MINI Cooper Review

MINI Cooper

How It Looks - Interior

According to MINI's press literature 'The interior design has transplanted the simple and straightforward look of the original into the 21st Century' and what a superb job they have done.

The interior styling of the MINI Cooper is as you would expect of a BMW product both functional and uncluttered - with a dash of fun.

All the instruments are framed in silver and the MINI Cooper dashboard trim is finished in alloy patina. A circular theme prevails throughout the cabin with circular instruments, air vents, speakers in the doors, interior door handles and MINI logo on the steering wheel. Chrome also features heavily contrasting perfectly with the silver trim.

The dashboard's centre console was inspired by the original MINI with aluminium-look struts. The console houses the stereo, ventilation and air-conditioning controls, rear demister and the heated rear windscreen switches. The retro toggle switches positioned further down operate the electric windows, central locking and the optional front fog lights and closely resemble the switchgear of the original MINI. The interior door design is superb - the armrests match the design of the centre console and the door release mechanism is fluid to operate.

In Car Entertainment and Satellite Navigation

• Standard WAVE Radio/Cassette with six speakers
• Our test car was equipped with an optional single slot CD/Radio with 6 speakers four in the front doors and two in the rear. The overall sound quality was above average with superb acoustics

Rivals

• No other car compares but have a look at the Audi A2, Citroen C2, Mazda2, Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen Lupo

What We Liked

• The exterior and interior styling
• The Kudos
• The engine, gearbox and handling
• The overall driving experience

What We Disliked

• The quality of some of the plastics
• Positioning of the single reversing light (From July 2004 rectified)

MINI Cooper