MINI Cooper 2019 Review

The third-generation MINI Cooper salutes its British heritage with Union Jack styling cues and equipment updates across the range.

The MINI remains a lone ranger in the small car segment, in my honest opinion. Its retro styling continues to stand out from the crowd, 16 years after its modern reprise. The 2018 MINI Cooper five-door hatch joins the three-door hatch, MINI Clubman, MINI Countryman and MINI Convertible to complete the brands five-model offering.

The five-door MINI Cooper is priced from $31,150 (plus ORCs) and in keeping with the BMW family values, there are many options to consider.

Our test vehicle is fitted with cloth/leather upholstery combo with sports seats ($1300), metallic paint ($800), MINI active package that includes driver assist package, dual zone climate control, wireless phone charging LED headlights and those aforementioned LED Union Jack taillights ($2500). Our as tested price jumps to $35,700 (plus ORCs).

The MINI Cooper comes with a three-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and uses a conditioned based approach to service intervals.

There’s no doubt the MINI Cooper’s styling is the hero in this story – it always has been; closely followed by its playful on-road manners.

Drivers who truly enjoy an engaging and involved drive are going to fall hard for the MINI Cooper. The 1.5 litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (100kW/220Nm) paired to a six-speed manual transmission is a great combination; it feels perfectly fit for purpose.

It’s precise steering and kart-like handling makes the MINI Cooper a very nimble little thing.

Nimble little drivers are also best suited to the MINI; its snug interior design and fiddly ergonomics proving a challenge for me. Actual occupant space (for four) is fine however, so is boot space (278 litres) and cabin flexibility thanks to 60:40 split-fold rear seats.

The 2019 MINI Cooper is on sale now with our choice of automatic or manual transmissions.

For a little more coin ($41,150 plus ORCs) you can step up to the five-door Cooper S model with more power (141kW/280Nm) via its 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit.

The MINI Cooper has always felt like a ‘drivers car’ – a car in which you get out what you put in. It’s also got a cabin full of personality that (at this price point) few other cars can match.

The tech updates build on an already tech-savvy cabin. The circular centrepiece features a 6.5-inch display screen for navigation, infotainment and the like, including Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The six-speaker sound system is excellent, dual-zone climate control (part of our Active Package option) is good and manual adjust seats very comfortable (if a little snug).

Rear parking sensors and a reversing camera are standard, with forward collision warnings and crash mitigations systems and park assistance a cost option.

The six-speed manual gearbox in our test vehicle is such a joy to shift. Paired with direct steering and an agile chassis, this car feels capable, solid and fun. Its only real limitations are its proportions (people and packing) – a problem for which other MINI models offer a solution.

If VFACTS sales classifications are anything to go by, the MINI Cooper stands with around 40 rivals from the light and small car segment. This includes veterans such as the Toyota Corolla, Mazda’s Mazda3 and the Ford Focus – all of which feel at polar opposite to the MINI.

Unlike the MINI Countryman, the MINI Cooper five-door hatch is not cut out to be a family car – at least not beyond toddler age kids. My two kids (aged seven and nine) complained about second row legroom, particularly with my six-foot plus tall husband in the front seat. It’ll definitely handle the A-to-B school runs and the like, but packed with five occupants and gear it’s a stretch.

If the MINI Cooper is your second car in the garage, luck is on your side. Enjoy some fun at the wheel, ideally child-free.

Fun to drive and brimming with in-car kit and technology, the 2018 MINI Cooper matures while retaining its retro cool status.

A little more expensive than many rivals in its segment, many a buyer still chooses to pay the price without regret. The bubbly Brit (kinda) holds its ground.

How much does the 2019 MINI Cooper cost?
Price: $31,150 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 100kW/220Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 5.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 126g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Four-star ANCAP