EMMW Blog

The Mini Cooper lineup is starting to look like the onslaught of Porsche 911s. You now can choose from the hardtop, coupe, convertible, roadster, clubman, and the countryman, but which one is the best fit for you? We had the opportunity to test the 2012 Mini Cooper S Coupe, and we were pleasantly surprised by what we found.

The coupes styling includes a lower rounded roofline, available in either black or silver, which breaks away from the rigid, box-like feel that is normally associated with Minis. On the rear deck lid is a secondary spoiler that will rise at speeds above 50 mph or with the simple push of a button. The latter may not be such a great idea when trying to remain inconspicuous, but, regardless, we thought it was a nice option to include.

The first thing we noticed upon entering the car was the massive dial/infotainment screen at the center of the dashboard. It functions as a radio/navigation system and speedometer, showing the vehicle speed just as a clock hands show the time. Our favorite part of the interior was the Carbon Black/Beige Punch interior and the Harman-Kardon sound system. The small, conveniently placed buttons are easy for any sized hand to master and the circular vents are an interesting addition. These small and minuscule additions really helped add a futuristic feel to the car and show the overall quality of the car.

Since the roof is a little lower than the base model hardtop, some interior room was lost. Mini also decided to take out the back seats. In place of the seats is an average-sized package shelf meant to hold smaller items like a small purse or a camera bag but isn?t very functional for a larger item such as golf clubs or multiple shopping bags. The numbers back up our sentiments: cargo space has been reduced to 9.8 cubic feet, almost half of the standard hardtops cargo space of 24 cubic feet with its rear seats folded.

We also found it surprising that, even with the rear seats gone, the coupe vehicle weighs 11 pounds more than a four-door model. The extra weight is to make the body stiffer than the standard hardtop. Borrowing the convertible versions reinforced rockers, adding in a transverse brace, and reinforcing the cargo floor to aid in performance. It also has firmer dampers, stiffer springs, and some aluminum control arms in the rear that help stiffen the suspension.

The S coupe gets a turbocharged version of the base 1.6-liter I-4, which delivers its power either through a six-speed automatic or manual transmission. Our 2012 Mini Cooper S Coupe was equipped, to our disappointment, with the automatic, but it produced a beefy 181 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. The top-tier choice of the coupes is the John Cooper Works model, which produces 208 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque and features an Overboost function that delivers up to 207 lb-ft f torque. It costs roughly an extra $5,000 but features a 6.1-second zero-to-60-mph time and a top speed of 149 mph. The two share the same suspension tuning, so steering and handling should be similar.

When the Coupe S was in Sport mode, we noticed the increased responsiveness of the throttle sportier tuning of the ride. Its handling was like a dream, offering a firm grip on the road and easily tackling corners like a rally car. The short wheelbase renders a smaller turning radius, making U-turns as quick as a New York minute.

The 2012 Mini Cooper S Coupe gets a respectable 26 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. The base model starts at $24,600.

By Tabitha Baez

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