Mini Cooper Review

New-ish name, same-ish car. That’s the TL;DR summary of the new Mini Cooper, but there’s actually quite a lot to talk about. Rather than being an engine designation, Cooper is now the model name, but that actually covers two very different cars that look the same.

What we mean is that the petrol-engined Coopers and the electric versions aren’t really related at all. Petrol ones are basically heavily facelifted Mini Hatchbacks (the previous car) and are built in Britain, while the ‘leccy ones share parts with the Ora 03 and are made in China.

They even have different bodywork – you probably won’t be able to tell unless they’re side by side – but there are a couple of giveaways. The doorhandles are flush on the EV but stick out on the petrol version, while the bonnet line on the EV doesn’t include the headlights. Some absolutely riveting pub facts for you…

Both Cooper varieties feature cleaner, decontented styling that gives the car a modern flair. Chrome is gone – a popular modification by existing Mini owners is to swap all the chrome trim for black – while the tail lights no longer have the Union Flag motif. There aren’t any visible exhausts on petrol models either. We’ll leave you to decide whether the changes have been successful or not.

It’s a similar story on the inside – anything not nailed down has been taken out and chucked in a skip. Good business from Mini: charge more for less stuff.

Actually, that’s not entirely fair. There’s still a lot going on, but most of it’s accessed through the touchscreen. A fun take on Mini’s signature circular dashboard effect, the new screen looks immense.

If only it was as great to use. Lots of different nuggets of information are scattered haphazardly around the circle, and the icons are small, so it can actually take a bit of hunting to find what you’re looking for. Maybe it’ll become easier to use when you live with it, but we’ve found the best infotainment systems are instantly intuitive. More info is on the second page of this review.

Like Tesla, the speedometer has migrated to the touchscreen. If you don’t want your passengers to notice every time you nudge over the speed limit, the Cooper S has a standard-fit head-up display instead. Despite the bare look of the interior, the equipment list is long – highlights include a reversing camera, a heated steering wheel and ambient lighting.

The figurehead of the Mini brand is still stubbornly impractical, but that won’t put buyers off. While we might argue that it could be packaged better, given how square its bodywork looks, it’s worth remembering that the Cooper is the smallest car Mini makes. If you like the vibes and looks but need a bit more space, there’s the 5-door version or the larger the Aceman and Countryman SUVs.

So the rear seats are still cramped, and the boot is still smaller than the likes of the Peugeot 208 and BMW i3. Still marginally bigger than what you get in a Fiat 500, of course.

The three available petrol engines broadly match the ones offered in the previous Mini hatchback. A 1.5-litre, 156hp engine designated as the Cooper C (C stands for… Cooper!) kicks off the range, followed by the 2.0-litre, 204hp Cooper S. The range-topper is the John Cooper Works, which gains another 27hp and a slightly quicker 0-62mph time, although it’s only marginally more expensive than the Cooper S in Sport trim.

This time around, there are three electric options too – including a range-topping JCW EV. And all are much more usable than before. The entry-level E model has a smallish 36.6kWh battery – around 4kWh bigger than the older Mini Electric. It must be more aerodynamic, because Mini quotes around 180 miles to a charge, compared to 110 for the previous one.

There’s also the SE, which not only has a bigger battery but a more powerful motor as well. The SE’s 49.2kWh battery enables around 240 miles to a charge, which should drastically boost the e-Mini’s appeal.

If you know you like Mini’s driving characteristics, you might not even need to take a new one for a test drive. We’re pleased to report that the Cooper is still just as fun to drive as previous cars, with agile, weighty steering that makes it a joy to fling through a set of tight corners. The Cooper S’ power boost has made the acceleration feel more urgent, giving a proper hot hatch experience – increasingly rare in small cars.

The flipside of the car’s excellent handling is that the ride is firm and skittish, especially on the bigger wheels. But, if you’re familiar with Minis, that’s what you’ll expect – and maybe even look for. It’s not tiring to drive, but sharp impacts are sometimes felt more than you might want.

As the petrol Cooper is an overhauled version of the old car, perhaps it’s not surprising that it drives similarly. But the electric version is similarly driver-focused. A little heavier, the Cooper E and SE are fractionally less agile than the Cooper C and S, but you wouldn’t notice unless you drove them back to back. The rapid responses of the Cooper SE’s 218hp electric motor mean it’s just as quick as a petrol Cooper S, and arguably no less fun.