MINI Cooper S (06 on) - Review

If it's the first time you've ever driven a Cooper S you'll find it's quick off the mark (0-62mph in 7.1 seconds) and fast (top speed is 140mph). But it's how it performs once you've got going that really impresses. Put your foot down and the 1.6-litre with 175bhp surges forward with increasing urge. It's smooth, flexible and there's loads of pulling power on offer, which means that overtaking is a breeze: the turbocharger kicks in just when it's needed. If you're already a Cooper S owner and you're replacing your car with one of these, you'll notice that it has a slightly different character. That's because it uses a different engine with a turbocharger in place of the supercharger. This means that it's more laid back and easier to drive at slower speeds, but the power is easily accessible when you need it. The six-speed manual gearbox is standard. The gears are well spaced and it's smooth to use. In 2011 MINI added a 143bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine to the range. This engine is the same unit that parent company BMW uses in the 1-Series 118d. In the MINI, performance is very rewarding and it can post a time of 8.1s from zero to 62mph, with an achievable top speed of 134mph. It has 305Nm of pulling power from 1,750 to 2,700rpm making the car feel nippy. Overtaking manoeuvres can be carried out with ease thanks to having plenty of power right through the range. All Cooper SD models are equipped with a new super light six speed manual gearbox. The 22.8-kilo transmission is the lightest gearbox of its kind to date. It offers well-matched ratios and a precise, short shift action, very handy when zipping up and down B-roads.

This MINI is as good as ever to drive and offers the kind of thrills usually on offer only to owners of much more expensive cars. It's fun to drive as it's grippy, agile and has responsive steering. Plus, as you'd expect, the MINI is also a dab hand when it comes to town or city driving. It's got a tight turning circle and steering that's not too heavy. The suspension is a huge improvement over the old car. Although the Cooper S is much stiffer than other MINIs, it's now much more comfortable, doesn't jar, yet still adds to the MINI's sporty feel. An optional sports suspension pack firms the springs and dampers up further, while the sports button sharpens the steering and makes the throttle more responsive. Normally diesel engines can feel quite heavy but the 143 2.0-litre diesel (added in 2011) engine does not detract from any of that famous 'go-kart' handling. Driving the car is a lot of fun. It's grippy, agile and the steering offers plenty of feedback for the drive. Engage the Sport button and the steering weights up and the controls become a little more responsive - a boon for enthusiasts.