We pay a lot of attention to the R56 MCS. We pay some attention to the R56 Cooper. We even give some space to the R56 Cooper D, a car not available in the US. But what about the One?
Press.co.nz has us covered with a great review of the true “base” Cooper.
>Just 70kW, or 95 horsepower in old money, may not sound like very much, but original Cooper S owners in the ’60s would have wept with joy to have had access to such grunt, never mind a six-speed gearbox with which to stir it. They’d also have looked a little quizzically at the Mini One’s optional six-speed paddle-shift automatic, which adds $3000 to the car’s sticker price.
[ Base MINI the Best ] Press.co.nz
Good review from a fellow Kiwi. We previously never got the previous MINI One, so this enters a new market price range. The downside is that you probably wont buy a used R50 Cooper that is dearer. The USA / NZ dollar is USA 0.77 to NZ1.00.
I’m thinking of getting a One (in Japan). Of all the MINIs, this model seems to make the most sense in a highly urbanized environment with somewhat limited diesel fuel distribution.
I’m torn, though. Unfortunately the MINI One’s fuel economy in particular is not keeping pace with Japan’s technologically sophisticated vehicles. As one comparison, the new Mazda Demio (Mazda2) 13C-V model (1.3 liter engine with CVT automatic) manages 66 KW of output and 124 Nm of torque (versus the One’s 70 and 140) but gets 23.0 Km per liter in the Japanese 10-15 driving cycle compared to only 17.2 for the One (even with manual transmission). (That’s 55 versus 41 mpg, U.S. gallons.) The Demio 13C-V is about 140 Kg lighter than the One, so that might explain some of the difference, but that also means a good power-to-weight ratio. As another comparison, the very roomy Nissan Tiida (the Versa in the U.S.) with 1.5 liter engine is good for 80 KW and 148 Nm (more power), has a CVT automatic again, and still hits 19.4 Km/l. The Tiida is very slightly heavier (by about 20 Kg), so it really is the engine technology that makes the difference.
Quite simply the BMW-PSA engine, even in manual transmission 1.4 liter guise, isn’t posting great fuel economy numbers. Unfortunately it’s a generation or two behind comparable Japanese engines. And these Japanese cars are many thousands of dollars (hundreds of thousands of yen) less expensive, and they’re really quite excellent cars with generous standard equipment. In fact, to indicate how badly the MINI One falls short on paper, in Japan the One with automatic transmission actually costs more than the CVT Toyota Prius. Yet the Prius gets more than twice the fuel economy (35.5 Km/l) of the One, and that’s a One with manual transmission.
I realize it’s going to be tough to make a car in Oxford, England, and then export to the home market of the world’s most competitive automakers. The fact MINI is selling a fair number of vehicles in Japan is impressive. But MINI has got some serious engine technology challenges ahead.
Timothy – you can buy a good used MINI One in Japan for bargain prices.
I guess that when it comes to the crunch you either want to own and drive a MINI or not, regardless of economy or performance.
You can buy good used cars in Japan at bargain prices — that’s not unique to the MINI. (It’s a combination of the Japanese inspection tax system and strong buyer preferences.)
As I said, I’m torn. But MINI (and BMW) really do have shameful fuel economy numbers. For yet another comparison, I was looking at the base engine in the 1 series, which I think is a 1.8 liter powerplant, and that manages only about 11 Km/L. Pathetic, truly.