For such a tiny car, Mini Cooper has been making some big waves. As well as being wildly popular and probably one of the most distinctive cars on the street today, this little fun-mobile gleaned no less than five major awards at the recent Detroit Auto Show, including the prestigious 2003 North American Car of the Year.
The standard-issue Mini Cooper reviewed here last year proved to be a ton of fun, with handling and maneuverability that made it a joy to drive and cheeky good looks that made it a major hit everywhere it went.
Steering, too, was right on target. The only gripe about drivability concerned the 115-horsepower engine, which was enough to propel the lightweight hatchback but not enough to deliver top-notch driving fun, as promised by its sporty image.
Now I’ve sampled the Mini Cooper S, which features a supercharged version of the same 1.6-liter engine, boosting performance to 163 horsepower and giving the engine the smooth, free-revving character of a sports car.
All for a base price under $20,000.
That’s a lot of style and performance for the buck, any way you cut it. Sure, Mini is diminutive, measuring less than 12 feet long. But for those who appreciate the joyful handling and flexible engine power, Mini Cooper S is a romp along a twisting desert road, dicing through tight turns and up sharp grades.
This is the kind of small, fast, maneuverable car that got me interested in cars in the first place. OK, go-carts, then. My first introduction to driving fun was as a kid when my dad would take me up to Langhorne, Pa., to roar around a go-cart track for hours on end.
The Mini marketing people like to say that their progeny handles like a go-cart, and I’d say there’s some truth to that. This was part of the appeal of the original Austin Mini, which began putting the British on wheels in the late 1950s: the eager handling that made those most utilitarian vehicles so much fun to drive.
The Cooper S was the performance version, tuned by a race shop for enhanced engine output and cornering prowess. These tiny boxes on wheels became the unlikely terrors of sports-car racing, competing with and even beating far more expensive cars.
Now produced by a British arm of BMW, the new Mini Cooper S carries on that tradition, though in a bigger package that can compete with modern traffic. The retro look is essentially the same as the non-S version, though there’s a big intake scoop on the hood to feed air to the supercharger, honeycombs grille, wider wheel arches and roof spoiler, and alloy wheels shod with performance tires.
Interior space is surprising, at least for front-seat passengers. Even this too-tall driver can stretch out behind the wheel, though the seat back is firmly planted against the rear seat, making human habitation impossible back there. Think of the Mini as a two-seater with a jump seat for occasional (uncomfortable) rear passen gers, and you’ll be on the money.
Although the stylish interior is just as retro and interesting as the exterior (love those toggle switches), there’s too much reliance on hard-plastic surfaces. It would have been nice for some of this stuff to be metal and glass for a better look and quality feel.
Starting at $19,300, the Mini Cooper S included some impressive standard equipment, including a six-speed manual gearbox, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, traction control, cruise control, six air bags, run-flat tires on standard 16-inch rims, electric windows, mirrors and door locks and that hot supercharged engine.
The reasonably priced options included a $1,250 package of Dynamic Stability Control anti-skid technology, sport seats, fog lights and Xenon headlights; electric blue metallic paint job, $400; 17-inch alloy wheels; multifunction steering wheel with cruise and audio controls; and shipping, $550.
At $21,850, that’s still not too shabby for what’s arguably today’s best value in style and performance. Last time I checked, there’s a waiting list for Mini Cooper S models, though if you don’t desire the added performance, the standard Mini Cooper is readily available.
Mini Cooper S
Vehicle type: Four-passenger, two-door hatchback, front-wheel drive.
Base price: $19,300.
Price as tested: $21,850.
Engine: 1.6-liter inline four, 163 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, 155 pounds-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm.
Transmission: Six-speed manual.
Wheelbase: 97.1 inches.
Curb weight: 2,678 pounds.
EPA mileage: 24 city, 33 highway.
Highs:
Sparkling performance.
Head-turning style.
Value pricing.
Lows:
Chintzy interior.
Worthless back seat.
Waiting list to buy.