonious duet. Materials used for finishes are of high quality, but if I were picky, the chromed plastics on the central console and the steering wheel stand a bit off.
A huge surprise to me was the armrest. It hides not only a small glovebox, but also features a phone holder… with a wireless charger included. Whilst it is an optional equipment, but it adds so much to the functionality of the car and helps avoiding tangling cables everywhere.
My Mini Cooper had the additional pair of doors, helping a lot to take a seat in the rear without ruining the design. It is worth keeping in mind that the back seats are very cramped and would allow only shorter passengers or children for a comfortable trip.
SUPPOSEDLY MINI – BUT WITH MAXIMUM JOY
It goes without saying that Mini is the king of design. However, in my book, the car is even better when talking about its driving performance. At the turn of the ignition, we bring to live a small, three-cylinder engine which appears much more powerful than it seems on paper. The car is lightweight, weighing in at just below 1200 kilograms, which definitely helps, alongside with the fast, dynamic gearbox.
The suspension is rather stiff, excelling at tight corners and helping the driver at higher speeds. Of course, this comes at a cost of a little bit less comfortable bumpy road – uneven tarmac and speed-bumps are not our Mini’s favourites.
The final product is exactly as you may expect – we get a very dynamic car with some sport aspirations. The latter can be dosed by the drive mode selection, ranging from Green, through Mid to Sport. Mini’s small engine likes high revs and the peak power is available between 4500 and 6000 rpms. Very responsive gearbox reacts to even the slightest touch of the gas pedal and its elasticity is astonishing – the car accelerates from 80 to 120km/h and from 120km/h to 160km/h in a blink of an eye. What is interesting, the gearbox can be put into a sequential, manual mode and the shifts can be made using the stick. Such an option is not available in every automatic car out there and gives the driver heaps of joy.
During my 300 kilometers spent with Mini I drove mostly around Warsaw and its suburbs. In such a mixed traffic Cooper was really efficient, burning approximately 9 litres of gasoline for every 100 kilometers. It is a very positive result taking into account the weather and rather a dynamic drive. There is the Green mode dedicated to all the eco-drivers, turning all displays in such a way, that depicts how much range you gained. I turned it off after my first saved kilometer though… it does not seem like the right one for this car.
MINI COOPER IS A CHOICE OF HEART, NOT THE BRAIN
When on Christmas Eve I was driving the Mini Cooper back to AutoFus showroom I was wonder for whom is this car for. For a motorization passionate? For sure. For people valuing style and high quality? Doubtlessly yes. For those who like a pinch of sport in their daily drive? Certainly, but they will likely go for the Cooper S model.
Mini Cooper is definitely not the car for those, who want ‘just’ a city drive. In such an instance it would be extremely difficult to justify buying a car with a starting price of 95 400 PLN, skyrocketing to 137 600 PLN after adding few extras here and there, as in the tested car.
Is buying a Mini Cooper the right choice for you? If you want a good value for money – there may be other options. But if you are looking into a stylish, dynamic car, with an eye-catching appearance, bringing you joy every time you open the door - you should definitely consider purchasing it. The decision to buy a Mini is taken by heart and not the brain. After a joyful weekend with the Mini Cooper I fully understood it!
Text & Photos: Adam Pekala ©
