The June 2007 issue of Road & Track compares another gaggle of “hot pocket-rockets”. Included in the test with the 2007 MINI Cooper S are the Honda Civic Si, Mazdaspeed3, Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, and Volkswagen GTI, all sporty cars in econobox guise. This is the theme of the twelve-page article.
The test took place on the curvy roads of northern California and the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Road & Track testers rated the five cars in several performance categories like acceleration, slalom, skidpad, and braking. Subjective ratings were applied to driving excitement, engine, gearbox, handling, styling, and others. All cars were four-door models except for the MINI Cooper S.
You probably want to know where the MINI Cooper S placed, so I’ll start by saying it placed 4th. The MINI’s styling was described as “cuter than a bucket of puppies” and was difficult for the testers to tell from the old MINI. Lightest car in the group by 400 lbs., the Cooper S was described as the most fun on the track. On the road, they rate the MINI’s ride over sharp bumps as somewhat “pattery”, whatever that means (just try to look it up). Inside, they found fault with the MINI’s enormous speedometer and “wonky” ergonomics.
Placing below the MINI was the Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V. Beating the MINI out for 3rd place was the Honda Civic Si Sedan. Perhaps MINI’s closest market rival, the Volkswagen GTI grabbed 2nd place. Road & Track loved its inline 4 with “bucketsÖof torque” and found its 6-speed gearbox a “joy to use”. As with the Honda, they thought the brakes could be improved. Overall, they rated the interior superior to the rest.
Placing 1st, the Mazdaspeed3 took every performance category (except fuel economy which the MINI won). Easily the strongest car in the group at 263 bhp, the Mazda tops its nearest rivals, the Sentra and the GTI, which just crack 200 bhp. The testers liked almost everything about the Mazda and even put a positive spin on the car’s rough edges.
Whereas the first-generation MINI scored victory after victory in tests like these, the 2007 MINI has most often landed in the middle of the pack. Since the second-generation MINI is arguably improved in every aspect, how to explain the results? Perhaps in redesigning and refining the MINI, BMW took away some of its edginess and charm. Or perhaps the competition has simply caught up.
Interesting items there James. You also bring up some good points. *DID* BMW take away from the edginess and charm of the car? Personally I do think the car has been softened up a bit. Unfortunately, this was done for the masses. Nice write-up!
I do feel the car was softened somewhat but not too much. It seems to me the things R&T complained about, the stiff ride and quirky ergonomics, are some of the things MINI owners hold dear. If the MINI had a number suspension and more mainstream interior owners wouldn’t feel as though their cars were as unique as they are. Some even think the Chronos and Nav packages in the earlier MINI’s is sacrilege.