2005 MINI Cooper Road Test

Variable-speed electrically assisted power steering is pin-sharp accurate, yet well-weighted. It gave me confidence to push it

The Cooper's 195/55 R 16 Dunlop Sport runflat tires and Sport suspension provide it with unshakable grip. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

harder and faster in the corners. Understeer is only present at the final boundaries of the Cooper's limits, at which point the stability control system, if equipped, will have long cut in. Even with cold tires and damp pavement my MINI Cooper tester remained firmly planted, rarely encountering tire slip.

Part of what helps the Cooper deliver unshakable grip is its 195/55 R 16 Dunlop Sport runflat tires and Sport suspension, available as a part of the Sport Package. For what you gain in downright driving performance, there is a sacrifice to be made: the runflat tires and super-stiff springs turn the Cooper's ride from compliant to harsh. Over the pothole-scarred streets of my East Coast town, the MINI jostled and bounced, manageable for short periods of time but irritating if you live in areas of constant construction. The Cooper's Sport suspension is much more palatable on glass-smooth autobahns, or at least freshly paved roads. Before committing to the option on the order form, it's highly advisable to go for a long test drive. That in mind, a cushy 15-inch wheel and tire package is standard on the Cooper.

The MINI is the smallest car sold in the U.S., but despite its

Under the retro skin lay an unnaturally long wheelbase, ultra-strong pillars and a structure that's considerably stiffer than the current 3-Series. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

diminutive status, its structure is advanced enough to make even the latest economy cars seem fragile and weak. Under the retro skin lay an unnaturally long wheelbase, ultra-strong pillars and a structure that's considerably stiffer than the current 3-Series. A multiplex wiring system, complex enough to humble even the smartest electrical engineers, allows the Cooper to feature all the technological safety goodies a top-tier BMW offers, including Automatic Stability Control and Traction Control (ASC+T), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), and four-channel ABS. Should you manage to slip through the intuitive handling and brakes as well as the elaborate electronic safety net, a total of six 'smart' airbags will protect driver and passenger.