MINI One And Cooper D review
by David Finlay (16 April 2007)
Although the convertibles will remain in first-generation form for some time to come, the conversion of the MINI hatchback range has been completed with the introduction of the entry-level One and the Cooper D diesel.
These cars share a lot with the Mk2 Cooper and Cooper S models introduced in November 2006. Principally, they retain most of the styling cues of the earlier versions, even though every exterior panel is in fact new. Likewise, the interior has been completely revised (though it doesn't look much different, and there's still a massive speedometer in the middle of the dash), while the brakes and suspension have been tweaked.
As before, the One is the cheapest car in the range, with a list price of £11,610. The new car uses a 1.4-litre version of the 1.6 engine already used in the Cooper, and although it's slightly more powerful than the previous One it's also substantially cleaner and more economical at 138g/km of CO2 and 49.6mpg combined.
In terms of performance, the One will do the 0-62mph sprint in 10.9 seconds and top out at 115mph. In MINI terms this is not exactly inspiring stuff, but bear in mind that there's a clear distinction between customers who want a MINI for thrills and those who just want something stylish parked in front of the house.
The former group won't give the One a second glance. The latter might not be impressed by the fact that this car handles superbly - it really is a hoot through a series of bends - but they'll probably appreciate that the same attention to detail in the chassis also makes the car both simple and fun to drive.
Unlike the previous One, the new car comes as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, as indeed all second-generation MINIs do. This is probably a marketing decision, since five gears would have been perfectly adequate, but the gearchange action is so light and smooth that it's no real chore to keep shifting from one ratio to another.
The introduction of the magical Cooper name indicates that the diesel has been given perhaps the most radical makeover in the entire MINI range. The original car used a 73bhp 1.4-litre engine bought in from Toyota (who used it in the Yaris), and although I was one of the few journalists who didn't slam the car for being too slow, I can see why it was never called a Cooper.
But this one is. The £14,175 Cooper D is outstandingly quicker than the car it replaces, thanks to the presence under the bonnet of a new 1.6-litre engine. Maximum power is now up to 110bhp, and there's an overboost function which occasionally improves maximum torque to 192lb/ft - the same, incidentally, as you'll find in the range-topping Cooper S.
The extra power has a startling effect on performance - the top speed has increased by 18mph to 121mph, while the 0-62mph time has come down from a lethargic 13.8 seconds to a much brisker 9.9 seconds. At the same time, though, fuel economy has improved substantially to 64.2mpg combined, and the CO2 rating has fallen to 118g/km. These are the best figures ever produced by any MINI, and in fact they're also the best achieved by any car built by the BMW Group.
One thing that really impressed me about the old diesel was the way the weight of the engine seemed to have very little effect on the car's handling, when by rights it should have resulted in an unfortunate compromise. It's the same story now; I drove the One and the Cooper D on the same day, and there's very little to choose between them in terms of handling. If we're being picky, the Cooper D is slightly more ponderous, but it's still perky and responsive compared to almost any other hatchback on the market.
On the other hand, it's pretty noisy. Right from start-up, a lot of rattling is transferred through to the cabin, and it never really goes away. The sound is least obtrusive when you're cruising along the motorway - the engine isn't working hard, and the characteristic wind roar common to all MINIs is by now starting to dominate the aural landscape. Even in these conditions, though, you're left in no doubt as to what kind of engine lies on the far side of the front bulkhead.
In the MINI range, each engine comes with its own trim level. As the least powerful car in the range, the One is also the most simply equipped - for example, it's the only MINI fitted with steel wheels as standard. The Cooper D shares the petrol Cooper's 15" alloys, tinted glass, two-tone paint scheme and roof spoiler, and also gets automatical stability control, traction control and a diesel particulate filter.
But as with all MINIs, and indeed pretty much all BMWs, these cars are likely to have hundreds - if not thousands - of pounds added to their basic prices as customers explore the delights of the options list. You can save 25% on some options by choosing the ones specified in various Packs. The One can be ordered with the £370 Salt Pack or the £1300 Pepper Pack; the Pepper Pack costs £1000 on the Cooper D, or you can spend £1995 on the Chili Pack, which includes 16" alloys, cloth/leather upholstery, sports seats, manual air-conditioning and similar delights.
(The Chili Pack is likely to be very popular if past experience is anything to go by. In the first five months of the other second-generation MINIs being on sale, 67% of Coopers and 92% of Cooper Ss have been sold with it.)
Another option for both these new MINIs is the tlc servicing package, which covers parts and labour on scheduled servicing over five years/50,000 miles for £150 including VAT. For an extra £380, tlc XL extends the scheme to eight years/80,000 miles.
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