MINI Cooper S [2014-2015]

Summary

Don’t get fooled by its name. It is called “MINI” Cooper S but it is huge on features and most of them can be customised according to the driver’s needs. It was named Cooper after John Cooper who along with Alec Issigonis, the designer of the original MINI automobile series, designed the MINI Cooper series. With a stylish exterior and high-performance interior, this one is sure worth every penny you spend on it. It comes in more than ten different colours and each one has its charm to it. Choosing among them would sure be a very difficult task. With active and passive safety features this car has all the high-performance characteristics of a sports car. Technologies like MINI connected which keep you connected with the important people in your life even during travel make this car a fancy one. With great performance, very safe drives and a lot of attractive MINI accessories, MINI Cooper S is one car that is here to stay in the automobiles market. Also, it has one of the best resale prices in the market. 

Exterior

The engine hood has been completely redesigned compared to other MINI automobiles. The front grille now has big air intakes to keep all that engine power cool and a black honeycomb-patterned grid which serves as the lower air inlet with two big openings on the side to cool the engine as well as the brakes. There are red S badges on the front and rear grilles. The LED headlights and rear lights ensure safe driving even through pitch dark roads. These lights are fitted into chrome boundaries to give even these lights a fashionable appeal. The stripes on the bonnet make sure that one look and people know it is a vintage sports car. For a comfortable ride, MINI Cooper S has a wide track, long wheelbase and short overhangs. It has a sturdy roof with a maximum load that it can support, being 60 kg.

Interior

The interior of MINI Cooper S can also be called a driver’s paradise. The comfortable black seats and the stylish dashboard are a feast for the eyes. The interior door design complimented by stretched out eclipse form and bezels give the interior of the door the finishing it needs to go with the rest of the interior décor. Power steering makes it a very easy ride for the driver. The speedometer, rev counter and fuel gauge are placed directly behind the steering wheel so that they are conveniently in your field of vision. The central speedo meter that is a trademark of MINI has been replaced by an MINI-centre instrument that displays information and also can be used for entertainment purposes. It also consists of MINI toggles, MINI climate control and the USB interface. Being a 4-seater, the back seats are equally comfortable and stylish. To make it a smooth ride, MINI Cooper S is fitted with automatic air conditioning, integration odour filter, hi-fi sound system and high-end communication system

Engine and Transmission

The MINI Cooper S has a 4-cylinder MINI Twin Power Turbo engine that gives an output performance of 141 kW with a peak torque of 280 Nm. The engine speed can reach a maximum of 1250 rpm that shows this car is high performance and can easily win races.

Performance and Handling

The maximum speed MINI Cooper S can achieve is 235 km/h. It has a fast starting mechanism where it can accelerate to 100 km/h from rest in just 6.8 seconds. The fuel consumption is about 5.7 litres for every 100 km and hence is a very fuel efficient car. It limits its CO2 emissions to 133 g/km. It can run very smoothly on even rough and difficult terrains like hill roads and twisted roads mainly due to flexible 4^th and 5^th gears.

Braking System

The braking system comprises a corner braking control system where the brake force on each wheel adjusts according to the situation in which the brakes are hit hence, reducing the braking distance and the braking time.

Mileage

The 1998 cc Petrol - powered variant delivers a fuel economy of 16 kmpl in city and 18 kmpl on highways.

Safety Features

The City Collision Mitigation system in MINI Cooper S has a built-in camera that looks out whether the standard distance is maintained from the surrounding vehicles. If a vehicle is too close, the system sends out a warning signal and automatically applies the brakes and hence has proven to be a preventer of many accidents. This system works for speeds till 60 km/h and above 60 km/h. The Forward Collision Warning system performs the same task. The Active Pedestrian Protection System is an active safety feature used which comes into play if the MINI hits a pedestrian. This system pulls the bonnet back and up so that the force with which the impact occurs is reduced drastically. Every seat has an airbag attached to it. The run-flat tyres provide the tyres enough strength so that the driver can drive to a safe place to change the tyres in case of a puncture. 

Verdict

This car is for people who are looking for high-speed thrills packed into a small body. Turns and parking are done with excellent ease with this car and the exterior makes it an amazing car to show around without it being too heavy on your bank account.

Competition

Cars in the market which can give equal competition to MINI Cooper S in terms of features and price are Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Volvo V-40 Cross Country and Mercedes-Benz B-Class.

Pros

1. Customizable according to one’s desires
2. High Performance and decent handling
3. Great Security Features
4. Tech-savvy
5. Excellent Mileage

Cons

1. Expensive Maintenance
2. Stiff Ride