Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
That the Cooper 3-Door was previously dubbed Coupe (and Hatch, Hatchback or Hardtop depending on where it was being sold) before it became the Hardtop (here) is not a sign of any decision-making issues within the British brand’s Bracknell, Berkshire-based leadership (or the leadership of its Munich-based parent company for that matter), but more so the result of its ever-expanding model lineup. When Mini launched its two-seat Coupe in 2011 it had to completely abandon the Cooper Coupe name it had often used for the base hatchback model since the Bini (BMW/Mini) took the market by storm in 2001, whereas the most recent name change is necessary because of a new 5-Door hardtop being added to the lineup. Hence the new 2015 Mini Cooper 3-Door, which I’m sure you’ll agree, is a perfectly fitting name for the smaller hatchback.
I first tested the new 3-Door last year, in similar trim albeit nowhere near as brilliantly
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Even more intriguing, where the 2014 model came outfitted with Mini’s optional six-speed automatic, an excellent autobox and even a tad faster than the base transmission off the line, my latest 2015 tester had a six-speed manual mixer between its front seats, the gearbox of choice for most hardcore driving enthusiasts. Despite the automatic’s slight edge off the line, the manual is the best way to get the most out Mini’s brilliant new 12-valve, direct-injection, twin-spool
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The new engine makes a surprisingly satisfying 134 horsepower and even more soul-stirring 162 lb-ft of front tire-shredding torque, up 13 horsepower and a mighty 44 lb-ft of torque over the old 2013 base Cooper. The result is a zero to 100km/h time of 7.9 seconds with the manual and 7.8 with the auto, plus a top speed of 210 km/h no matter the gearbox, quick enough to put a smile on most peoples’ faces, especially if they’re trading in a previous generation Cooper. While quick, the new three is also more refined than you might expect if experienced with three-cylinder engines, which are inherently off-balance. Mini smooths out what would otherwise be certain roughness at idle with a rotating countershaft, so it feels like a four no matter how low or high it’s revving. And it revs freely past 6,500 rpm,
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Unusual with an engine with significant power gains are improvements in efficiency, but the new turbocharged three in the Cooper 3-Door is good for a claimed 8.1 L/100km in the city, 5.9 on the highway and 7.1 combined with the manual, or 8.5 city, 6.3 highway and 7.5 with the auto. That’s a 19-percent improvement over the previous model (don’t let the new more realistic Natural Resources Canada five-cycle figures fool you into thinking the new car is harder on fuel), which is a very real have your cake and eat it too scenario. Part of its fuel economy gains can be attributed to a standard auto start-stop system that shuts the engine down when it would otherwise be idling. The system can be defeated via a chrome-clad toggle on the centre stack,
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Additionally, Mini includes a standard Driving Modes selector for reducing emissions and consumption further, or alternatively for taking advantage of a two-lane stretch of serpentine tarmac. Just below the shifter, a sliding “SPORT << . >> GREEN” switch lets you set the driving experience to match your mood, and the results are exactly what I needed in each respect. When selecting Sport mode the throttle felt more alive and responsive while all the power came on instantly, whereas Green mode purposely made the Mini feel relaxed off the line as it minimized revs and maximized shift intervals to get the most from its 44-litre tank of premium.
Switched to Sport the Cooper 3-Door was as fun to drive as I remember last year’s
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Despite its considerable growth in size (it’s 114 mm/4.5 inches longer than the old car) the new Cooper 3-Door is only 32 kilos (70.5 lbs) heavier than the outgoing manual-equipped model and just 28 kilograms (61.7 lbs) heavier when equipped with
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Its newfound size does benefit interior roominess, a sizable bonus that’s easy to see from the inside. My tester’s airy cream-coloured roofliner helped make it feel larger and more open too, as did its optional dual-pane panoramic sunroof, but even with the $1,250 Essentials Package scratched off the sales contract (which would sadly remove the cool looking front and rear fogs as well as much-need heated front seats) and the dark anthracite roofliner added, your body would be able to immediately feel the difference in dimensions no matter where you’re seated.
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
People in mind, the new Mini is also a much more hospitable environment. The brand
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Mini’s switchgear has long been high in quality and of course novel in a retrospective way, and both attributes carry forward into the new car. My favourite new detail is the standard bright red engine start/stop toggle, a more visible improvement over the tiny black button used on the previous generation, but I must admit to appreciating the new speedometer’s location nearly as much. It
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Other than the aforementioned $1,250 Essentials package, the no-cost addition of a
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Say what? Even automotive engineers want to have a little fun, so when redesigning the new Mini’s centre stack they decided to add a feature that could potentially make up for the lack of a centrally mounted speedometer, but I’m guessing only the grandkids of true Mini purists will appreciate it. Not a purist, I enjoyed
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
If you still want more gear, Mini offers numerous packages and standalone options that include items like proximity-sensing remote Comfort Access, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, sport seats, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, an on-board computer, a full-colour infotainment display with navigation and a rearview camera, plus a Harmon/Kardon audio upgrade, a six-disc CD changer, heads-up display, universal garage door opener, additional chrome interior and exterior trim, various interior colours and surfaces, leather upholstery in
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
What don’t I like? Mini has done such a great job updating the Cooper 3-Door that it’s very difficult to find anything to complain about, although its need for pricier 91 octane gasoline will add about 10-percent to your fuel budget. Fortunately its superb fuel economy makes up for that in spades.
All
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
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