We love manuals here at MF. But the 2016 JCW automatic stole our hearts on our recent New England road trip. Could the manual one-up it and once again prove that it was the definitive example of MINI’s gokart performance? Fresh from our road trip in the 2016 MINI JCW Auto, we were handed the keys to the JCW manual and given one week to find out.
Rebel green with a black roof, our manual JCW test car oozed aggressive sportiness. In fact such was the subtly of Rebel green that most assumed the car was black on black unless it was directly in the sun.
Inside the car was finished in the excellent JCW seats trimmed in leather and Dynamica. Truth be told we’d probably be ok with the no cost cloth/Dynamica option but the look of the optional seats is hard to argue with. One thing worth noting, the new JCW seats are more aggressively bolstered than before. That means if you’re a person who’s a little wider than average it might be a snug fit. Additionally there’s a little less foam in the bottom cushion which makes the seats slightly less spongy. After putting 1800 miles in two JCW in recent weeks I’m not I’d call them less comfortable than the standard seats, just less cushioned.
But we’re not here to talk colors or seats. We’re here to tell you about the manual transmission and if it’s still the best way to experience the JCW. A couple of years ago this wouldn’t even be a conversation. Choosing an auto with your JCW required excuses (some valid) that lead you take route of less involvement and ultimately less enjoyment. However the dramatically better 6 speed automatic (officially Gen III of the Aisin auto for those curious) now offered in the JCW has turned the tables.
It’s responsive, matches revs and comes complete with proper steering wheel paddles that MINI has solely lacked for years. And crucially it’s faster in a straight line and around the track. None of this should come as a surprised given the rapid advancements of automatics. What is a surprise is that MINI was able to do this with a transmission that is mechanically almost identical to what the JCW previously offered.
Where does this leave the manual? There’s a reason that MINI is aligning it’s brand (especially in the US) around the manual. It’s a tool for engagement and driver satisfaction. And nowhere is this more evident than in the 2016 MINI JCW.
Fundamentally this is the same manual found in the Cooper S. And that’s a good thing. While MINI has revised the software and some mechanical bits and pieces, the six speed in the JCW has the same satisfying action and reaction that you’ll find in any F56 manual. While it doesn’t quite rival an M car but it has in of the best engagements in its class. MINI has also paired the clutch well as its easily modulated (if a little light). All told it’s an incredibly satisfying part of the experience that quickly becomes essential to the character of the car.
The only hint of dissatisfaction I had during my time with the car was the engines speed to rev. Given that there’s more engine to motivate (remember MINI went from 1.6 to 2.0L in the F56 Cooper S and JCW) things take a fraction longer to climb the tach.
Does it feel slower than the auto? The numbers say yes but the seat of the pants says no. And a drivers a ability to get deeper engagement out of the engine makes it feel more rewarding.
What would I choose if I was writing the check? An automatic in the new Clubman or even Countryman makes sense. But as good as the automatic JCW is, it’s just a little less compelling of a drive than the manual. In other words if you’re going to throw the coin down for the ultimate MINI, we at MF think logical choice is the slower option.
Read more about our thoughts on the new F56 JCW in our initial review and our recent road trip in the JCW Automatic.
<p>I have one of the first 2015 JCW Hardtops with manual transmission. I waited three months to get it even though the dealer had two JCWs with automatic in stock. I agree with the statement that the increased driver involvement of a manual transmission increases driving enjoyment once you get away from city congestion or Interstates and get out on two-lane interesting roads. That’s what we buy MINIs for. Cars are doing more and more things and making decisions without driver involvement. I picked the manual transmission when I wrote the check and I’m glad I did. There are a number of things I think MINI could have done better with the JCW, but the manual transmission isn’t one of them. Save the manuals!</p>
<p>great article but too much blabla about the interior and the automatic.</p>
<p>I don’t really like the look of the F56 but this particular JCW in green/black with those wheels looks pretty smart in the photos. Hope I see one like this in person someday. There is a F56 JCW a few blocks away from me in a different colour/wheels and it is just so blah looking IMO compared to my R56 JCW.</p>
<p>Been fortunate to have a F56 Cooper loaner for the last few days. That 3-cyl is a wonderful engine – curious why MINI didn’t put the BMW i8 version of the engine in the JCW?</p>
<p>It’s mostly due to consumer perception. They looked at the 1.5L for the Cooper S (and would have liked to have done it) but found that perspective customers preferred the idea of a four cylinder for higher performance MINIs.</p>
<p>I wonder if Porsche surveyed customers about changing the next gen Boxster/Cayman to turbo fours.</p>
<p>I’m sure they did. However you have to remember the timing of MINI’s decision. Likely around 2010. Attitudes are changing.</p>
<p>What’s the saying….skate to where the puck is going to be not where it’s at. Releasing a small hatchback in the US back in 2002 feels true to that. Releasing the F56 with styling that hasn’t exactly been praised and engines that are sort of the same old thing (the 4 cylinder in particular with its modest power and economy) seems far less forward looking.</p>
<p>Even though I quite like the new Clubman it doesn’t feel all that forward looking either. “Let’s make it bigger” is fine but that is what every car maker does with every new model.</p>
<p>MINI could’ve been a leader and instead feels like another trend follower to me right now. Of course I’m waiting to hear Motoringfile’s take on that new Clubman, maybe it’s more of a step in the right direction.</p>
<p>It’s all calculated risk and as much as I would have preferred a three cylinder MCS many non enthusiasts would have looked at it as a car that costs more with one less cylinder than it used to have. They released a three cylinder performance variant in the Cooper (which is considered a premium performance variant outside the US). They will very likely move to all three cylinder power in the next generation for weight savings and efficiency gains.</p>
<p>We tend to forget that enthusiasts make us such a small percentage of overall buyers. Marketing isn’t about getting enthusiasts to buy it’s about getting everyone else to buy. More cylinders must be better is a very American thinking and makes a lot of sense.</p>
<p>Yup. But one thing to remember. In what I know of the designers and engineers putting together these cars. They’re generally enthusiasts. They want what we want.</p>