2011 MINI Cooper Sports Diesel review
2011 MINI Cooper SD
By Bob Hume, 19th August 2011
Road test review by Tim Saunders. Edited by Bob Hume.
The golden rule of business is to turn a profit.
When the original Mini Minor (designed by Alec Issigonis and manufactured by British Motor Corporation) hit the roads in 1959, the entry-level version cost considerably more to manufacture than its meagre £497 retail price.
This resulted in a loss or as Mr Micawber in the David Copperfield novel by Charles Dickens, more eloquently put it: “Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pound ought and six, result misery.”
New 2011 MINI Cooper SD
BMC which later became the nationalised British Leyland Ltd, quickly acquired a poor reputation for substandard build quality as the actor Ian Ogilvy recalled when I spoke to him about his time as The Saint in the 1970s. His Jaguar XJS was regularly pushed onto screen by the film crew.
Where BMC couldn‘t get it right, Mini‘s new owners BMW most certainly have. Its £1.7bn operating profit for the first quarter of 2011 is testament to the fact that the company knows how to build cars and consequently has a very loyal following.
Don‘t get me wrong, the original Mini was fantastic – its abilities probably best displayed in the cult 1960s film The Italian Job starring Michael Caine. However like the rest of BMC‘s cars, its poor quality body had a tendency to rust. When I was small, my Mum was the proud owner of a pea green 1969 J-reg Mini named Gertrude, which had seen better days.
2011 MINI Cooper
The new Mini Cooper SD (Sports Diesel) is a far superior vehicle in every way. My only complaint is that it’s too big and bulbous (like many cars these days) to be properly compared to the original, whose looks and seat-of-the-pants ride still take some beating.
While today’s Cooper pays homage to its 50-year old relative, it is also very well built, economical and will always be rust-free. Today’s MINI combines the joys of driving a classic with all the mod-cons of a modern car – a winning formula. I love the distinctive grille and air vent on the bonnet and the centre mounted twin exhausts.
Upon clasping the chrome handle and opening the driver’s door, it is an absolute pleasure to be met by such a detailed retro interior and dashboard, which instantly transports you back to the swinging ‘60s. There are smatterings of chrome on the edges of the speedometer and 'proper' switches for the fog lights and windows. These nestle beneath the radio/CD player in the centre of console, rather than on the doors.
New MINI Cooper SD
The air vents are reminiscent of the business-end of a vintage hair dryer. Probably the most striking feature of the dashboard is the enormous yet nostalgic chrome edged revolution counter in the centre that harks back to the original Mini. My wife particularly likes this as she can keep an eye on the speed! It’s enchanting to watch the counter move as the speed increases but the driver also has a digital speedo behind the steering wheel and in easy view. All of this attention to detail creates an experience, in the much same way as a Jaguar or Bentley does.
The beige leather seats are comfortable and similar to those found across the BMW range. There’s not a huge amount of room inside the Mini, but then there never was. While the boot is larger than the original but still quite pokey, but the split fold rear seats are a helpful addition, allowing for my daughter’s pushchair to fit in.
New MINI Cooper Sport Diesel
The tested car had a slick six-speed gearbox and a 2-litre diesel 143bhp engine (the same unit that BMW fits to the 1-Series 118d) – during the test it has averaged 56.9mpg.
On first acquaintance, the super light gearbox caused a little difficulty for me because reverse is in near proximity to first gear but when you realise that you have to nudge the gearstick as far to the left as possible, it becomes second nature. As part of BMW's range-embracing Efficient Dynamics programme, there’s auto stop/start, which kicks in when the car has stopped and the foot removed from the clutch.
The boisterous Cooper is both entertaining and fun to drive with its stiff suspension adding an extra sense of sportiness and it really will shift if necessary, making any safe overtaking manoeuvre thoroughly invigorating. I agree with Parkers, the car experts, who say that it “spears through bends with laser-guided accuracy”. It’s a joy to drive. Engage sports mode and the steering tightens up and the controls become more responsive.
Overall, BMW has created a very fine and capable, good quality vehicle that will satisfy those who are looking for a characterful alternative to a run-of-the-mill Ford, Vauxhall or Volkswagen. The Mini has become a fashionable brand in its own right and quite rightly one of Britain’s favourite cars.
> At a glance
New price: £17,155 - £27,975
Used price range: £6,990 - £19,266
Engine: 2-litre diesel
Power: 143bhp
0-60mph: 8.1secs
Top speed: 134mph
Carbon dioxide emissions: 112g/km
Road tax: £20
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