The additional technology and refinement of the fourth-generation Cooper are a wonderful complement to the feisty Mini spirit of the vehicle.
According to all indications, the new Cooper hatchback from Mini, which is the fourth generation of the Cooper, should feel like an altogether different car from the one from the previous year. Redesigning the Mini from the ground up places an emphasis on sophistication and modernity, which is a dangerous venture when one considers how pleasant the previous iteration of the Cooper was. Having spent some time driving a two-door Cooper S in the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado, we came away impressed with what has been added to the facelift, and we were pleasantly surprised by all that has been kept the same.
As part of the first phase of Mini's yearly Mini Takes the States road rally event, which saw thousands of owners turn up to geek out over their vehicles and travel hundreds of miles each day while enjoying gorgeous sights and fantastic driving highways, our test route was included in the event. Despite the fact that the Cooper has been reborn in 2002, the cult following that it has maintained since then is still going strong.
Even with a plethora of upgrades, the new Cooper S is still the agile, snappy little rascal it ought to be. The steering is responsive enough that it even comes close to being darty, and the handling is just plain fun. The turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four beneath the hood pumps out only 201 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, but in this compact vehicle it seems like more. The four-pot revs effortlessly, and even at higher speeds, there's plenty of torque to keep the Cooper S tugging toward triple-digit speeds.
Mini claims that it will reach 60 miles per hour in 6.3 seconds, but we believe that it will take a little bit less time than that. When you are driving in the typical Core driving mode, the exhaust produces a pleasant little burble. However, when you move it into the Go-Kart mode (which is a compliment to its handling), the exhaust produces a somewhat more obnoxious sound. All versions come with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic—that's right, there's no manual option—and it downshifts rapidly when you put your foot down to pull out for a passing move. There are no paddle shifters here, though, which seems like an error in this sporty edition. You may also read this: Features Of The 2024 GMC Hummer EV Pickup
Step on the brakes and you'll feel an instant bite, followed by a reassuring linearity as you sink your foot deeper. High-speed stability is usually solid, but we did sense a little rear-end squirm when striking midcorner bumps when racing the Cooper S over some especially tight roads. At a more relaxed speed, the Cooper S has a grounded sensation that belies its diminutive dimensions. Here, you can fully appreciate the extra polish that went into the new model. The cabin is quiet at highway speeds, and there's less chrome and more fabrics throughout the design, offering it a more upmarket air.
There's lots of whimsy too, which is anticipated from Mini. For example, the fabric-covered dash panels are illuminated and produce an ambient-lighting pattern at night. We drove a top-spec Iconic vehicle with the Classic styling package. At $37,295, our Sunny Side Yellow Cooper S came with plenty of desirable options, including a Harman/Kardon stereo system, adaptive cruise control, 18-inch wheels with summer tires, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats and steering wheel, a wireless smartphone charging pad, parking sensors, in-dash navigation, and a dual-pane sunroof.
A circular infotainment display lies in the middle of the dashboard and contains a virtual canine assistance called Spike. The display itself is a high-resolution OLED panel, and it looks pretty appealing. The program, however, requires a bit more time to cook. We noted some sporadic latency during our day with the Cooper S; we also found the climate control's temperature settings to be picky and difficult to alter, both for the driver and passenger. Luckily, Mini says the system is capable of accepting over-the-air upgrades, which in theory offers the company's software team a chance to fix such difficulties.
Modernization might mistakenly lead to a loss of character, but Mini has carefully calibrated the modifications here to retain the Cooper a Cooper. Being amid the swarms of Mini lovers while experiencing the new one just helped to highlight the significance of getting the new one precisely right.
