If there is one thing Mini are known for, it is their fun to drive vehicles. If you asked me how it feels to drive a mini, I would describe it like driving a go-kart. If you have driven a go-kart you will know that they are light, take corners really well and just make you feel happy. That is how I felt after driving the updated Mini Cooper 3 and 5 door hatch at the National Media Launch in Cape Town.
I fell in love with Mini after watching Italian Job and over the years with the improvements that Mini have made to the first generation, that was released in 2001, my love has just grown and grown. After driving the updated Mini 3 and 5 door hatch at the national media launch in Cape Town, let’s find out what I loved about it.
Exterior
The updated Mini Cooper is more refined and sporty than ever before. While there aren’t many changes to the exterior from the 2017 models, there are enough to make the 2018 models stand out. For starters, the rear lights now feature the popular Union Jack. The Union Jack is the flag of the UK and even though Mini is owned by BMW, the Union Jack has always been a part of the Mini in some way or another to remind us of Mini’s British heritage.
Mini have given the Mini logo a new look and feel. The Mini logo keeps the winged wheel motif and capitalized Mini lettering but the design has been stripped to the basics. For the first time ever, you can see the body of the car through parts of the logo. The new logo reflects the new brand identity of Mini which is to focus on driving fun, distinctive design, premium quality and emotional appeal.
As you open the door, you will find the Mini logo projected onto the ground. This is such a nice touch to let others know that you have a Mini, not that the Mini needed it though 🙂
Interior
The interior of the new Mini is just as sporty and refined as the exterior. There is a soft touch dashboard, centre console and shiny detailing. There is also an enhanced infotainment system to keep you connected while on the road. The 6.5 inch touch screen interface is easy to use and allows you to play music straight from your phone or answer calls safely whilst driving.
The Harman Kardon speakers allowed us to jam away to my driving partners range of music with good acoustics, bass and sound! The bucket style seats are super comfy and keep you in place as you take corners. If one Union Jack wasn’t enough (it is not) you will find some models have the Union Jack on the dashboard which lights up when the car is in dark areas. Neat!
The 3 spoke steering wheel is standard in all models and has multifunction controls for a range of functions. There is a range of seat and interior surfaces as well as colour lines which add a touch of individual style to the interior.
When it comes to space, the 5 door is about 160mm longer than the 3 door, so you will find more space at the rear. The 3 door has 2 rear seats while the 5 door (except the Mini Cooper S 5 Door) has 3 rear seats. I did not sit at the rear but being tall I prefer to be the driver or at least front passenger in a Mini. There is also a fair amount of boot space!
Customization
When it comes to customization, the Mini can be customized like never before. There are three new colours: Emerald Grey, Starlight Blue and Solaris Orange, all in metallic.
You can even choose to have the optional Piano Black Exterior, where the surrounds of the headlights, rear lights and radiator grille are finished in a high-gloss black instead of chrome. There are also 4 different 17 inch alloy wheels to choose from.
For those looking to make their Mini’s even more unique with a bit of personal flair, the Mini Yours customised program will allow you to do that. The MINI Yours Customised range includes side scuttles, decorative strips for the cockpit fascia, LED door sill finishers and LED door projectors. Using a special online shop, Mini Yours customised products are selected, designed and ordered. While ordering, everything from the colour, pattern to the icon and text can be customized.
Engine, Performance and Fuel Efficiency:
The Mini 3 and 5 door comes in three models (One, Cooper and Cooper S) while the convertible comes in a Cooper and Cooper S. The engines in each model have been improved to not only reduce fuel consumption but to make them fun to drive. The Mini One now draws its power from a 1.5L engine to increase maximum torque by 10Nm to a total of 190Nm.
3 Door
The 3 door Mini one has a 1.5L engine with 75kW and 190Nm of torque. You will get from 0-100 in 10.1 seconds with a top speed of 195 km/h. Fuel consumption of 4.9L/100km.
The 3 door Mini Cooper has a 1.5L engine with 100kW and 220Nm of torque. You will get from 0-100 in 7.9 seconds with a top speed of 210 km/h. Fuel consumption is 5L/100km.
The 3 door Mini Cooper S has a 2L engine with 141kW and 280Nm of torque. You will get from 0-100 in 6.8 seconds with a top speed of 235 km/h. Fuel consumption is 6L/100km.
5 Door
The 5 door Mini one has a 1.5L engine with 75kW and 190Nm of torque. You will get from 0-100 in 10.3 seconds with a top speed of 192 km/h. Fuel consumption of 4.9L/100km.
The 5 door Mini Cooper has a 1.5L engine with 100kW and 220Nm of torque. You will get from 0-100 in 7.9 seconds with a top speed of 207 km/h. Fuel consumption is 5.1L/100km.
The 5 door Mini Cooper S has a 2L engine with 141kW and 280Nm of torque. You will get from 0-100 in 6.8 seconds with a top speed of 232 km/h. Fuel consumption is 6.2L/100km.
Mini Convertible
The Mini Cooper Convertible has a 1.5L engine with 100kW and 220Nm of torque. You will get from 0-100 in 8.8 seconds with a top speed of 208 km/h. Fuel consumption is 5.2L/100km.
The Mini Cooper S Convertible has a 2L engine with 141kW and 280Nm of torque. You will get from 0-100 in 7.2 seconds with a top speed of 230 km/h. Fuel consumption is 6.3L/100km.
All models come in either a 6 speed manual or a 7 speed auto transmission. There is a new 7 speed Steptronic transmission with a double clutch that is available as an option for the Mini One, Cooper and Cooper S. This transmission is for those that want automatic with the benefit of a manual gearbox. There is also a 7 speed Steptronic sports transmission with a double clutch that has shift paddles on the steering wheel for quicker gear changes.
The Drive
At the launch, I drove the 5 Door Cooper S and 3 Door Cooper. The 5 Door Cooper S had the 7 speed Steptronic sports transmission. Gear changes were really quick, smooth and responsive. I enjoyed using the paddle shifts when overtaking. The 3 Door Cooper had the 7 speed Steptronic transmission which had pretty much the same experience as the Steptronic sports transmission, without the benefit of the paddle shift.
Both vehicles are nippy and fun to drive. Take offs and acceleration are super quick and handling on corners is superb! There are three driving modes (Green, Mid and Sport) to suit your driving needs. Flipping that switch to change modes is just so much fun and sports mode really opens the Mini up!
Cool features:
The Mini now has more ways to keep you connected. All models have Connected Navigation and Connected Navigation Plus except Mini one which has Connected Media as standard. Connected media gives the Mini digital infotainment facilities. Other functions such as Mini Connected allow the driver to sync their schedule with the Mini to make traveling easier. Remote services are also available which allow you to check up on your vehicle location, fuel level and also activate the ventilation or lock/unlock the vehicle.
The Mini now features adaptive LED headlights, as an option, which automatically adjusts the brightness of the headlights to avoid dazzling approaching drivers. The headlights also feature an auto selective dip function which upon detection of an approaching vehicle, certain parts of the road are illuminated using a low beam to avoid dazzling the driver.
My driving partner, Peter Frost, very enthusiastically introduced me to the Coasting Function which drops the revs to 0 while going downhill to save fuel. In order to use the coasting Function, the vehicle must be in Mid or Green mode. This is the same as putting a manual car into neutral and coasting down the hill expect with the Mini you have control. With the touch of the brake or accelerator, the revs increase and the engine takes control again. This is a really clever way to save fuel and you can even see how much fuel per km you are saving! The coasting function is available on all Steptronic transmissions in the 3 door, 5 door and convertible range.
The updated Mini also has the option of a smart auto start/stop function. Navigation and front camera data can be used to tell the vehicle when it is not a good time to active start/stop.
For the first time ever, the Mini now has wireless charging in the centre storage compartment, available as an option!
Pricing:
Mini Cooper 3-door
- Mini One hatchback M/T – R302 200
- Mini One hatchback A/T – R323 200
- Mini Cooper hatchback M/T – R370 300
- Mini Cooper hatchback A/T – R391 300
- Mini Cooper S hatchback M/T – R428 300
- Mini Cooper S hatchback A/T – R449 300
- Mini JCW hatchback M/T – R487 300
- Mini JCW hatchback A/T – R511 600
Mini Cooper 5-door
- Mini One hatchback M/T – R312 300
- Mini One hatchback A/T – R333 300
- Mini Cooper hatchback M/T – R380 400
- Mini Cooper hatchback A/T – R401 400
- Mini Cooper S hatchback M/T – 438 400
- Mini Cooper S hatchback A/T – R459 400
Mini Cooper Convertible
- Mini Cooper Convertible M/T – R423 200
- Mini Cooper Convertible A/T – R444 200
- Mini Cooper S Convertible M/T – R493 800
- Mini Cooper S Convertible A/T – R514 800
The Mini Cooper is sold with a 2-year/unlimited warranty and 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.
Verdict
Overall I really enjoyed driving the updated Mini 3 and 5 door hatches. I always get a smile on my face as I put my foot down and feel the Mini take off, much like a go cart. I am really fond of the inclusion of the Union Jack in the rear lights and on the dashboard as this keeps the car British. I found both models that I drove to be nippy and fun to drive with really good handling on the windy roads of Cape Town! Until next time Mini 🙂
