2009 MINI Cooper D
March 19, 2009 by Anthony Crawford
Update: Mini Cooper D Review.
“With specifications like 260Nm, 104g/km and a range of 1,025 kilometres from 40 litres of diesel, the new MINI Cooper D is the ‘green’ version of a Supercar”
It seems too good to be true, but from just $33,750 the MINI Copper D, which goes on sale in Australia from May this year, will offer buyers a viable and more affordable alternative to the high priced Hybrids.
My only concern is when you run the numbers, that’s 240-260Nm, 0-100km/h in 9.9 seconds and over 1,000kms on a single tank of diesel, can the MINI factory in Oxford, actually build enough MINI D’s to supply what should be a runaway success.
You just don’t expect to be able to purchase such an iconic car such as a MINI for near enough to $33,000, which will not only take the title of the fastest accelerating diesel in its capacity class in Australia, but will run away with Australia’s lowest CO2 emitting car and Australia’s most fuel efficient car, to boot.
So, all this greenery, without the need to sacrifice either, automotive style or performance. Like I said, it’s too good to be true, there must be a catch.
The MINI D is without question, a highly technical bit of kit. It’s 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injection four cylinder engine is boosted by variable turbine geometry, which ensures a low boost threshold or simply, minimal turbo lag. Not only that, the level of turbo boost increases at higher speeds to provide solid torque right through to the red line.
It’s not Euro 5 but the MINI D is fitted with a particulates filter, which means emissions are very low and comply with the Euro 4 standards.
Standard fitment will be MINI’s svelte six-speed gearbox, but you can option a six-speed automatic transmission for $2,350.
MINI Cooper D is also about “MINIMALISM” which is MINI’s take on BMW EfficientDynamics, and that includes features such as Auto Start Stop, which means when you pull up at a red light or are motionless in peak hour traffic, the engine switches off rather than idling and wasting fuel. Of course, the moment you depress the clutch, the engine starts again.
And some technology from BMW’s M3 in the form of Brake Energy Regeneration, meaning that the car’s battery is charging whenever the driver brakes or the car is coasting in traffic.
It’s hard to know when to shift gears at precisely the right moment, so that you’re not wasting fuel unnecessarily. The MINI D takes care of that for you, with its Shift Point Display. The system works out the most economical gear to be in, based on speed and acceleration and prompts the driver to shift up or down via arrows in the rev counter.
The car also features advanced aerodynamics via a streamlined underbody panel, which optimises downforce and thereby saves energy.
“As I have said several times in this article, it all sounds too good to be true and frankly, we at Car Advice, can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the MINI D”
Print it: 
There has been no talk of this yet. But will there be a Mini Cooper D Chilli Option available? Going off the Cooper and Cooper S prices.
The Chilli pack will be an extra $3600.
Then you have the Options list…. thats where the price goes up considerably… but your still under Prius pricing.
Dont forget Dealer Delivery, Rego and Stamp Duty too:
Dealer Delivery: $2,495.00
Rego: $650
Stamp Duty: 2.5% of your total price.
Hmm…Another trap for the gullible eco-fashion junkies!
People buy Mini’s because they are fun so therefore this car does not make any sense! BMW are trying to make the Cooper into a practical alternative to a hybrid. Since when have Mini’s had anything to do with practicality?
Mini’s are overpriced fashion cars. Way to small for their price tag (A Fiat 500 has a bigger boot!) and this engine has been available under the bonnet of Peugeots for the last 3 years in Australia.
I’m sorry but if you are going to buy a Mini, buy a Cooper S and stop kidding yourself. If you want a practical diesel alternative to hybrids buy a 207, 308, Golf, Polo, Focus, Mazda 3 etc etc!
Anthony ^^^^^
“the MINI Copper D, which goes on sale in Australia from May this year, will offer buyers a viable and more affordable alternative to the high priced Hybrids.”
LOL I like how you say this like Mini is the first company to offer a small diesel car. I normally really enjoy reading the articles on this web site, please stop writing these advertisments and give us the real low-down on cars please!
I disagree Jimbo. People are turning to efficient cars in droves. Why not have a goodlooking and fantastic handling car to boot?
As Anthony said it should be a “runaway success” and I’m think he’s right. Have you noticed how many more small euro hatches there are on the roads these days?
Throw a mini into the price range and there is no reason it won’t sell!
Jimbo, I’m sure there will be a road test soon. This article isn’t so you’ll have to wait for the “low-down”.
Its a shame it doesnt have the bonnet scoop of the cooper s, for a top mount intercooler, they look heaps better with it fitted!!
Simon, I didn’t say it wouldn’t sell. Plenty of suckers will fork over the hard earned. I just don’t see the point.
I know the road test is coming soon, I just find articles like this irritating. The author is gushing and stammering with excitement, telling us that it is this fantastic new concept, which it is clearly not! Carrying on like it the best thing since sliced bread when they haven’t even tested it yet.
Also I drive a Euro hatch (A 207 this engines original owner), so I understand wanting to add a little bit of style and excitement to the daily drive.
The engine is modified from what I have read int he Mini? Then you have a different suspension setup, different transmission, etc etc.
Also it is going to be up there (right at the top) when it comes to fuel efficient cars in Australia and right up there when it comes to CO2 emissions.
Dont forget Mini’s have amazing resale value to, something the 207 doesn’t have.
Reliability is also an issue with French cars, where as the mini has excellent reliability.
Then you through into the mix the ability to customize the car to how you want.
The excellent handling and the style.
I agree mini has grown this reputation of being a fashion accessory. However it has merit, its still a brilliant car regardless.
Its better then going and buying other cars as fashion statements that are utter rubbish (VW Bettle im looking at you)
Yes you can get diesels in VW Golfs, Mazda 3, Ford Focus, etc etc. But none of them can match the mini with just a all round fun car to drive, with great handeling, great customization options, and great resale value.
Then you have the economy of this engine too.
Im sure the review will come out saying its a great car, all the other reviews overseas have said the same thing.
I agree with you on most points Pauly,
Your point about the 207 is flawed though. As the 207 shares all its engines with the Mini. And the 207 tranies are made in Germany and are of German design. So I am wondering what reliablilty issues you are talking about?
Is 9.9 seconds to 100mk/h a typo? Seems it should be quicker. Would an auto then be around 11.5 seconds?
Jimbo,
I think you need to let go of the fact you own a 207. This Mini is such a brilliant package. Yes they share engines, yes this is not a new concept but no Mini has not done this before.
Finally Mini has offered us something that is more in line with the original Minis than any of the other ‘new’ models. This Mini embraces the concept of cheap, fun motoring like the original intentions of Sir Alec Issigonis’ brilliant creation way back in the 60s.
In what world would a 207 ever turn heads like a Mini?
-Luke.
Hahaha, who turns their head to look at you in your Mini Luke? I think you will find that’s only happening only in your imagination champ.
LOL…Luke, I merely mentioned the 207 in response to a comment made by someone else. The Mini also shares its engines with the 308 and the Citroen C4. I’m therefore not sure what I need to let go of?
I do however wish my 207 had a Mini’s CVT trany.
And “cheap” NO! “fun” yes. My point has been all along is that it is a fun car, not the eco-style, hybrid alternative miracle that Anthony will have us believe by the above article. In the guise of a Mini the diesel engine is welcome addition to the Mini line up but it is by no means a new concept.
On road an Auto Cooper D is $40k. I would rather get a Cooper S for near the same money, or if we are going for environmentally friendly and close in size and spec to a Prius I would go a 308 or a Golf.
Call it what it is people. This car is so Mini owners can not only enjoy their car, but they can join Prius owners in generating a huge smug cloud at the same time.
funky look for sure but 9.9…… way too slow to be an enjoyable drive?
Perhaps “smug” Jimbo, but I still can’t see a problem with that.
I like this car’s intent: Fun diesel motoring. For that reason alone this car will appeal to many.
I sure hope VW bring their Bluesport to production and OZ. I’m already sold on the concept.
Nightshifter, if its pure acceleration you’re after – sure this car will disappoint. Perhaps the turbo petrol variant would be a better option. Although bear in mind being diesel it should have good in-gear acceleration. So picture driving this car on curvy mountain terrain. It will stick hard on the tarmac and move briskly between corners and up hills. It’s in it’s element where there is little stop-start driving (sporty performance-wise).
If you want brutal performance you’re probably after a WRX, Golf GTI or Evo.
Jimbo, you’re pathetic. Minis are not expensive because of the look or the brand, they’re expensive because they are absolutely brilliant. The handling is up there with the best and they really are tremendously fun to drive. I can also vouch for the Mini Cooper D as I own one and it is no less fun than the Cooper petrol and you get the wonderful economy.
Your 207 is completely incomparable and that’s not just my opinion, that’s basically the motoring worlds opinion. Top Gear have called this car the world’s real first diesel hot hatch. It may share engines but it’s not as if the driving experience is anything alike. You wrote
“Also I drive a Euro hatch (A 207 this engines original owner), so I understand wanting to add a little bit of style and excitement to the daily drive.”
Style, yes but the 207 is hardly celebrated for it’s driving dynamics and unless you own a GTI, I would hardly call it exciting unless you call a Yaris exciting.
Oh, and as I wrote what Top Gear say about the Mini Cooper D, I thought I should throw in what they say about the 207. “Huge improvement over the 206 that somehow still disappoints” and “The sort of car you buy if you have no interest in cars what so ever.”
I like the 207, but you can’t seriously compare a 207 to a Mini just because they share engines – engines that BMW have heavily tweaked for the Mini.
The PSA diesel engine certainly does a better job than the previous Toyota sourced lump. Binned only after a couple of years he said taunting for toyotaphile reactions. Eh Dan!
Cupid stunt your so naughty , upsetting stan is becoming a hobby for some .
Here on the estate we have no time for know alls , or no nothings.
The mini is legend , long live great britain ,even if the hermans build it .
Axel, that “here on the estate” thing is getting really tired and irritating. Would you please stop?
Alex, I’m pathetic am I? Ok then. If you had read my posts, I do actually think quite highly of Mini’s even if they are not my cup of tea.
I do not however see how it can be compared to a Prius as stated in the above article.
If you had read my posts you would have understood that, rather than having a sook because someone doesn’t like your over priced eco-fashion car.
Also I have driven a Mini not to long ago and I’ll take my 207 over it any day thanks, plus I think it looks better! Just personal preference mate!
Bravo Axel, Hip Hip old bean.
I rather like the old Mini thing not for me though couldn’t possibly get the Picnic hamper in the boot!! Bravo Bravo
But Jimbo, I didn’t comment on your opinion about whether or not this could be compared to a Prius, I commented on the fact that you are going around writing that the Mini is overpriced and not enough car for it’s money. Well, you’re either wrong or wrong and cheap. I don’t buy Minis because they’re fashionable (which they aren’t really, maybe seven years ago but not now), I buy them because they are class leaders. In the Cooper D, I have a car that even if you factor in all the cars that are tweaked to be better for the environment and made nasty in the process, has class leading economy, class leading handling, class leading build quality, class leading safety and at the end of the day, is still cool. If the 207 was all those things and on top of all that, better in the city, I would have bought that instead but put quite simply, it isn’t.
I never wrote that your 207 was bad and I never wrote that you had to like the Mini but I am 100% right when I write that you simply cannot compare the two. The Mini manages to be great fun even in One and Diesel variants, the 207 is only a worth while car with one or two of the engines on offer. And even then, it’s no class leader.
You can prefer the 207 to the Mini if you want but at the end of the day, as far as the actual drive goes, the Mini still has no competitors and if it did it would be the new Fiesta. The 207 is somewhere near the back of the line for possible Mini competitors. It’s a good and capable supermini, but that’s all.
Lastly, just to write it one more time so it’s perfectly clear, the 207 and the Mini are not competitors and therefore, cannot be compared.
Uh Mini and 207 not competitors. Hang on they are both small cars in a small car market some models , as you point out, use the same basic engine. I would even suggest they are in exactly the same market comparatively. But that’s just my opinion I’m not saying you are wrong.
Well the way that I see it is that the 207 (minus the GTI) isn’t fun to drive, it’s not in the premium sector, it can fit two people in the back and it has a decent boot. There’s just too many differences.
Whoa….Alex I am going to assume you are in the UK due to the times you have been posting.
I think it is best to agree to disagree, because we are both happy with our cars and that’s all that matters at the end of the day.
I am curious though, why did you go for a Cooper D over say a Cooper S?
Cupid Stunt, I agree, they are both in the mini(not the car) market. They both have a range of shared petrol and diesel engines along with turbo hot hatches and a wagon line-up.
I drive a $22000 Mazda 2. 1.5L producing 76KWs. Fuel tank is 42 L. I get about 430-450 Kms in one tank. What is wrong with the cooper D? Its about a second faster to the 0-100km/h mark. Surely its just about double the price but I’m entirely sure its worth buying it, if the car suits your lifestyle then you’ve got Australia’s most fuel efficient car. You will get 1000 Kms in one tank! Diesel prices are just about the same to E10 unleaded/Unleaded. If your still not satisfied with its performance, then you can purchase a diesel power chip and that would certainly increase the power to about 20kws more and the torque about 40 NM extra. This is a frugal diesel disguised as a hot hatch that can take you much more longer in a tank without compromising the fun of driving.