Better-looking, I’d say, of the new four-door style added to the 2015 Mini Cooper.
I’ve been driving the Mini Cooper S Hardtop 4 door with the 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed Getrag automatic transmission.
The added length (almost 6 inches) and two extra doors give it some authority in its stance and may put to rest some of the good-natured go-kart references of the little Mini. The four-door’s side view, enhanced with stripes and Union Jack flag stickers, is attractive.
The front-wheel-drive Mini made its debut in Great Britain in 1959 and was imported into the U.S. from 1960 to ’67. Sales over here were stopped and didn’t resume for 35 years. Under ownership of BMW, though still built in England, the Mini Cooper was reintroduced to the U.S. in the spring of 2002.
I reviewed in the Post one of the first ‘02s to come to Denver, a red-and-white model.
My lead read, “Look at the new Mini Cooper, and you’re apt to smile.” The same hold true in 2015. Deeper into the ’02 review, I wrote, “The ride is on the rough side.” The same holds true in 2015. Avoid all potholes.
The new Mini is an excellent handler, even improved, it seems to me, over the smaller one. The S version’s performance is strong with the twin-power turbo kicking out 189 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft. of torque. Standard engine is a 134-hp, turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder. The S model is worth the extra dollars, plenty of power, almost enough to be called a Super Duper Cooper. Parking is a pleasure.
The added weight of the four-door (200 pounds) reduced EPA fuel estimate to 26/33; I averaged 28.4 with the review model.
A Sport mode added fun to driving the Mini, sharpening the throttle response and firming up the steering feel. For a tamer tour, normal and “green” modes are offered.
Inside the Mini, seat cushions are supportive and front-seat thigh extenders offer increased comfort for long drives. Dual moonroofs brighten the interior and a feature is a ring of colored light changing from green to red, depending on driving habits, around the center display screen. Any difficulty in programming audio selections can be solved by simply pushing the voice button and stating a preference, then set it as a favorite.
Expanded shoulder room and headroom in the rear-seating area create space for two full-sized adults, though legroom is still tight. Cargo space has grown from 8.7 cubic feet in the two-door to 13.1 in the four-door; flatten the rear seatbacks in the new one and the space grows to 40 cubic feet.
The Mini is known for oversized oval headlights. Open the hood and it’s as though two large eyeballs are peering back at you.
The price of the four-door Mini jumped from a base of $25,100 to $35,900 sticker with the addition of navigation, harman/kardon sound, Bluetooth and USB connections, heated front seats, the moonroofs, the automatic transmission, leather-covered steering wheel and head-up display.
Here are the specifications for the 2015 Mini Cooper S Hardtop 4 Door:
- Capacity 5-passenger sedan
- Wheelbase 101.1 inches
- Length 157.4 inches
- Width 68 inches
- Height 56.1 inches
- Curb Weight 2,930 pounds
- Track 59.1 inches front, 58.5 rear
- Ground Clearance 5.7 inches
- Turn Circle 35.4 feet
- Drivetrain Front-wheel-drive
- Engine 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
- Horsepower/Torque 189/207
- Transmission 6-speed automatic
- Steering electromechanical power
- Suspension strut front/multilink rear
- Fuel mileage estimate 26/33
- Fuel mileage average 28.4
- Fuel Tank 11.6 gallons, premium
- Wheels 18-inch
- Tires Pirelli 205/40R18
- Cargo Volume 13.1 cubic feet
- Warranty 4years/50,000 miles basic, 4/50,000 powertrain
Competitors Volkswagen Golf, Fiat 500, Honda Fit, Nissan Juke
Assembly Plant Oxford, United Kingdom
Parts Content U.S./Canadian 5%, Germany 35%, United Kingdom 25%
Base Price of Lowest Model $25,110; Base Price of Review Model $25,100; Destination Charge $850; Sticker Price $35,900.