Cars of Fall, the Review: 2012 MINI Cooper S Coupe

By now most people have seen a MINI and I have to admit they are addictive little cars. You might be skeptical when you think about one, but once you drive one you can’t help be hooked, especially if you like sports cars. The neat thing about MINI is that they have been expanding their portfolio, something a lot of people didn’t think they could do with a small car in the States. Now you can buy a MINI Cooper, Clubman, Countryman (with ALL4 all-wheel drive), Clubvan and the star of our article here, the Coupe. Of course, each variation also comes in the “S” configuration with the turbocharged four-cylinder motor just like our 2012 MINI Cooper S Coupe test vehicle. Best yet, most of these cute, fast and adorably small vehicles start in the low to mid-$20K. It isn’t until you start optioning them up or heading for a convertible that the prices start closer to $30K.

The big question for a lot of people is why on earth would you want to make a MINI even smaller inside? Yes, the Coupe does create quite the conundrum. A two-seat MINI Cooper. Well, I guess it worked for Porsche with the Boxster and Mazda with the Miata (in comparison with the RX-7). The point here is small cars, especially sports cars, have been personal endeavors between the driver and the machine…and maybe a hot passenger too. The MINI Cooper S Couple lives up to that with 181-hp that translates into a tangible idea of speed in the run up to 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds. To boot it will still be easy on the wallet at the pump by getting an EPA estimate 27/35 miles per gallon city/hwy.

Alright, so the trips to the shopping mall or the warehouse food store might have to be cut back…or at least you might have to borrow Mary’s land-yacht down the street. Or will you? Surprisingly, the MINI Coupe has 9.8 cubic feet of trunk space. In real terms that means two large rolling suitcases or a combo of hard case and duffel bag. Either way, you will get more in this miniscule little car than you think. That means the Mall is not band when you and your bestie head off in search of new treasures.

Now you might be wondering why a self proclaimed “gearhead” isn’t raving about the horsepower, torque curves, shift points and lateral suspension movement. Well, frankly, my dear you just don’t give a damn. That might be heavy handed, but what you really want to know is that this car in the manual transmission is quick and exhibits little lag from the turbocharged engine. In fact, I found that large iconic speedometer in the middle of the dash climbing higher than might have been advised on a regular basis. The feeling of the shift from gear to gear is typically BMW; it is not a short throw or movement to each gear, but it is not sloppy or unpleasant either. At first, non-BMW or MINI drivers might find 5th and 6th gear a ways out, but you get used to it in time and will wonder why you noticed it after settling in with the car for a short period. Those who are Automatic fans will find that the standard automatic transmission will also get you off the line quickly while impacting the sporty feeling of the car minimally.

The ride and handling is the hardest pill for some to swallow, while for others it is the icing on the cake. The MINI line of cars ride like sports cars. They absorb, they dampen, but they are not a cushy ride. They corner flat and likewise will make you wince if you hit a crater-sized pot hole. So downtown, you might get a little more feedback from the suspension then you like, but for the person who loves to drive the experience out on the freeway and in the mountains is comparable to cars twice or three times as expensive. The surefooted nature of the MINI, the wide “bulldog” stance (go ahead put a bulldog next to the MINI and you will see why they call it that) and the advance stability and traction control make this a car you can drive all year round. Especially with a good set of snow tires.

Then there is the interior. One of the most remarkable things about the MINI brand is that it has pulled the quality and attention to detail from its parent company, BMW. Our test car was equipped with an optional two-tone Polar Beige and Black interior. The leather seats, and the different soft touch materials around the inside of the MINI Coupe make you feel like you have bought a much more expensive car. At $32,400 as tested, I won’t say that the MINI Cooper S Coupe is a bargain, but it is hard to touch for the same power, quality and cache. Our test vehicle didn’t have the heated seats, but it is part of the cold weather package that you will find standard on most MINIs in Colorado; it is well worth the package price to keep your buns toasty in the coming cool weather.

Which brings us to the outside. Yes, the Coupe is pretty much a love it or hate it proposition. However, for the skeptics out there I suggest you take one for a spin or come back and look at it a couple of times. With many of the people I talked with during the week of driving this car, I found that the more they talked about it and looked at it the more it grew on them. There is no doubt its design is outside the box, but that is part of what makes it special and a MINI. So if you are looking for a two-seat personal coupe that will race you up the mountain to see the changing of the aspens before all the color is gone, the MINI might just be the set of wheels for you.