2008 Mini Cooper: Road Test

FUEL ECONOMY

In Consumer Guide testing, with manual transmission an S hatchback averaged a miserly 32.3 mpg. A base Clubman was even more frugal, averaging 34.7 mpg. A base convertible returned 27.6 mpg. With automatic transmission a Clubman S averaged 32.5 in mostly highway driving. Mini recommends premium-grade gas for all engines.

STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING

Minis turn on a dime with outstanding steering response. Even base models corner with little body lean; S versions take handling to an even higher level, and with the optional 17-inch wheels, rank with the best sports cars. Minis are among the smallest cars in the U.S. but are stable even in crosswinds. They offer excellent maneuverability, especially with the electrically assisted steering in hatchbacks and Clubmans that offers light feel at low speeds and firms up as speed increases. Stopping control is first-rate, with fine pedal feel.

CONTROLS

Many dashboard gauges and controls sacrifice functionality for "retro" style. The large, center-mounted speedometer forces drivers to divert their eyes from the road, though hatchbacks and Clubmans offer a small, redundant digital speedometer in the tachometer face; the tachometer sits atop the steering column, partially blocked from view. No hatchbacks or Clubmans tested had the navigation system, but on convertibles, its screen replaces the speedometer in the dashboard and moves the speedometer to the steering column; on hatchbacks and Clubmans, it's mounted in the central speedometer face. Retro-style toggle switches controlling power windows, locks, and fog lamps are mounted inconveniently low on the dashboard. Audio and climate controls are within easier reach but poorly marked; temperature and fan settings are difficult to adjust on the hatchback and Clubman. The convertible's top has fully automatic one-switch operation.

ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)

Generous seat travel and a high ceiling accommodate even large occupants. The convertible's wide center console restricts knee space for taller drivers; the narrower console in the hatchback and Clubman provides more space. Seats are firm and supportive but mounted too low for easy entry and exit. Both seats have height adjustment. Hatchback and Clubman visibility is great in all directions, though the Clubman's twin cargo doors leave a vertical spine through the middle of the back window; thankfully, dual wipers clear both halves. Top down, the convertible's rear visibility is hindered by the top stack, rear headrests, and roll bar. Top up, it's severely restricted--a deficit only partly offset at low speed by the standard rear-obstacle-detection system.

CARGO ROOM

Hatchbacks have a small but useful space behind the rear seat. That area is slightly larger on the Clubman, as is the space opened up when the rear seatbacks are folded. The Clubman also adds handy underfloor storage bins. Convertibles have a small trunk with a tailgate-type slot of an opening. On all, the rear seatback folds 50/50, but the sections don't lie flat. Aside from large map pockets in the doors and a two-tier glovebox, interior storage is meager, and the console cupholders are too small to hold large cups.

Total Score