MINI Cooper S Review | How it Drove

MINI Cooper S Convertible

However, if you accelerate or drop a few gears things certainly change and for the better in our opinion. It may not be the fastest hot hatch on the market but being a MINI and a Convertible one, you certainly feel in touch with the road and the elements. A plus point for the Convertible model over the Fixed head MINI is that with the roof down you get to hear the engine and exhaust note in its full glory.

The Cooper S Convertible's performance is enhanced with supercharger and intercooler technology, with its toothed belt-driven compressor delivering near instant power. The supercharger cuts in at about 2500 rpm and the surge of power certainly puts a smile on your face and the modified exhaust system produces a pulsating throaty soundtrack and pops as the supercharger winds down.

The MINI Cooper is equally at home in rush hour traffic as it is on the motorway and around town it was a joy to drive. It has more than adequate power and is more than capable of giving driver's of larger and faster vehicles a few surprises.

The 6-speed short-throw gearbox is amongst the best we have tested offering seamless changes. The clutch is particularly well weighted for a car of this size and it was a joy to change up and down the gears, using the chunky, tactile gearstick although, reverse gear was a bit temperamental to engage.

Official figures quote 25mpg, 42.8mpg and 34mpg for the urban, extra-urban and combined cycles. However, we were achieving nearer the 27mpg mark on our mixed circuit.

How It Drove - Ride/Handling

The MINI Cooper S Convertible has excellent handling characteristics, the overall ride is firm and combined with the MINI's chassis design and low centre of gravity you have an agile car with superb road-holding ability.

The steering is superbly weighted and direct with a go-kart-like driving feel, consistently giving the correct amount of feedback to the driver keeping you composed and in tune with the road.

Our test car was equipped with 17" web-spoke alloy wheels which significantly enhanced the handling. The ride is a little on the hard side and you certainly feel in touch with the road surface which is what you would expect of a sports model.