Mini Cooper (2006-) Review

On the road

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If only all superminis had a driving position as good as this. You hold a steering wheel that now adjusts for reach as well as rake and you sit low in a seat that has plenty of adjustment available in all directions. As before, the seatback ratchet is slightly clunky.

A six-speed manual gearbox is standard; a six-speed paddleshifting automatic is also available, but we've yet to sample it. The manual has a precise movement and feel, although it requires accurate positioning when you're going from third to second gear; if you're not careful you can find yourself pushing past the reverse lockout, which leaves you floundering in neutral. It's also easy to select reverse instead of first as you only have to push down gently on the gearstick to go backwards.

The wheelbase and track of the Mini remain the same with the second-generation model, so it retains its wheel-at-each-corner stance. The MacPherson strut set-up at the front remains - although it has been retuned for the different weight and characteristics of the new engines - and the rear system's weight has been trimmed.

This gives the Mini excellent grip and handling dynamics. It's a very competent car through the corners and finds the optimum balance between body control and passenger comfort - it's neither too stiff nor too wallowy.

It grips keenly, although the chassis reveals some understeer if you push into a corner, the stability control finds itself working a little too hard at times. To get the most out of the car, it's best to try to be as smooth as possible.

Like so many other superminis, the Mini now features an electric power steering system that adjusts the steering inputs required depending on speed. When parking or toiling through traffic, the steering is light and easy to use, and it firms up at speed. It does a pretty good job of telling you what's going on between wheel and road, but we would still prefer a straightforward rack-and-pinion set-up.

The petrol Cooper has the same 1.6-litre engine as the Cooper S but does without the turbocharger, so manages just 120bhp and 118lb-ft of torque. Official figures are 9.1 seconds to 62mph and a 126mph top speed. But on the road you'll struggle to achieve those sorts of figures, especially if there are any hills in the way. You have to work the engine very hard to get any decent acceleration from it, and when up to high speed, things do become pretty noisy.

The petrol Cooper deserves only three stars for its performance - but the Cooper D is far more impressive, despite having a top speed that's 5mph lower. Its 107bhp at 4,000rpm may not sound so smart, but its 170lb-ft of torque at just 1,750rpm is pulling power you'll enjoy on every trip: lots of it, in just the right place. If you make good use of the six-speed manual gearbox and keep the engine humming along between 1,500 and 3,500rpm you'll be rewarded with real-world performance that leaves other superminis feeling lifeless and slow. It's actually 1sec slower than the petrol Cooper from zero to 62mph - but from 50 to 75mph it's two seconds quicker. That's indicative of a car that's fantastic at accelerating out of bends and providing confident overtaking ability.