- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.5T, 3 cyl.
- Engine Power
100kW, 220Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 5.4L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto (DCT)
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Mini Cooper 2018 Review
Everything is small in the world of Mini - even its updates.
The iconic British brick has come in for a minor mid-life update that you'll need to look hard to notice and doesn't alter the character of the retro-reborn small hatchback.
Yet, all of the small changes - a few cosmetic enhancements, upgraded infotainment, increased standard specifications and more personalisation options - only serve to increase the charm and convenience of the stylish urban runabout.
- Updated connectivity
- Unmissable Union Jack tail lights
- Still drives like a Mini
- Extensive personalisation options can be expensive
- Higher-grade models less convincing than base Cooper
- Still drives like a Mini
Is it right for me?
The born-again Mini is the only survivor of the retro phase that blossomed in rose-coloured glory at the turn of the century, outlasting the likes of the Volkswagen Beetle and Chrysler PT Cruiser and now into its third-generation under the stewardship of parent company BMW.
It's done so for a couple of reasons; firstly, it was the only one of its type that genuinely recreated and captured the spirit of the original and, in doing so, became a fashion icon for inner urban stylistas and a fun car for those that enjoy driving. Secondly, it's a baby BMW so it offers a premium take on the city-sized hatchback formula, handing-down the latest tech and luxuries from the popular German brand.
Can I afford it ?
The Mini isn't all that mini actually, with a broad spread of models that includes the entry-level three-door hatch and convertible, a more practical five-door version, the longer Clubman and high-riding Countryman SUV.
Only the three-door, five-door and convertible variants come in for the latest round of upgrades with the Clubman and Countryman expected to receive them soon.
The three-door and convertible are offered in three model grades - Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works - while the five-door misses out on the flagship JCW specification.
Prices for the basic hatch start at $29,900 (plus on-roads) for the Cooper, and step-up in $10k increments for the Cooper S and JCW respectively.
The five-door body style comes with a $2150 premium, while you'll have to fork out a hefty dose more dosh for the open-air experience of the Convertible with the base Cooper costing $40,900 (plus on-roads) while the Cooper S costs $47,900 and the JCW sits near the pinnacle of the entire Mini range at $57,900.
What do you get for your money?
Chief among the changes is new front and rear lights, upgraded colour and trim options and an up-to-the-minute infotainment system with the latest in connectivity.
The front headlights now feature a full circular running light surrounding redesigned (but optional) LED internals while the rear lamps feature a patriotic Union Jack motif that can be added on the Cooper but are standard on the Cooper S and JCW.
There's new alloy wheels (with 17 different designs to choose from) and five new exterior colours and even more ways to tailor the look and feel of the body and cabin.
In standard form, the base-level Cooper rides on 16-inch alloy wheels, has rear parking sensors, cloth trim, and a 6.5-inch colour infortainment screen with digital radio, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, sat nav and Mini's suite of connected services.
The Cooper S, apart from its more powerful engine, gets larger 17-inch wheels, partial leather interior trim, dual-zone climate control, chequered flag highlights in the cabin, LED headlights and multi-colour ambient lighting.
The Cooper JCW builds on the sportiness with bigger brakes, a sports exhaust, adaptive suspension, front and rear parking sensors, JCW-specific body kit and wheels, fake suede trim on sports seats and a larger 8.8-inch display, higher-grade Harmon Kardon audio system and head-up display with a gear shift indicator.
How much does it cost to maintain?
All Mini variants are covered by a three-year/100,000km warranty and customers can choose to pre-pay for for the first five years (or up to 80,000km) of maintenance when purchasing.
The basic package includes fluids, spark plugs, filters and vehicle check while a Plus scheme adds consumables such as brake discs and pads, the clutch and windscreen wiper rubbers.
It costs from $1295 for the Basic package and $3604 for the Plus, and a little more ($3678) for the JCW models.
Like BMW variants, Minis don't prescribe to regular service intervals but have in-built sensors that constantly monitor the health of the vehicle depending on driving conditions.
Is it well built?
It's basically a baby BMW, as the German brand brought the rights to the British nameplate rather than dilute its own badge with cheaper city cars.
As such, it's not only a funky-looking fashionable small car but also at the luxurious end of the segment with top-quality materials, fit and finish.
It also comes with a basic suite of safety systems, built around a super strong chassis with six airbags amd electronic aids such as ABS and stability control as well as a reverse camera.
However it can be upgraded with an optional Active package that costs $2500 on the Cooper and brings automated emergency braking, forward collision warning and auto high beams (as well as other bits and bobs like dual-zone climate control, LED headlights and the Union Jack tail lights).
With most of the extras already standard in the higher-grade Cooper S and JCW variants, the added safety gear can be added to those models for just $1800.
What are the Standout features?
The upgraded infotainment system makes the Mini a class above most small cars when it comes to connectivity. It features a built-in 4G sim card that gives it internet connection for functions such as real-time traffic updates in the sat nav, remote and concierge services as well as an integrated emergency call that automatically contacts an ambulance hot line in the event of an accident.
Other than that, all Mini models faithfully re-create the 'fun to drive' character of the original with sharp dynamics and punchy engines.
What does it have that others don't?
There's also a host of cool design touches that set it apart from the mundane, such as the Union Jack tail lights and the chequered flag insert on the passenger side of the dash in the Cooper S and JCW that changes colour when driving.
How practical is it?
The ambient lighting adds to the design flair inside the cabin of the Mini, which retains its retro flavour with a large circular infotainment system and pod-style instrument cluster mounted on top of the steering column, which features a new, and now linear, fuel gauge rather than the multiple bars in its predecessor.
The upgraded screen is crisp and clear and can now be controlled via touch as well as the rotary controller. The added features within it bring more convenience too, as the Mini Connected ecosystem provides a myriad of online services that, while they might not be used all the time, offer a great breadth of usability when you become more accustomed to them.
Having said that, the retro design does bring some limitations in terms of practicality with limited small item storage spaces, cupholders that can get in the way of the gear lever (particularly in cars with a manual transmission) and narrow door bins.
Is it comfortable?
In any case, you forgive the Mini for its flaws as the cabin is cool and classy in equal measures - for a small car, anyway.
The front seats are snug, the materials - even in the base-level Cooper - look and feel genuinely top notch and everything fits nicely together.
The three-door and convertible are best suited for young couples rather than families as the back seats are pretty cramped, but the extended wheelbase of the five-door means there's slightly more room in the rear.
For those behind the wheel, there's decent adjustment in the low-set seat and the relationship between the steering wheel, gear lever and pedals is sweet and provides a great driving position across a broad spread of sizes.
There's also decent vision out of the large, upright windscreen but the small aperture in the rear can be quite restrictive.
Easy in, easy out?
In the three-door models, the openings are a decent size and provide easy access to the front seats.
Getting in the back though is a bit more difficult, but the five-door option resolves that with a bit more practicality although the rear aperture is quite small.
Space and versatility?
From the front seats, there's little to differentiate between the three-, five-door and convertibles and those looking to cart around a few more folks - be it kids or mates occasionally - will ultimately be better served by the five-door.
Where the do differ slightly is boot space. Both the three- and five-door have conventional hatchbacks that allow easy access to the cargo area, while the convertible has a small flip-open door as it needs added structural integrity and room for the mechanicals that open and close the fabric roof electronically.
In any case, none of them are very big by small car standards. The three door has a total capacity of 211L (or 731 with the back seats folded down), the five door's longer body means it has slightly more luggage room at 278L (or 941L in two-seat configuration). The Convertible only has 160L - enough for two pieces of hand luggage or the weekly groceries.
What's the engine like?
There's no major mechanical changes to the 2018 Mini range update, which means the base-level Cooper continues with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo motor and the Cooper S and JCW retain a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder in different states of tune.
Both engines, however, have come in for a host of internal modifications to improve their overall refinement, reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency.
Despite that, none have increased outputs with the Cooper's 1.5-litre generating modest figures of 100kW and 220Nm while the Cooper S produces 141kW and 280Nm and the JCW builds to 170kW and 320Nm.
Each of them serves a different purpose in increasing the sporty character and performance of the Mini models - the Cooper can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds, the Cooper S in 6.8 seconds and the JCW in 6.3 seconds - and are all equipped with a six-speed manual transmission driving the front wheels in standard form.
However, what is new within this update is that the Cooper and Cooper S can be optioned with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic - replacing a conventional six-speed automatic - while the JCW can be had with an eight-speed automatic that gives it a broader spread of performance attributes.
How much fuel does it consume?
As you'd expect from the logical increases in performance, there's a similar rise in fuel consumption across the range with the optional self-shifting gearboxes providing further improvements.
The base-level Cooper is obviously the most efficient with its smaller engine consuming a claimed average of 5.5L/100km with the manual transmission and 5.3L with the new dual-clutch unit.
The Cooper S is nearly as efficient with the automatic, at 5.5L/100km, but has a claimed average of 6.3L with the three-pedal configuration, and the JCW has figures of 6.9L/100km (man) and 6.0L/100km with the eight-speed slushbox.
Is it enjoyable to drive?
If there's one thing that defines a Mini it is the fun factor from behind the wheel.
Naturally, the JCW is the quickest and sharpest of the trio, offering plenty of punch from its engine and a rorty exhaust note that gives it a sense of character you don't find in many small car rivals. The steering and suspension are razor sharp too, making it a thoroughly engaging little pocket rocket to throw around the corners on a twisty back country road.
But it can be a little unforgiving too, and, even though it has adaptive suspension that can tailor the damping, it is either hard or rock hard, meaning you'll feel every ripple in the road - which can be a tiring within the grind of everyday traffic.
The Cooper S has much of the same flavour, but with a little less fizz from the engine and a touch more compliance in the suspension. In some ways, it is the Goldilocks model in the line-up, bringing a level of performance and punch to match its on-road dynamics.
But, in reality, you don't have to spend any more than a base-level Cooper to capture the Mini experience. It is still a ripping little machine through the bends, and the three-pot motor is both a willing and charming unit that loves to rev and produces a chubby, throbbing exhaust note when you dig into it.
Yes, you do have to work it a little harder, no matter whether you're scything through city traffic or carving through the corners, but it never feels stressed or underwhelming.
In all models, the six-speed manual is a slick gearbox with a nice mechanical feel in the way it slices through the cogs, but the seven-speed DCT in the Cooper and Cooper S is more convenient, more efficient, shifts nicely when on the move and has a more natural feel than rivals when moving away from a standstill.
The other good thing about the Mini range is that the overall character doesn't alter too much between the body styles. The three-door is clearly the lightest and most agile, the convertible adds to that with an open-air experience but doesn't feel quite as tight when at the limit while the five-door's longer wheelbase makes it feel a little less fidgety without diluting the sharpness.
Does it perform as you expect?
All of that means that picking the perfect Mini comes down to personal preference - and ultimately how much you've got to spend.
For us, the Cooper is no longer a basketcase base model and offers all the charm, style and driving character the brand stands for while the Cooper S and JCW bring incremental increases in performance and equipment that are married to equal decreases in everyday comfort.
Similarly, choosing between the body styles also comes down to what suits you.
In any case, the updates to the 2018 Mini range aren't huge - and don't alter the character of the cars in any way - but do add to the luxury, style and convenience of the most charming small car you can buy.