Still essentially unchallenged in the character-packed small premium car segment, MINI's lineup was nonetheless due for a light refresh – and that's exactly what the British-German automaker has delivered for the latest model year for its entry-level MINI - the Cooper.
Recently refreshed, the latest-generation MINI Cooper remains essentially the same in terms of styling, but receives a few detail changes to the front and rear fascias, as well as the interior. Several lighting changes were made, including a no-charge option to switch to black head lamp housings, as well as optional Adaptive Xenon headlamps (for a charge). MINI also swapped out the smaller fog lamp housings for larger fog lamps, and the rear now features LED brake and stop lights.
The Cooper also gains a bit of extra safety with BMW-developed "dynamic brake light," which lights up brighter when the brakes are pushed harder.
To go along with the cosmetic changes, MINI of course added some new interior content as well. Again retaining its basic retro-inspired interior theme, the MINI gets new radio and climate controls and some upgraded interior materials.
The changes to the radio system include a switch to standard HD and Sirius satellite radio, which previously cost $500 each, and audio options are now set to three choices: standard Boost CD, MINI Connected with a 6.5-inch screen that includes Bluetooth, or MINI Connect with Navigation that adds an internal memory card-based navigation system and a USB port.
A key, yet subtle change worth noting is the switch from silver paint on interior trim pieces to a matte black finish. The steering wheel will now have a chrome trim ring in the middle, and the previously gray headliner is now light beige. New seat fabrics have also been added to keep the overall design fresh.
In terms of mechanical changes, being a refresh, the list is minimal, but power was slightly increased to 121 horsepower thanks to optimized lubrication that resulted in the reduction of internal friction losses. Anti-torque steer programming is now built into the electric power steering, and road noise has been reduced through the addition of sound dampening materials.
Buyers will also be able to choose from new colors, such as Spice Orange, British Racing Green II, Eclipse Gray metallic, White Silver, Ice Blue and Velvet Silver.
Of course it wouldn't be a MINI Cooper without extensive available personalization, which the automaker not only continued, but expanded through the latest refresh. New to the Cooper (and other models) are three preset design themes that MINI is calling "Design worlds," which are three factory-recommended themes that contain various recommended trim combinations marketed under the Rally, Classic and Scene categories. MINI promises that each category offers many choices that have been selected for an "extremely coherent character."
New - MINI Yours
In case the standard options aren't enough for you, MINI has added something entirely new known as MINI Yours, which allows further customization. The options include: an instrument panel covered in a smooth two-tone, soft-touch leather with exposed stitching, a two-tone steering wheel, a new MINI Yours 17-inch wheel, special pattern "Soda" mirror caps with a three-dimensional effect and MINI Yours Soda pattern Lounge Leather with unique Soda pattern on the sides of the backrests and headrests, as well as a contrasting black leather stripe that runs down the middle of the seats and is offset with premium piping.
Key competitors
The MINI Cooper blends the lines between near-luxury and compact/sporty, pitting it up against cars like the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus Hatchback, Hyundai Accent Hatchback, Kia Forte Koup and Honda Civic Coupe.