Zander Drives Cars

Very few cars ever get the chance at reaching “icon status.” While not an official rank, it’s more of a set precedent that most know. There’s the Model T, the Beetle (possibly the Type 42 bus as well), the Corolla, and the Mini. It is one of the longest-running nameplates in automotive history and one of the few surviving British marques from the Leyland era of cars (a story for another time.) After half a century of heritage, history, and a little bit of tweaking, how does the current Mini stack up in a world full of crossovers?

Quick disclaimer: I know the “Mini” name is a brand. I will be referring to the Mini Cooper as the “Mini” because that is what the car is commonly known as.

Like the Beetle, the Mini Cooper never changed its design language during its production run. Yes, the car has gotten bigger and has gained more doors, but the design is still there. The two buggy headlights, flat hatch, and white roof still let you know that at its heart this car is from the 60s. While that is all well and good, the car has had to evolve over time. The current generation Mini has been around since 2014, receiving mild updates in 2017 and most recently in 2021. This particular base model Cooper looks snazzy as hell. The British racing green exterior with the white roof welcomes a claiming contrast to most singular-tone cars. The grill keeps the same shape albeit with a painted piece of bodywork in the middle, further keeping to its historic past. However, the best part of the Mini’s exterior is by far the Union Jack taillights, a symbol of any modern Mini. Call me an anglophile, I love it.

The current Mini is one of the few premia hatches on the market today. In fact, it might be the only one. The car I drove had an MSRP of $31,400, and for a sub 35k car, had a lot going for it interior-wise. The quilted brown leather was nicer than I thought it would be. I personally am not a massive fan of brown interiors, but with the contrasting exterior, I found the brown to be complimentary and classy. Those seats are also heated, but manually adjustable. Like the Infiniti Q50, I drove earlier this month, the interior of the Mini has a mix of new and old parts. For instance, I cannot tell you the last time I saw a manual parking brake on any car sold in the US. The dashboard has the signature Mini aesthetic with the large round center command system that houses your screen and other functions. The toggle switches on both the overhead and below the center screen felt Mercedes’s level of quality. Overall, the comfort levels were very high in this car. I could stretch out in the front of the Mini with ease, although in this car, don’t expect any rear legroom. It was Porsche 911 tight.

Keeping with the premium feel of the car, the Mini hosts a barrage of technology higher than any car in its class. Heated seats (as mentioned earlier) with leg support, dual climate controls, a heated front, and rear windshield, as well as a dual sunroof. Points are deducted for a lack of a USB-C port, but you can easily get a 12-volt adapter. The center screen houses the media controls for the car and can be controlled via the touchscreen or the iDrive nob next to the parking brake. The screen was responsive and had the option to show a 3D model of your Mini next to the time or what song you listen to. CarPlay is available as standard on all 2022 Mini models, so there is no need to use the built-in GPS system, which is a bonus because it isn’t that good. The driver’s screen, while large and colorful, was limited in its functions, only showing basic functions like speed and what door is currently open while you’re in park. As for safety, the Mini comes with a slew of ways to avoid you hitting something (or someone). A backup camera, cross traffic alert, and plenty of sensors throughout the car help you feel out where things are, and the collision avoidance system will stop you from a slow speed.

One of Mini’s claims to fame is the driving dynamics. Happily, 60 years later, I can confirm it is just as fun to drive. The 139hp twin-turbo 3cyl feels like it’s punching above its power range constantly and makes you believe you’re driving a more powerful car than you are. Obviously, this is due to the small size of the car, but there are small, underpowered cars out there. The skinny tires make wheelspin a regular occurrence off the line even driving sensibly, which makes you look like an a-hole without driving like one. Because there isn’t a lot of power to play with, the Mini has no issue turning into corners and sticking to the road at higher speeds. Even in eco mode, where the suspension is soft and the throttle is dull, the car still delivers a fun driving experience without leaving behind ride comfort. But, there is a catch: this $31,000 hatchback with a 3cyl engine only takes 91 octane fuel. Now, in something like a VW GTI where the performance is uprated and the car costs more, I wouldn’t be mad at it, but for a sub 35k hatchback? In this economy? I struggle with that. There is an electric Mini which is a whole different beast, so if you’re very turned off by the gas rating, I would suggest that.

Speaking of gas, the base Mini with the 3cyl gets 28mph city and 38hwy, which is on par with other hatchbacks on sale for the money. Reliability is another turn-off point for a lot of potential Mini buyers, but this generation of Mini has been generally seen as a large step up from the 2000s era of Mini. Plus, with the existence of BMW parts in the car, most Minis can be serviced at BMW dealerships, albeit with BMW service prices.

Here’s the deal: If you live in a place where space is limited but you need something of higher quality to drive around, this might be the car for you. Honestly, I’d recommend the Mini to anyone who’s willing to put up with the premium fuel and service prices. It’s all in the drive. Groovy, baby.

Huge thank you to Dan and Roberto from Mini Annapolis for letting me come down and drive one of their cars. They are very fun people. Click here to view Mini Annapolis’ website and see their inventory of new and pre-owned vehicles.