| Mini Cooper D - Mini's Greenest Car |
| Written by Jimmy Drifts |
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Mini Cooper is not one to idly standby as the hybrid car market goes under-served. The Mini Cooper D was recently launched in Australia and it is putting other hybrids to shame. The little pocket rocket packs a 1.6L turbo diesel under the hood which only burns a minuscule 3.9 L/100kms (60 MPG) making it Australia's most efficient car. SummaryThe new Mini Cooper is giving hybrid competitors a run for their money with the new Mini Cooper D. The Cooper D is packed with fuel saving technologies that has transformed it into one of Australia's most efficient and greenest cars. Not only that it's list price of AUD$ 33,750 makes it cheaper then the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and Audi's A3 TDIe which are all going for over $40,000 drive away. The release of the Mini Cooper D can see Mini capture a large share of the 'green market' and even some spillover from the compact segments. Car Specifications Price: AUD$ 33,750 Engine: 1.6-litre Four Cylinder Engine/16v Turbo-Diesel Power: 80kW @ 4000rpm Torque: 240Nm @ 1750-2000rpm Trans: 5-Speed Manual/6-Speed Auto Weight: 1165kgs Fuel Cons: Manual - 3.92 L/100km, Auto- 5.4 L/100Km 0-100km/h: Manual - 9.9 sec, Auto - 10.3 sec What's Good
What's Bad
Drive Drivability and economy rarely go hand in hand, but the Cooper D seems to have nailed it on the head. What we first felt as we took it on the road is the beautiful handling that we have come to expect from Mini. It lets you hug sharp corners with tender love and speed through the bendiest of bends. Cooper D's alloy diesel engine takes partial credit for this giving a lighter front and a more evenly distributed load through the length of the car. The 80kW is enough to keep drivers satisfied but it is the 240nM torque from the turbo diesel that really gives the Cooper D the right amount of push in lower revs. At 9.9 seconds for 0-100km/h it is the fastest car in its segment. We recommend drivers leave the boost feature on in order to truly get the most out of the engine. At the end, the Mini Cooper D knows that it is not a performance car and doesn't try to overcompensate for that fact. The car is tuned so that drivers can move without ever feeling like they have sacrificed performance for economy. Drivers will also notice 15 inch alloys as opposed to the larger rims that come with most Minis. The ride feels a bit more gentle but the extra padding still isn't enough to protect you from the Mini roughness. Hit a rough patch of bitumen and its enough to make you spill your latte. Traction is slightly off with the smaller wheels but not to an extent that it became a problem. Price & Economy Fuel economy is the Cooper D's key characteristic. It hosts a whole range of technologies borrowed and refined from parent company BMW to accompany their Minimalism philosophy.
All of the above gives the Cooper D an edge in drastically cutting down consumption. The auto stop and start function is however only available in the manual, so look to add another 1.1L/100kms when the feature is not in play. The Cooper D is priced lower then its competitors and it boasts better economy and performance so it is undoubtedly value for money. With the consumption rate, drivers can expect to spend just above AUD $15 a week on fuel based on an average driving distance of 15,000 kms a year. Overall Rating4 out of 5For those who are wondering why this did not receive a top score, its because despite the better performance, economy and price the Cooper D has over its competitors it simply lacked the practicality that a car like the Prius or Civic Hybrid has. The cramp booth space, claustrophobic back seats, uncomfortable front seats and lack of refinement in the vehicle leaves a lot to be desired for. Perhaps the next generation Cooper D will provide us with something closer to perfection. We still find it difficult to say without prejudice which the better car is, the Mini Cooper D or the Toyota Prius. They both excel in different areas and it will come down to driver preferences. Do you want the best drive, economy and price? If so then it is the Mini Cooper D hands down. On the other had do you want a well built car, with creature comforts, reliability and all round practicality? Then the Prius maybe more up your track. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites         |
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