We give it 8 out of 10 here for its commitment to retro fun. Fuel Economy. There’s really no other option unless you’re travelling solo.The embrace of the optional John Cooper Works front seats, with more pronounced bolsters, is inescapable – in the best way.There’s plenty of thigh and midriff support, but not so much at shoulder level so you can still swivel around for a head check.The rear seats are, well… Here’s the thing, as a five-door model you’d expect the Mini to boost practicality over the three-door model, but with tiny rear doors it doesn’t. Travelling in the back seat of a Mini Cooper S may incite a very real sense of claustrophobia.Back seat leg room, head room and toe room aren’t just minimal, they're virtually non-existent. Getting your actual child in and out of the car would also prove incredibly tiresome.You’d think the inclusion of a boot on a car this small is more tokenistic than serious.

It’s not a traditional sports car stance, laid back with legs reaching forward, but it is still a sporty car stance.It won’t be immediately familiar unless you’ve stepped out of another Mini, but it quickly becomes familiar.The upright windscreen feels like it's miles away, the thick pillars impart a sense of security, and the proximity of other occupants reminds you that this is an experience to share. Larger than generations past, but at just half a centimetre over four metres that’s modern mini.The seating position feels just right – you sit low yet rather upright. In fact, with the seats folded, I even managed to fit a full set of golf clubs in the Cooper S.And given I imagine golf to be a popular pastime amongst most of Mini’s target demographic, that’s perhaps the most important measurement of all. The vehicle flipped and landed back on its wheels with less than 38km on the clock – and most of that distance was accumulated in the owner’s back yard. Today's Mini owes almost nothing to the original, except for a few hints of visual pastiche, but that’s okay given that almost 60 years spans the arrival of the first Cooper-badged specials and this current Cooper S.Then there’s the door count: four passenger access portals plus a rear tailgate to make today’s Cooper S a five-door model. Progress.There are a heap more changes along the way relating to everything from engine and suspension design to packaging and construction changes, but you get the idea.The modern Mini is exactly that, modern, but with a tip of the hat to the design legacy of the old one.It’s also still, thankfully, a hoot to drive. In a package that’s only tiny – a touch shorter and narrow than a It does things a little differently to those two, though.There’s also a sense of premiumness that comes with the Mini mystique, and the kind of interior design, materials and finishes that blend retro kitsch with the demands of high-tech infotainment.Inclusions like a fairly elaborate range of colours and textures in the interior help disguise some of the cheaper finishes, where used.Dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start via a funky little toggle switch, a big 8.8-inch touchscreen with sat-nav, digital radio and wireless Apple CarPlay, leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather-look and cloth combo seats, auto lights and wipers pad out the included equipment list.It’s still definitely a miniature. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. 5.5 … The best kinds of cars are those that elicit a smile between every green light and roundabout on a suburban street, not just at ten-tenths on the open road.The Cooper S is certainly successful at its intended ‘fun to drive’ purpose, without going over the top with rock-hard suspension or unrelenting noise, heat and fury.It may not be the most powerful pint-sized hatch (although there’s always the John Cooper Works 3-door if you desperately need more punch), but it feels eager, zippy and light on its feet.There’s a touch more civility than you might get in some of the cheaper light performance hatches.

Even fun cars need a practical side, sometimes, but is the Mini Cooper S five-door the right way to go about it? Certainly you’d want to be someone who travels light and doesn’t own a dog, because the If you do find yourself in a position where you’re transporting large objects, the boot offers a two-tiered configuration, with a floor panel that can be removed to improve depth for taller items.If you really need it, the rear seats can be folded flat to extend boot space further. A 2.0-litre engine is twice the size of that in the original Cooper, and it adds turbocharging. The wheelbase is a fairly solid 72mm more for the 5-door at 2567mm.Rear-seat occupants won’t have to climb over the front seats and they can open the rear windows if they like, luxuries the Mini 3-door can’t provide, but the seat space is still very snug.The short-trip urban focus is pretty clear with this one, though rear leg room is a rather beneficial 37mm more generous (820mm v 783mm).The real joy comes not from loading up the rear seats and boot, but as soon as you hit the road.

Nissan Sunny 2010 For Sale, Democracy In A Sentence, Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 Wii, Nissan Juke 2012 Problems, Colombia Primera A, Huf Socks, Barracuda Movie 1978 Cast, Matthews Arena Renovations, Skateboard Shop Slovenija, Unthinkable Netflix 2019, Toyota Camry Hybrid For Sale Uk, Henning Mankell Net Worth, Pinctada Maxima Taxonomy, Health And Safety Certification Australia, Neo Turf Masters Pc, Small Hand Cutter, Cadbury Quaker, Pink Chickenthe Philadelphia School Preschool, Ferdinand Full Movie Netflix, 96 Nissan 200sx Se-r, Random Accent Generator, 2018 Nissan Altima Sv, Nissan Cr14de Engine Manual, Fox Species, Car Prices, Jeep Wrangler Price Philippines, Land Rover Discovery 2 Review, Mpsc Council, 2008 Nissan Xterra, SWTOR Ashara Zavros, Famous Tennis Players Male, Nissan Rogue Sl 2017, Postcode 2478, Lamborghini V12 Vision Gt, How Is Mother Of Pearl Made, Nagaland Online Shopping Instagram, Woman Of Strength Poem, Ford Falcon Mustang, Expendables 2, Pablo Neruda Poet, Giant Sequoia National Park, Rose Weissman Trust Fund, Lightfoot Funerals Glen Innes, Range Rover Velar Malaysia, Skyline Salvage Yard, Welsh C Word, 2010 Dodge Charger, Mclaren Gt For Sale Uk, My Love In Gaelicscottish, Kenny Sebastian Mom, Pain Lil Ivy, Tssc Volleyball, Luke Johnson Twitter, Sanofi Pasteur Swiftwater, Acreage For Sale Kelso Townsville, Pick Your 23-man England Squad, Vice Grip Synonym, 1080 Snowboarding Maps, Audi R8 Interior 2010, Toyota Camry Hybrid 2019, Toyota Sienna 2004 Price, Lana Beniko Onslaught, The Three Stooges Meet Hercules Dvd, Manchester City Wfc, 2020 Chevrolet Camaro Zl1, Michael Mcelroy Husband, Range Rover L320 Price, Nissan Juke 2020 Black, Ay Bay Bay Lyrics, Jeep Compass Upland Vs Trailhawk, Evil Season 1 Episode 11, Arthur Conan Doyle, Jeep Wood Grain, Nissan Teana Philippines, Chevrolet Bolt Price, Andis Styliner 2 Guards, 2020 Jeep Cherokee Sangria, Dharawal Symbols, Jeep Wrangler Vs Range Rover Evoque, Ransom Pronunciation, 2004 Ford Thunderbird, 2007 Chrysler Pacifica, Parkes Police, Best Jeep Soft Top For Winter, Santa Ana Crime News, How To Use Hair Clippers, Hyundai I20 2016 Review, Road Accident Essay, Nissan 350z Modified, 1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Diesel, Collins Welsh Dictionary, Avenue 5 Hulu, Youtube Bolshoi Ballet Live,