MINI John Cooper Works (08 on) - Review

Review by Simon Harris on
Last Updated: 04 August 2009
The John Cooper Works is the ultimate model in the MINI line-up and adds genuine high-performance and extreme looks to the already impressive car. Available in all three bodystyles - hatch, convertible and Clubman - the JCW models use the same 1.6-litre petrol engine as the Cooper and Cooper S models but tuned to deliver 211bhp. This gives it impressive pace and thanks to tuned suspension, upgraded brakes and sharper steering, it's even more fun to drive than the standard MINI - itself a great handling car. Fuel economy of around 40mpg and a superb value servicing package available from MINI dealers, means it needn't be expensive to run either.
4.5 out of 5

Other MINI reviews

4 out of 5

Running costs

Although more than £20,000 is expensive for a small car, the fact that the official fuel consumption average is higher than 40mpg and depreciation is slow means the JCW has low overall running costs. CO2 emissions are also low for a 211bhp car so annual road tax shouldn't be too high. Opt for the 'tlc pack' when ordering as it means servicing costs - including some replacement items - will be fixed for five years or eight years depending on the pack chosen.

Summary Running Costs

Servicing period

Variable according to on-board computer.

Warranty

Three years/unlimited miles.

Road tax (12 months)

£170.00 - £250.00

Vehicle excise duty (VED) varies according to the CO2 emissions and the fuel type of the vehicle. For cars registered after March 1st 2001 VED or road tax is based on the car's CO2 emissions. For cars registered before March 1st 2001 it is based on engine size.

Full running costs data

3 out of 5

Green credentials

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
    165
  • H
  • I
  • J
    187
  • K
  • L
  • M

CO2 emission figure (g/km)

Fuel economy rating

The arrows indicate the best and worst CO2 bands for this model.

Emissions summary

Carbon dioxide emissions of 165g/km are at the high end of the small car scale, but very low for one with this kind of performance, so it's easy to choose a John Cooper Works with a clear conscience. Economy is good too and the JCW is capable of 41mpg - although hard driving will soon see this fall.

Find the exact engine and CO2