Sandy Sansing

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Driving Impressions

We've found the Mini Cooper to be sporting and comfortable at the same time. We've driven them on race tracks and on streets and highways around the world. This latest-generation Mini is easier and safer to drive quickly, benefits from changes to the suspension, the increased torque of the engine, and the electromechanically assisted steering. This is one of the most fun and responsive cars on the road.

The convertible is almost as sporty as the hardtop. This latest version handles better than the previous-generation convertible thanks to a stronger body structure that allows for little cowl shake. In fact, we'd call it one of the stiffest convertibles on the market.

The Clubman is just as fun to drive as the regular Mini Cooper. The Clubman's extra length may actually help in some ways. The longer wheelbase helps to smooth out some of the bumps and make the Clubman somewhat more stable in turns. We drove a Mini Cooper S and a Clubman S on an autocross and found the cars felt very similar. We think the Mini Cooper was slightly more nimble and more ready to react to quick changes of direction than the Clubman, but compared with other cars it's very nimble in tight quarters.

A variety of tires is available. We found that the optional 17-inch run-flat tires combined with the stiff suspension on the Mini Cooper S convertible made it prone to pounding over bumps. We began to dread early spring potholes on Chicago streets. Our advice is to try the S suspension and the larger tires before you buy; they may make the ride too stiff for some tastes.

The latest engine was engineered by BMW and is manufactured in the BMW Hams Hall engine plant in England. Equipped with BMW Valvetronic variable-valve-timing technology, it rates an EPA-estimated 28/37 mpg City/Highway. The base engine makes 118 horsepower. That's enough to accelerate the Clubman from 0 to 60 mph in 10.2 seconds, slow by today's standards, but the Clubman doesn't feel slow, and the power feels quite usable over 3000 rpm.

In Cooper S turbocharged trim with direct fuel injection, the engine delivers very sporting performance. Its 172 horsepower is more than adequate in the lightweight Mini to generate speeds twice most legal limits, but the 177 pound-feet of torque, which can be over-boosted to 190 pound-feet for short intervals, and is available from 1700 rpm to 5000 rpm, is nothing short of marvelous. A Sport button yields quicker response from accelerator and steering.

The turbo engine takes the Mini from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds, reflecting a slight turbo hesitation at the start, but producing satisfying acceleration at all speeds once in motion. Even on the track at Zandvoort, with its frequent elevation changes and notoriously tight hairpin corners, the car turned its fastest laps with the transmission left in third gear rather than downshifting to second. And even with that performance, the turbo with manual transmission is still EPA-rated at 26 mpg urban and 34 mpg highway.

The Clubman S is capable of a 7.2 second 0-60 mph sprint. That's just 0.2 seconds slower than the regular Mini Cooper S, which isn't surprising because the Clubman weighs only 177 pounds more.

The Cooper S comes with a sport-tuned suspension, but its behavior is still much more refined than other cars capable of similar track speeds. With a MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension, the Cooper S is flat and stable in corners, and absorbs most bumps without discomforting passengers. Oversteer has been tuned out, so the car never feels at risk of spinning out even with radical changes in throttle or brakes in the middle of corners.

Both engines work well with the automatic transmission, and the S model's paddle shifters are easy to use. The automatic doesn't need to be put into a Sport mode to use them, and when the driver quits using them, the transmission reverts to drive, picking the gears itself. The Sport mode switches to a more aggressive shift algorithm that holds gears longer to keep more power on tap.

The manual gearbox offers more driver interaction and lets you wring more out of the Mini's limited power. We would definitely recommend the manual for the low-powered base model. It makes the driving experience more fun. The Sport button quickens throttle response and chooses a quicker steering ratio.

Electromechanically assisted steering, which uses an electric motor, instead of hydraulics, is used to alter and enhance driver steering input. Because the steering is still mechanically connected to the front wheels, this system can't be called drive-by-wire, and the driver still has a feel for the road and the car's changing cornering force can be felt through the wheel. This system varies the steering ratio and effort according to speed. This is most apparent in tight, slow parking lot maneuvers where very little effort or wheel motion is needed to make large changes in direction. In comparison, at highway speeds greater rotation of the steering wheel results in smaller and less sensitive directional changes. One advantage of electronically assisted steering is that input/output ratios can be optimized for various portions of a corner, not just varying with vehicle speed. In the Mini, this means that the initial turn-in is cushioned slightly, so the car doesn't feel as go-kart twitchy as the previous model, but once a constant turning radius is established, it takes almost no effort to maintain the turn, regardless of speed.

On the road, drivers will find the Clubman a little more comfortable than the base model. Since it was first released in 2002, the Mini Cooper has been known for its somewhat punishing ride quality, especially the higher performance S model. The Clubman's longer wheelbase helps to mitigate that problem, making the S model more palatable for more customers. Still, the Clubman S ride quality is not luxurious and it can be harsh over sharp bumps and potholes, but the ride is not as punishing as it is on the Mini Cooper S.

The four-wheel disc brakes provide quick and stable stops. Both the base and S model benefit from Mini's brake cornering control, which can use the ABS to apply individual brakes to inside wheels to help get the car through a corner.

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