Long-Term Road Test Intro
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Hello, new Mini. You happen to be looking really, uh, hearty.
There are all sorts of techniques to pay compliments to buddies who have obviously lost weight, but there’s not a lot to say to those who have gotten bigger. Normally it is ideal to just say absolutely nothing, but we do not want to be rude. So to our newest long-term tester, a 2014 Mini Cooper S, we say: Hola! Welcome! You are looking awfully, er, lush these days!
The newly maximized Mini is massive for a cause. For its 2014 overhaul, it moved onto BMW’s new UKL global front-drive platform, which quickly will underpin a complete family members of Mini and BMW cars, all of them bigger than the Cooper hardtop. So the new Cooper, internally dubbed F56, had to stretch a bit as a compromise for its shared architecture. Park the new next to the outgoing R56 model (or particularly next to BMW’s original 2001–2006 R50), and the variations are dramatic. The new Cooper has turn into something but mini.
Blasted by the Gigant-o-Ray
The length grows in this generation by 4.5 inches while the width expands by 1.7 inches. That might not sound like considerably, but in an industry that sweats each millimeter, that is a double-barrel blast from the Gigant-o-Ray. Your driveway may possibly suddenly appear a lot smaller sized, but all of this, uh, blossoming is not without its positive aspects, specially to all round interior spaciousness (despite the fact that there are nonetheless some ergonomic challenges in the cabin).
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Not only is the platform new, the engine is, too. The 189-hp 2.-liter turbo 4-cylinder is the middle youngster of BMW’s new expandable engine family members, which makes use of a standardized 500-cc cylinder and simply stacks it, from the base Mini’s transverse 1.5-liter 3 up to the longitudinal 3.-liter inline-6. With all this newness in the ’14 Mini Cooper, we had been obliged to preserve 1 for a while to see how this overhauled Mini stands up to longer scrutiny.
This Volcanic Orange example arrives for its 40,000-mile run as a completely loaded Cooper S with a appropriate 6-speed manual. And by fully loaded, we actually imply it, due to the fact Mini gives a Fully Loaded choice pack that wads up a bunch of other option groups, like the Premium, Sport, and Wired packages, into a single huge $ 4500 hit. It contains navigation, a sunroof, 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, and mongo connectivity choices amongst its extended list of amenities. We also got a couple of nice-to-haves such as the fancier Cross Punch Carbon Black leather for $ 1500, the Cold Weather pack for $ 600, Dynamic Damper Handle and a head-up display, every for $ 500, and a 1-year subscription to satellite radio for $ 300. The rear spoiler, storage package with an adjustable rear cargo floor, and an anthracite-hued headliner every price $ 250.
Crunching the Stats
Total: $ 33,795. That’s a massive value for what is, and in spite of all the current swelling, nevertheless a modest vehicle. The initial test-track numbers, beginning with the 2839-pound curb weight and the 6.6-second zero-to-60 run, do not show progress more than a 2622-pound Cooper S we tested in 2007, which hit 60 in 6.2 seconds. But it is nevertheless the early days of this new engine. As factors loosen up, the times should come down, despite the fact that possibly not by sufficient to make the 2014 model any faster than its predecessor. Nevertheless, the new Mini’s .91-g skidpad-grip figure shows real capability, and we appear forward to exploiting it over the miles to come.
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So far we’ve noticed that the maxi Mini is less of a toy than its predecessors and far more of a grown-up car. The steering is still hyper-reactive compared with most cars’, but the ride has mellowed out, at least more than the milder bumps, and the Cooper’s road presence feels more substantial. We’re still understanding the new ergonomics, but factors such as conventionally placed window switches and the new giant super knob for the infotainment unit are helping. All the connectivity possibilities and ease of use are currently garnering praise from these who like to stream music from their phones.
The Mini is now on the West Coast carrying out typical shuttles amongst Los Angeles and San Francisco, and it makes the dull miles in between these metropolises melt pretty quickly with a composed highway ride and a powerful engine. So far, we’re averaging 30 mpg from the lengthy-stroke 2.-liter, which is welcome considering the tiny, 11.6-gallon fuel tank.
There will be more maxi Mini observations to come as we maintain you updated on the car’s progress in the course of its keep.
Months in Fleet: 2 months
Existing Mileage: 6629 miles Average Fuel Economy: 30 mpg
Fuel Tank Size: 11.6 gallons Fuel Variety: 345 miles
Service: $ Typical Put on: $ Repair: $
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