MINI Ray 2016 Review

MINI Ray


Road Test

MINI’s reintroduction of the entry-level Ray model constrains pricing, for the manual-transmission three-door hatch variant, to a smidge under $26k. There are plenty of things that make it lovable – including the characterful 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo – but the almost complete lack of an options, and the fact that its more powerful and better-equipped Cooper sibling is only $728 dearer, raise questions about its value.

It’s possible to argue that a diminutive three-door hatch that is smaller than practically anything else on the market other than a Fiat 500 (or a Suzuki Celerio) is hardly good value when pre on-roads pricing begins at $25,922.

Then again, MINIs aren’t measured on just their physical stature.

Getting your head around the fact that the latest bottom-rung MINI Ray starts at roughly the same price as a Mazda3 SP25 hottie is not easy if you apply the standard criteria.

Not only does the Mazda bring heaps more performance, heaps more interior space, heaps more standard equipment including autonomous emergency braking, reversing camera, blind-spot monitor and sat-nav, as well as a full five-star ANCAP safety rating (the MINI achieves just four), it also brings a fair dose of what MINI tends to claim as its own: personality.

No rational argument is ever going to favour the MINI Ray as a logical choice in the $30,000 or thereabouts segment.

Of course, the folk at MINI probably see it the same way. However, they reckon their range of cars brings something to the table that others try for, but often fail miserably to achieve. Logic doesn’t really come into it.

In a way, a MINI, particularly a three-door MINI, is more a two-plus-two sports car than a regular handy hatch. The brand DNA that says driving should, where possible, be a fun, frolicking experience is deeply imbedded.

So the new MINI Ray, despite what you might read on paper, is really something more than just a small/light-class hatchback.

Any colour you like…
After a week with the almost alarmingly un-optionable and basically-equipped MINI (about the only things you can choose are the transmissions, number of doors and colours – and then it’s an almost Henry Ford dilemma because the only options are black or white paint) our three-door cutey was almost as hard to give up as a favourite pet.

As long as you sideline any expectations of space or luggage-carrying versatility, the MINI Ray is a lovable companion that seems to keep on delivering.

From the throaty three-cylinder heartbeat to the quick steering and the overall feeling of steadfast solidity, the junior member of the MINI clan is an engaging presence that distracts attention away from its obvious shortcomings.

Reprising the original Ray model that was sold between 2011-14, the latest model replaces the previous junior member of the family, the MINI One, without changing much at all.

The engine and transmissions are the same, the equipment is essentially the same, including Bluetooth with USB audio interface, heated and powered exterior mirrors and rear parking sensors. Even the price has moved only a little upward, from $24,500 at the MINI One’s introduction in July 2014 to $25,922 (plus on-road costs) two years later.

Much of the appeal is in the tiny 1.2-litre, turbocharged three-cylinder engine. It delivers a pretty handy output of 75kW at 6000rpm, while a solid 180Nm is available between 1400-4000rpm. If you’re interested in perspectives, both are way in excess of the original 58kW/108Nm 1275cc Cooper S from the 1960s.

Charming progress
Its charms are undeniable, from the vocal three-cylinder throb to the steady power delivery contributed to by its long-stroke configuration, to the immediacy of the steering and the almost undefinable feeling of one-ness. Just about anything else other than a compact sports car feels disconnected by comparison.

In reality the actual performance is nothing spectacular, but that doesn’t seem to matter as the base MINI speaks enthusiastically to the driver. At times getting away from the mark is a hesitant affair as the tight-shifting six-speed automatic transmission (which adds $2350 to the price) and the tiny engine gather their senses. Once under way, with the mid-range torque asserting itself, the three-cylinder turbo is almost as satisfying in its actual power delivery as it is in the eager off-beat chortle emanating from the intake and exhaust systems.

As you’d hope it’s pretty economical too: We might not have met the official claim of 5.0L/100km for the automatic version but figured our auto test car’s 5.7L average wasn’t too shabby. The idle-stop system that contributes to this is not the smoothest though: There’s some engine shudder as it activates.

The 15-inch steel-wheeled MINI Ray doesn’t have the grippy rubber of further-upmarket versions, but it still steers with a particular precision and is closer than most cars to being a literal extension of the driver. Despite the fact it’s not doing anything really that quickly, there’s a constant immediacy to the base MINI that becomes almost addictive. And with just a basic set of 175/65-series tyres, the ride, within limitations, is pretty compliant too.

Two seats and a boot? 
Of course the packaging is what we’ve always known: Rather than being an internal space-meister like the original Mini, today’s car is great in the front, not so great in the rear seat and very restricted in the boot. If you forget about the back seat and use it simply as a boot extension, it becomes more useful.

And although the interior presentation is scaled way down from other versions, the Ray maintains a quality feel that is evident in the sense of solidity conveyed by such things as the front-to-rear centre console, which lacks the glorified cardboard feel of many contemporaries, and the massive circular display at the centre of the dash.

Although it’s disappointing to note the absence of a reversing camera and that the two-spoke steering wheel is devoid of cruise control switches, it still looks busy enough to avoid downmarket connotations.

There’s a toggle switch for firing up the engine, the main instruments move up and down with the steering wheel just like other MINIs and the fuel gauge is a bar-graph display on the right of the speedo. If there’s any criticism, it’s that there’s a dearth of handy storage spaces around the front of the cabin.

It’s a shame about Ray
The four-star ANCAP rating is an obvious disappointment and is contributed to by the “marginal” abdomen and chest protection in side-impacts and the low score in frontal offset tests.

And now we come to the value aspect.

Even though the MINI Ray is the cheapest way to get into a MINI, it might come as a surprise to learn it’s only $728 cheaper than next-step-up Cooper model.

That $728 gets you not just a bigger, more powerful and more economical three-cylinder turbo engine (1.5 litres and 100kW/220Nm) but also more equipment including alloy wheels (same tyre sizes), rain-sensing wipers, a touch more interior class with standard floor mats, more colour choices and, most importantly, an unlocked options list that introduces things such as sat-nav, reversing camera, sunroof and meatier wheel/tyre combinations to mention just a few.

Cute highlights such as the test car’s bonnet stripes and M&M’s-green exterior mirrors can only do so much.

Sorry Ray, you are entirely lovable but brother Cooper looks the better deal.

Also consider:
>> Fiat 500 (from $18,000 plus ORCs)
>> Peugeot 208 (from $15,990 plus ORCs)
>> Renault Clio (from $18,000 plus ORCs)