MINI Cooper D (BMW engine)

I was lucky enough to be offered a "green" company car by my previous employer and I've been meaning to write up a review of my time with the one I chose. We were limited to cars with a CO2 rating of under 120g/km which obviously restricted how many fun cars I could choose from and after many test drives in various marques, in the end it came down to a "poverty" spec 118d Sport with a couple of options or a fully loaded Cooper D. Driving them back to back, the BMW was far more grown up, but it really could have done with more power and anything shy of the 120d or 123d lump failed to excite. The Cooper D on the other hand was more of a go-kart and much more grin-inducing, even though it too could do with more power it felt much more alive and so it was an easy choice.

Driving

With 112bhp the 1.6 BMW engine Cooper D was never going to set the world alight, but the engine was silky smooth and, unlike a lot of other diesel engines, free-revving and responsive which fitted well with the character/spirit of the original Mini. The eco-tyres provided a good amount of grip, although had it been my choice, I would have ditched them in favour of some (cheaper and grippier) Kumho/Falken/Toyo tyres, and the sports suspension was firm and compliant without being bone-shattering. This meant that it was as at home mile-munching on the boring motorway as it was hacking down a twisty B road.

A very chuckable car with good feedback through the controls, although without Sport mode selected. steering was a bit light and vague and the throttle response a bit numb so I always drove with it switched on. I personally think they should have just made Sport mode the default out of the factory. Standard brakes had good feel and there were never any concerns over their ability to perform and I don't think I ever really troubled the ESP. Start/stop is standard and works really well, especially in London traffic!

Economy

I don't really drive with economy at the fore and some might describe my style as "enthusiastic" but the car always returned 50+ mpg. I never saw the claimed 74mpg, but I think it would take a better man than I to ignore the devil on my shoulder and drive the MINI as an eco-car. It also falls into the free VED bracket with CO2 of 99g/km.

Equipment

The BMW ethos of everything being an option certainly has rubbed off on the MINI brand and so there's a huge temptation to go a bit mad with the endless options list to get the car you want. I know I did and ended up with chilli pack, heated part-leather sports seats, sport button, heated windscreen, electric folding and auto-dimming mirrors, white indicators, multi-function wheel with cruise control, USB ports and bluetooth handsfree, swivelling bi-xenon headlights, auto lights and wipers, black roof and mirrors, first aid kit and warning triangle, spare wheel and 16" alloys. I also specced non-run flats and debadging. Made it a very nice and comfortable place to be and I quite liked the standard "cabin glow" that could be adjusted from blue through all the colours to red.

Build quality

For a small car, it felt very solid and well made and everything shuts with a solid thunk. In the year and a half and 25k miles I put on it, there were no squeaks or rattles and nothing broke and the only problem I had was when someone managed to smash the side indicator in a supermarket car park.

Servicing

The BMW service experience certainly put all the other main dealer servicing I'd used in the past into the shade and I was amazed that nothing was too much trouble, despite me having the cheapest car they sold. They also collected and dropped off the car to my house and kept me informed throughout the day of progress. Very impressed and even though the car was leased fully maintained, the TLC pack means that servicing costs are negligible.

Practicality

The MINI is a fairly large car in its class, but somehow doesn't make very good use of its space. The boot is fairly small and space in the back is more suited to children than adults. There are quite a few storage pockets though and we still managed to shift a huge amount of stuff in it during a house move. However, with only 3 doors, getting into the back seats is a pain.

Overall

So, the ultimate question is would I buy one with my own money? I guess judging by the car now sat outside my house, the answer is a clear cut no, although that's only part of the story. As a new buy, the MINI is quite a bit more expensive than its rivals, especially once you've ticked a few options, but its residuals are stronger too and with a good spec, there'll always be plenty of demand for it, which means finding a second hand one can be a hard task. Running costs are also very small too. For me though, changing needs meant that it would no longer fit the bill, although I can't imagine driving a car without bi-xenons now!

My six year old daughter was smitten with the MINI and quite tearful when I had to hand it back, but she's now changed her mind and decided the replacement car is the best car in the world and she'd like me to keep it for her first car. We will see.

Chris