Mini Cooper (2014)

Synopsis

Mini Cooper, the iconic car grabbed a lot of attention in India during the Auto Expo last year. This brand is now being owned by BMW and they have decided to create a new segment of luxury cars in India with this car. Will they be able to do so? Let’s find out.

Mini Cooper Exterior

The vintage look of Mini happens to be the biggest USP of this car. The retro styled face and tail of this car takes you five decades back. Circular headlights and simple front grille with chrome surroundings add premium touch to this car. The second generation of this car features circular fog lights and restyled air dam in its front bumper. The air-inlets come with chrome finish which grabs your attention instantly. The bonnet scoop and optional racing strips further enhance the visual charm of this hot hatch. The car looks extremely sporty sideways thanks to the flared wheel arches and multi spoke big alloy wheels. The neatly designed doors with chrome finished door handles look explicit while the full size side mirrors and roof antenna makes it look attractive. The wide and low stance of this car helps to get a proportionate look. The simple tail lights are chrome finished while there is a big chrome bar just above the number plate which enhances the visual appeal of this car. The rear spoiler looks catchy with the square shaped rear glass. The rear bumper of Mini gives it a sporty look at the back thanks to the chrome finished twin exhaust pipes and sharp lines. The overall designing of Mini truly makes it a retro car which can easily be identified on our crowded Indian roads.

Mini Cooper Interior

The car is just acceptable in this department. It’s brilliant in terms of plastic, fabric and leather quality like any other BMW but compromises on the space inside especially for the rear passengers. We wish if it had more knee and shoulder room inside. Apart from this, there is no major concern inside this car. It feels premium from inside and completely justifies its high pricing.

Comfort and Convenience

You get all modern amenities in this car like tilt and telescopic power steering, front power windows, electronically adjustable and retractable ORVMs, automatic climate control, central locking and much more. The height adjustable driver seat and passenger seat is quite comfortable and well cushioned. It’s a very comfortable and feature rich car.

Dashboard and Storage

The highly sophisticated dashboard of Mini comes with premium texture and design. The high quality of leather is quite soft to touch and looks classy with circular buttons being placed on the central console. The circular analogue instrument console is placed in the centre while a combined analogue-digital speedometer and tachometer is mounted on the steering wheel. Apart from front door pockets and small glove box, there is not much storage space inside this car. Its boot has a storage capacity of 160 litres which can be further increased by folding down its rear seats.

Music System of Mini Cooper

The central console features a double din music system which also offers USB, iPod and Aux connectivity. The car comes with six powerful speakers and steering mounted audio controls.

Engine and Gearbox

Mini Cooper sports a powerful 1.6L petrol engine. The four cylinders of this DOHC engine generate a maximum power output of 122 bhp at 6000 rpm. The torque output of this 16 valves engine is of 160 Nm which arrives at 4250 rpm. This engine is mated with a six speed automatic gearbox.

Acceleration and Performance

The light weight of this car helps it to achieve a respectable power to weight ratio. This engine certainly sounds quite refined and feels on the faster side. Yes, initially it’s a bit slow but once past 2000rpm mark, you will get to see the actual power of Mini. It takes only 10.5 seconds to reach 0-100km/hr. The car feels best between 3000-5000rpm and if pushed hard, it can reach the top speed of 197km/hr. The delay in the torque arrival is responsible for its turbo lag but before it starts to bother you, the power of this engine kicks in which gives you amazing riding experience. The instant throttle response is quite helpful in city traffic and the well matched gear ratios also help it to get the momentum easily.

Mini Cooper Mileage and Safety Features

Mini Cooper may give you a fuel efficiency of around 11-13km/ltr in city conditions while these figures may increase up to 5km/ltr on long runs. The car features as many as six-airbags for your safety while there are many other safety features like cornering brake control, electronic differential lock, stability control and collapsible steering column.

Suspension and Braking

Mini Cooper has hydraulic suspension system at its both ends. All wheels of Mini cooper are equipped with ventilated disc brakes while it also features ABS with EBD for precise braking.

Mini Cooper Ride and Handling

The stiff suspension system and short wheelbase of 2467mm are the two major flaws in this department. The potholes makes their way inside the car while the short wheelbase makes it unstable around corners however the 16inch wheels and low ground clearance of 130mm adds stability to this car. This low ground clearance surely improves its aerodynamics but proves to be a major concern on our Indian roads filled with high speed breakers and nasty potholes. The light steering and small size makes it a perfect city car which also gives positive feedback at high speeds.

Shades, Variants and Warranty

The only variant of this car is available in three colors and comes with warranty of two years/unlimited kilometres.

Verdict

Mini Cooper is priced at INR 24.90 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi (approx., may vary)). Undoubtedly, it’s an over-hyped car which is nowhere near the parameter of value for money car. At this price, where size does matter, BMW is offering you a small car which can’t even occupy five adults. Moreover, the poor ride quality and slow performance of Mini doesn't justify the high pricing of this car. It’s hard to say if Indians who prefer sub-4 meter sedans over premium hatchbacks will opt for this extremely pricey three door hatch.