2015 Mini Cooper S Hardtop 4 door
I don’t normally dwell on a vehicle’s aesthetics too much, as this is such a subjective area. But in the case of a Mini I feel it is integral to assessing the car, as so much of what the brand stands for—and many of the reasons why someone might purchase or lease one—might be based on its looks and character.
In the case of the all-new, “third generation” Cooper S, especially in its four door iteration, the Mini’s visual attractiveness (or lack thereof) is going to be a strong determining factor. To me, owner of three earlier models, approaching this Mini is like meeting someone you were hot for in your school days, which are more than a decade in the past. While you can still picture the person they used to be, they don’t appear to be aging well.
In this Mini’s case, the problem is that the car keeps getting bigger, so the proportions and stance suffer. The designers tried to compensate by making details like the lights, ducts, scoops and chrome trim more interesting or prominent, but this is like that fictional old flame dressing up in nicer clothes, chunky glasses and more bling jewelry—perhaps even some non-OEM parts. While you might be temporarily distracted, the underlying form isn’t what it was.
Continuing with the analogy, though, we find some positives. This latest Cooper S is better in polite company, being more refined in terms of noise, vibration and harshness—and especially in a reduction in Minis’ traditionally flinty ride. These new manners are much appreciated over the horrid urban “road” network many of us have to commute upon, and are allied to no loss in the athletic handling and sharp, incisive steering that has always defined the company’s best vehicles. While there might be a pot belly and some love handles hiding under those designer duds, someone’s still hitting the gym.
This latest Cooper S still has a 2-liter turbo (with outputs of 189hp and 207lb-ft), but it hails from a new engine family and is notable for its punchy low-rev performance, refined running and rorty soundtrack. Missing is a willing top end, as things go a bit flat above about 5000rpm. It is allied to nice six-speed auto gearbox, meaning 0-60mph in 6.2 as well as good real-world fuel economy. Braking performance is excellent for street use, with a firm, feelsome pedal.
Minis have had funky cockpits since the brand was reintroduced to the States, but the quality and functionality has always been a bit suspect. This newest Cooper S is build of higher quality materials, and oft-used things like the window switches have been moved to easier to access places. But along with this welcome maturation is a countertrend of tackiness, as exemplified by the gimmicky, multihued disco lighting that zooms around various interior forms when you start, stop or engage one of the various computer programs that control throttle sensitivity and steering weighting. None of these allows all the Mini’s controls to cohere in the manner of the earlier machines; you either get steering that is too light combined with sluggish response, or an electric throttle interaction and big chunks of fight through the wheel. While the underlying hardware is obviously very well sorted, the computer overlays detract from this inherent goodness.
As to those four doors: while they add access for the smallest forms of homo sapiens, most wont fit in the cramped rear quarters, and this Cooper S has none of the visual appeal of the outgoing Clubman with its funky retro-wagon vibe and good proportions. The longer wheelbase of this model benefits ride quality and tames some of the tail happiness of the shorter two door model however, without undermining the sharp turn-in and responsiveness that are Mini virtues.
Any single person’s response to the body of this latest Cooper S might be hard to determine, but I sense a laziness in the designers’ work here—there is no reason a bigger Mini couldn’t continue to have proper stance and balance visually—as an example, the Countryman still looks groovy. Product planning is also coming across as a bit desperate, based on the slightly inane reliance on silly slogans and flashing lights on display inside this car. Thankfully this newest Cooper S’ bones are good and it is in rude health dynamically; combined with the newfound decorum displayed in the daily grind, it is still a compelling companion for those who still fall for its form.
EPA ratings: 26/33mpg; 29mpg combined
Price as tested: $35,900
Here is what Mini has to say.
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