2009 Mini Diesel – First Steer
May 20, 2009 by Nadine Armstrong
2009 Mini D – First Steer
- by Nadine Armstrong
To take a marketing stance that claims position as ‘Australia’s most fun and fuel efficient car’, well, you’re just crying out for attention. And you’re bound to get it – the good, the bad and the ugly.
In the case of the 2009 Mini D, the first diesel powered Mini to enter the Australian market, the claims don’t stop there.
- 3.9 litres per 100 kilometres, combined cycle fuel consumption
- 104 grams of CO2 per kilometre
- 0-100 km/h in 9.9 seconds, the fastest accelerating diesel model in its capacity class
- a maximum range of 1025 kilometres from one tank
At the Australian launch of the Mini D in Melbourne this week the message was all about good clean fun. Apparently it still exists.
Better still, it’s the type your mother would approve of, your environmentally conscious children would applaud, your Prius driving neighbour would envy and your wallet would notice.
The Mini D is on a mission to prove that ‘clean’ and ‘fun’ can produce a vehicle without compromise.
While the Mini D looks almost identical to its petrol siblings, runs the same capacity engine as the standard Mini Cooper and offers a similar range of options, with its diesel power it now hopes to set a new benchmark for fuel efficient cars.
The usual Mini dynamics and drive attributes remain. Steering is direct and worthy of its go-kart handling comparison. The brakes bite quick and sharp and overall handling is confident and obedient.
The interior is modern retro and offers a range of customisation options. Cabin space is snug, at best. A large flat windscreen and big side windows open up the small cabin and visibility is good.
Storage capacity is tight, but average for its class. Safety is well covered with features that include six airbags as standard, ABS with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution control.
Basic creature comforts include a multi-function three-spoke leather steering wheel, cruise control, in-dash CD and six speaker sound system. More advanced technology whims like Bluetooth and navigation systems are dealt with as options.
In a casual launch atmosphere where there was ample time allowed for Prius bagging, everyone was keen to hit the road to see just how far from reality these claims really were. The fuel consumption being the prime target – and the only one we could put to any test to be honest.
Over a test route that involved three stages, my co-driver and I produced a range of fuel consumption figures.
Our first leg involved a busy city loop and a leisurely stint along Melbourne’s Kew Boulevard before arriving at our first stop in the Yarra Valley – around 70kms from start, where we reached an average fuel consumption of 4.5 litres per 100kms with an average speed of 42.8 km/h. It wasn’t quite the claimed 3.9 litres quoted, but very close.
The second and third legs of the drive route covered around 105kms of winding country roads and mind-numbing freeways before we returned to the CBD with an average fuel consumption of 4.3 litres per 100kms at an average speed of 63.8 km/h. At one stage during the drive route we were averaging 4.1 litres per 100kms.
The Mini D houses a 1.6-litre, turbocharged, direct-injection, four-cylinder engine that delivers 80kW at 4000rpm. Maximum torque is 240Nm at 1750rpm. By comparison, the petrol Mini Cooper engine delivers 88kW at 6000rpm and 160Nm at 4250rpm.
The Mini diesel engine performed without fault. Not once did it shows signs of drag, lag or fatigue – from stand still or under acceleration.
Gear ratios were smooth and power was constant – even up hill. The 15-inch light alloys fitted to our test vehicle, and which come as standard, were the perfect choice for the stiff ride of the Mini D.
Travelling on a variety of road surfaces the Mini D delivered a surprisingly smooth ride – no jolts, bumps or clunks – which made for a reasonably effortless drive.
In its standard form the Mini D offers the same level finish as the current Mini Cooper and two transmissions will be on offer – a six-speed manual starting at $33,750 and a six-speed automatic with Steptronic and steering wheel gear shift paddles starting at $36,100.
A Mini D Chilli is also available priced from $37,350 (manual) and $39,700 (automatic).
The Mini D comes standard with Shift Point Display which prompts gear changes via a digital display, brake-energy regeneration which draws on the kinetic energy to charge the battery and automatic start-stop (manual transmission only) as standard.
Our test vehicles were manual, so we spent some time getting acquainted with the start-stop function. When the car comes to a standstill and neutral is engaged, the engine automatically cuts out – with the grace of an inexperienced teenage learner driver. When you engage the clutch the engine resumes.
There are several variables that determine whether or not this start-stop feature kicks in, with engine temperature being top of the list.
After a day of driving I was still not comfortable with this feature. Economical and clever, yes. Enjoyable, no. Not surprising, there’s a button located just in front of the gear shift which allows you to switch off the start-stop function.
As any enthusiast will agree, the credentials of the Mini go far beyond facts and figures – there’s a type of modern day retro street-cred that accompanies this iconic model.
So will this heart-felt nod to the environmentally conscious prove to be the tipping point in attracting a new breed of Mini drivers?
Albeit a brief guided tour in the Mini D, our First Steer impressions were positive. CarAdvice will put the car through a more detailed review in the coming weeks.
Print it: 
The fact this car offers so much for so little will mean it should sell well. The plus side is there should be a lot more of them to choose from when they go for resale!
LOVE IT! love it in that creamy white too, and that interior looks awesome!
diesel cars rock! =]
Modern diesel cars rock – until you have to replace a DPF, or you get a growth of algae.
At that point you will have completely blown away all your savings from the diesel’s meagher thirst for fuel.
I have been critical of this car in the past but I must admit it does actually seem like a very fun alternative to a Prius.
Or I guess another way of putting it is: The Mini Cooper D is the “thinking mans poser car”.
If your not a poser I think a better idea would be buying any one of the other city car diesels either already on the market or soon to be. They will be almost as economical and vastly more practical and $10k cheaper.
That said though, as far as Mini’s go the diesel may end up being the most enjoyable on account of all that extra torque.
How does the car utilise the regenerated power from braking? I’d estimate an overcharged battery would be common if all it was used for was accessories and starting the car.
Once your battery is 100% charged, is this power lost?
Otherwise, what a lovely little car. Pricey… but if you can afford it I’d imagine it will make you happy. Is there a 4-door version?
NacaYoda, perhaps because of the automatic start-stop in city driving, higher demands are placed on the battery and starter motor. Rather than put bigger battery and/or alternator in, the regenerative brakes help provide the power.
I love these Minis would have to be one of the best retro knock offs of recent times. Agree Reckless I think I would prefer the pizzaz of the supercharged petrol engine.
Cooper red with white top,black stripes,classic.
I like it but it seems a little pricey for what it is…
Hate to rain on your parade Realcars but you can’t have black stripes with a white top, only white with white or black with black.
I’ve got one of these back home. Fantastic little car that I bought for the city basically because it’s got class leading economy. It’s also absolutely great fun to drive, as fun as the Cooper and almost as fun as the Cooper S. The highest MPG I have gotten out of it was when I was in the UK a few weeks back, on the motorway, I got 91 MPG. I think that’s the highest I’ve gotten anyway. To be fair, I was right behind a truck so the car had no air to push against but still, 91 MPG. Very happy with it and I keep taking it on long trips because although I have so many bigger cars to choose from, I keep wanting to beat my economy! It gets addictive but I actually drive carefully and economically because you would have no idea how good it feels to go over 80 MPG, let alone 90! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this car to anybody. Just make sure you get a manual; I was going to get an automatic because I mainly wanted it for town but I think you lose about 20 MPG off the quoted economy if you get an automatic. Mini should really get it’s act together and bring us a double clutch gearbox.
Wow!!!
I love it. Interior of the car is really fantastic. It will be great fun while driving.
Alex – Thanks for your suggestion. I will be getting the manual Mini D.
Very nice, Australia is finaly wanting small, highly efficient, modern diesel engine technology which Europe has been enjoying for the past few decases. So this car can acheive hybrid fuel economy without needing arguably unsustainable/expensive battery technology, a no brainer really.
If the majority of people in Australia and America began driving small cars like this instead of large (high embodied energy and resources) gas guslers a couple of decades ago then there would be more oil and slightly less climate change, duh.
Realcars,
You can’t get the supercharged engine anymore. It’s now a twin-scroll 1.6L petrol turbocharged engine, shared with the Peugeot 207 and 308. It was introduced in 2006.
This 1.6L Mini D diesel is also shared with the Peugeot 207 and 308 (although Peugeot won’t have the stop-start function in production until 2011 even though they launched it in 2004).
Reckless1, I have been operating diesels for 40 years, currently own 1 truck 2 utes, 3 tractors and a harvester, and never had any troubles with a DPF, or a growth of algae. Do what CAT say on their fuel caps, “buy clean fuel and keep it clean”
Hear Hear Will – Reckless is waffling sh1t again. I’ve driven many deisels for 21 years now never had ANY diesel related problems….apart from missfuelling!!
The Mini D is much better now BMW have dropped the hopeless Toyota diesel they once used. Twas gutless rubbish. The 1.6PSA engine is a bute, not the fastest but a nice drive. (Drove a 1.6HDI 308 two weeks ago)
This has become a very popular little car it unbelievable that this car has been around for 50 years, the only thing that I don’t like about this car is the dial that is in the middle of the dash board, but I suppose one does get used to it eventually.
An added word about the automatic. Amit, the 3.9 litres per 100km for the manual is achieved with the unique but possibly annoying engine cut-out feature. The marginal difference for the auto doesn’t deter me at all.It remains a highly economic vehicle. Can’t wait for mine to arrive.