Mini C does everything you’d expect. Except remember.
Just in case folks like us don’t want an electric car, Mini has been thoughtful enough to build us a few real Minis with petrol engines. This one is the three-door three-cylinder entry level Mini Cooper C. And dare we say, it does most things right.
First off, its small. Like a Mini should be. Well small enough without compromising space inside. It still looks like a Mini too. Well, mostly. Those triple horizontal option daytime running LEDs area a little out of proportion for some tastes, but edgy enough to satisfy others. Each side of a so-called filigree contoured octagonal grille.
C pushes the Mini theme in style
Other bits like the taillights push the Mini theme. Some would say with great elan. Thanks to clear surfaces and a short bonnet and overhangs on a stretched wheelbase. Maximum Mini pleasure. Minimal Mini footprint.
Mini says it pushes the go-kart feel in a minimalist design in a combination of trad values and futuristic clarity. It fits the bill. That transfers inside the car too, where the little ‘un splendidly blends minimalist design and new materials. And technical innovation. That full stop being intentional.
Build quality is BMW brilliant. The materials splendid. The neat new multifunction steering wheel sits ahead of the two-tone textile dash. The touch intuitive high quality 24 cm diameter round high-resolution thin OLED interface with ‘Hey Mini’ IPA and a wireless charging shelf dominates the centre dash.
Mini Cooper C is just as cool inside
There are knobs for the start-stop key, parking brake, gear selector, experience mode and volume on the typical Mini toggle bar. The surprisingly spacious rear cabin is easy enough to access. Its 60:40 folding rear bench opens the 210 litre boot up to as much as 800 litres.
But that tech? Oh dear. No! Mini seems proud of its Operating System 9 with new MINI Experience Modes and a wide range of digital functions ‘to create an immersive user experience’. Well, we simply don’t agree with that.
Some in the office, and we are talking about young tech savvy folk, not the old goats that hang about here, used words we cannot repeat. And others like crap when trying to explain it all.
Say again, over? The Mini C reset dilemma
See, everything resets every time you restart the car. Climate control, radio, driver assistance, the lot. And takes a significant unnecessary effort to reset to your personal needs. We tried to figure it out. Apparently we must download an app to do that. WTF guys, this is totally over the top!
Sure, we dig the big, bold graphics on the round screen, the various modes and the ability to switch between users. But why make it so far OTT that its horrible to live with? Some of us want to keep climate set differently to what the car forces on us. Or stay tuned to a different radio station.
But the car cannot remember what that was and forces its own agenda on you. Not at all cool. What a shame!
Could be the best little car on the block
Fire it up and the 115 kW 230 Nm turbo triple thrums to life. It’s fun to drive, darty and responsive with great steering feel too. Matches those kart claims well and goes a bit too. Even if it’s not the S, its quicker even than Mini’s 7.7 second zero to hundred claims, as you can see in the data below. Never mind, it’s also comfy and quiet on the flipside.
Reasonably priced, this Mini also lacks the likes of auto seats and a little other spec we’ve come expect at this level in most just as cheeky Chinese price rivals. But its backed by BMW and all the positives that come with, so the premium is probably well worth it.
To be honest, we loved our time with this spunky little Mini Cooper C. But only once we’d annoyingly wasted a good few precious minutes re-tuning the car to what we wanted, every time we sat in it. You simply walk up to some rival cars, open the door, sit down and just drive. Not the Mini. It makes you struggle, every time. Not good enough, BMW.
For the rest, the Mini was everything it promised to be. Cute, quick and petite. But it’s a bit too quirky right now. It deserves far better than an interface that spoils the fun every time. Hopefully that’s just a short sharp electronic tweak away. And that Munich deems it necessary to apply.
That done, this Mini would be among the best little cars on the block. No doubt about it… – Michele Lupini
Images & Testing: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: MINI Cooper C 3-door
Engine: 115 kW 230 Nm
Drive: 7-speed automatic FWD
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 3.74 sec
0-100 km/h: 7.58 sec
0-120 km/h: 9.66 sec
0-160 km/h: 17.01 sec
400 m 15.4s @ 153 km/h
60-120 km/h: 6.40 sec
120-160 km/h: 6.87 km/h: sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 225 km/h
Fuel: 6.2 l/100 km
CO2 139 g/km
Range: 735 km
Warranty/Service: 2y unl./5y 100K km
LIST PRICE: R602K
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