2015-Mini-Cooper-Hardtop-4-door-interior

The interior design was definitely appealing, with different trim options to choose from. The Hardtop 4 Door we drove came with the optional Dark Cottonwood open pore trim with a matte finish. Chrome accents surrounded the air vents and infotainment system, giving the new Mini a more upscale feeling. We also enjoyed the blue accent lighting that could be seen through the entire cabin.

Because some of the roads in Oxford, England, where we drove the car, are so narrow, good handling and visibility are virtual necessities rather than perks. The Mini Hardtop 4 Door offers sharp steering, which shows its strength through tight turns and blind corners, and whenever those sudden stops came upon us, the brakes were firm and confident. We enjoyed the strong acceleration and torque of the newest edition and, although the transmission was rather stiff, it was expected for the sporty Cooper S model. With large side mirrors and a clear view through the back window, it was easy to see around the tight bends in the road.

Pulling up to the rare stop sign or streetlight, we experienced the new engine stop-start feature that could be much smoother on the startup. The engine shut off almost silently, with little perceptible feeling, and as soon as your foot moves from the brakes to the gas, the engine comes back on strong with a slight jerk forward.

2015 Mini Cooper Hardtop 4 Door front side view parked

Our time in the 2015 Mini Hardtop 4 Door Cooper S was enjoyable, and we would have loved to spend more time behind the wheel. At $22,300 for the less powerful Cooper model, the newest edition to the Mini lineup offers a good value and a fun-to-drive nature. Competing against the likes of the Fiat 500L and Volkswagen Golf, the $25,950 Cooper S delivers more bang for the performance buck, and while our model was filled with additions including a cold weather package, sports package, wired package, a head-up display, rearview camera, and more, the price remained competitive.

With all the cars in this competitive segment, there are bound to be pros and cons, but in the end, it comes down to personal preference. While Mini's reputation in the United States for building fun-to-drive cars might not appeal to all consumers, the new 2015 Mini Hardtop 4 Door Cooper S should definitely be near the top of the list when looking for a roomy four-door hatchback that's got personality.

2015 Mini Hardtop 4 Door Cooper S
BASE PRICE	$25,950
PRICE AS TESTED	$35,000 (est)
VEHICLE LAYOUT	Front-engine, FWD, 5-pass, 4-door hatchback
ENGINE	2.0L/189-hp/207-lb-ft turbocharged I-4
TRANSMISSION	6-speed automatic
WHEELBASE	101.1 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	158.0 x 68.0 x 56.1 in
EPA CITY/HWY FUEL ECON	26/37 mpg (est)
ENERGY CONSUMPTION, CITY/HWY	130/91 kW-hrs/100 miles (est)
CO2 EMISSIONS	0.65 lb/mile (est)

2015-Mini-Cooper-Hardtop-4-Door-side-front-view-with-reflection