Wheel designs have been updated as well, while paint selection (11 colours) now includes Spice Orange – a wise choice if you want to turn heads even on cold, snowy days. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about! This attractive attire, along with seven others, require an extra of $490. As they say, popularity doesn't come cheap.
Inside, the controls and dials sport a matte black finish, while chrome accents help the four air vents stick out from the dashboard. The small steering wheel also receives chrome and offers a good grip.
The glass sunroof is now 30-percent darker and blocks UV rays more effectively. Unfortunately, it's part of the Comfort Package ($1,900), which also adds heated front seats and what the marketing crew at BMW calls ''multimedia connectivity,'' consisting in Bluetooth and USB interface. The fact that all these features don't come standard is pretty shocking and disappointing. Isn't the 2011 MINI aimed at young, tech-savvy drivers?
Small on the outside, small on the inside
The interior can sit four adults – or so says the company. Put two long-legged individuals up front and the rear seats become virtually useless. This, in my opinion, makes the MINI Cooper a 2+2 car. On the plus side, the front buckets are worthy of a corner-craving hot hatch.
Designers successfully added a retro touch to the layout, although you must learn to identify and locate every single button (there are lots of them) and understand their purpose. Unusual shapes and odd control placement can catch drivers by surprise, particularly at night.
Access to the cargo area is allowed by a small, single-piece liftgate that I was unable to open manually; I had to use the key's remote control. With the 50/50 split rear seats up, cargo capacity is marginal. You can fit three or four (small) grocery bags at best. In fact, the trunk is smaller than a smart fortwo's despite the latter being roughly one metre shorter! With the rear seats down, however, you get double the room of a smart. But at 680 litres, you're still halfway to a GTI.
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| New stylish wheel designs are available. These 17-inch alloys represent an upgrade over the standard 16-inch units. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |
Inside, the controls and dials sport a matte black finish, while chrome accents help the four air vents stick out from the dashboard. The small steering wheel also receives chrome and offers a good grip.
The glass sunroof is now 30-percent darker and blocks UV rays more effectively. Unfortunately, it's part of the Comfort Package ($1,900), which also adds heated front seats and what the marketing crew at BMW calls ''multimedia connectivity,'' consisting in Bluetooth and USB interface. The fact that all these features don't come standard is pretty shocking and disappointing. Isn't the 2011 MINI aimed at young, tech-savvy drivers?
Small on the outside, small on the inside
The interior can sit four adults – or so says the company. Put two long-legged individuals up front and the rear seats become virtually useless. This, in my opinion, makes the MINI Cooper a 2+2 car. On the plus side, the front buckets are worthy of a corner-craving hot hatch.
Designers successfully added a retro touch to the layout, although you must learn to identify and locate every single button (there are lots of them) and understand their purpose. Unusual shapes and odd control placement can catch drivers by surprise, particularly at night.
Access to the cargo area is allowed by a small, single-piece liftgate that I was unable to open manually; I had to use the key's remote control. With the 50/50 split rear seats up, cargo capacity is marginal. You can fit three or four (small) grocery bags at best. In fact, the trunk is smaller than a smart fortwo's despite the latter being roughly one metre shorter! With the rear seats down, however, you get double the room of a smart. But at 680 litres, you're still halfway to a GTI.
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| The trunk is good enough for your swimsuit and toothbrush, but anything else will force you to sacrifice the rear seats. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123..com) |