2026 Mini Cooper JCW review

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Whether you’re familiar or not, two terms are synonymous with Mini: the Cooper hatchback and John Cooper Works.

Breaking the line Let’s start with the Cooper, mini’ smallest model and most iconic nameplate of all time. In its fourth generation since German automaker BMW acquired Britain’s iconic Mini brand in 2000, the Cooper has remained true to its compact, three-door hatchback roots even if it is much larger these days and the lineup has been expanded to five- door and convertible options.

There’s John Cooper Works (JCW), Mini’ s in-house performance division, Then there’re the one. Since BMW acquired it in 2008, JCW has been behind hot Mini models since the 2002 release of Formula 1 race car designer John Cooper’s first-ever model and name for his father.

The Cooper JCW has technically existed since 2003, but the Cooper CCW Tuning Kit was first available for the first-gen R53-series Cooper S hatch. A number of mechanical improvements led to a major power upgrade on the standard supercharged hatch, and JCW followed with re-upgrading it up with another kit in 2004 (more upgrades and more power again) as well as several other modifications.

Sadly, it was not until 2005 that the first JCW kits were available to order from BMW’s Mini factory in the UK. Those who owned Cooper S were forced back to a Mini dealership and retrofitted them as an official option, which makes original CoCWs very rare and valuable when all of their original identification documents are still in place.

There’s even an online register to track all of the Cooper JCWs that BMW didn’t document.

The fourth-gen Cooper broke cover and smashed fast-forward to 2024 when . Originally launched with petrol and electric variants, it was co-developed by BMW and China’s GWM through a joint venture that now also produces its own version of the phrase which is currently under production.

As of 2025, Mini introduced full-fat JCW cars into the Cooper family – an electric hot hatch, two-door convertible variants and three- door hatch variant (one is the 2026 Mini Cooper JW Favoured on test here).

The JCW models are the most sharpest Coopers on sale today with unique suspension, brakes, seats and higher-output powertrains; Mini fans will no doubt see value in the fact that they’re still built in UK.

In general, however, the Cooper is proving popular in Australia despite its niche status. In 2025, it was by far Australia’s best-selling premium light hatch (outperforming the likes of the Hyundai i20 N, Volkswagen Polo, and Audi A1), and even nipped at the heels of the mainstream Toyota Yaris.

Would you recommend a Cooper JCW in the low-volume Mini range and, more importantly, does it still be true to the hot Coopers of old?

How much does the Mini Cooper cost?

We are one of 23 Mini Cooper variants tested in our JCW Favoured tester. While $60,990 is not cheap on-road costs, it’s just one of a handful of variants in the line for over $60,000.

| Model | Price before on-road costs |
| — | — |
| Cooper C | |
| 2026 Mini Cooper C Core 3D | $41,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper C Core 5D | $43,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper C Classic 3D | $44,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper C Classic 5D | $46,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper C Favoured 3D | $47,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper C Favoured 5D | $49,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper C Classic convertible | $51,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper C Favoured convertible | $54,990 |
| Cooper S | |
| 2026 Mini Cooper S Classic 3D | $49,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper S Classic 5D | $51,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper S Favoured 3D | $52,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper S Favoured 5D | $54,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper S JCW Sport 3D | $54,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper S JCW Sport 5D | $56,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper S Classic convertible | $56,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper S Favoured convertible | $59,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper S JCW Sport convertible | $61,990 |
| Cooper SE | |
| 2026 Mini Cooper SE Favoured 3D | $58,990 |
| Cooper JCW | |
| 2026 Mini Cooper JCW Classic 3D | $57,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper JCW Favoured 3D | $60,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper JCW E Favoured 3D | $63,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper JCW Classic convertible | $64,990 |
| 2026 Mini Cooper JCW Favoured convertible | $67,990 |

Naturally, Mini JCW rivals are limited to other hot hatches, though they are somewhat of a dying breed.

Almost all the comparison is with the Toyota G (the automatic version) Yaris GTS, especially the most direct one. The three-door hatch is priced at $62,990 before on-roads and carries more power, exclusively all-wheel drive.

Other Asian competitors include the front-drive, five-door Hyundai i30 N automatic for $52,000 before on-roads and, at a stretch, the front-drive, manual-only Honda Civic Type R, which is currently off-sale but is typically priced at roughly $80,000 drive-away.

Similarly expensive is the BMW M135 xDrive, an all-wheel drive, five-door German hatch that costs $84,700 before on-roads. At the lower end of the scale is the Hyundai i20 N priced at $38,500 before on-roads, and the Volkswagen Polo GTI, at $41,990 before on-roads.

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What is the Mini Cooper like on the inside?

While Mini has a unique interior flavour that may not be to everyone’s taste, it still retains some old-school charm from Coopers of the past.

But it’s hard to get the big circular infotainment display in the centre of this dash, which mirrors the circle panels of the first two BMW-built Cooper generations. In those generations where the majority of this space was used for the vehicle’s analogue rev counter, the hatches offer ‘a full digital screen that is built on the concept introduced with the previous-gen car’.

It is sadly still somewhat confusing and will take some time for people unfamiliar with the brand to learn how to use . Menus are a menu, and it seems like something new is appearing in every direction you swipe at the same time. That’s before you even touch the typically long BMW settings menu.

There isn’t really another car on the market (other than the Mini stable) that’s this sweet spot, said . But the sprightly graphics, smooth map animations and especially Mini’s animated assistant, ‘Spike’ the dog should be plenty to draw you in – we still hate that climate controls are entirely digital; system is generally unintuitive.

Although wireless Apple CarPlay (and Android Auto) are still standard, their integration is clunky because they only fit in a rectangular shape and can’t fill the circular space. This is an odd limiting feature that will make you notice when you turn on the reversing camera and it’s exactly what you see.

The biggest drawcard of this screen, however, is the level of personalisation on offer. The seven ‘Experiences’, which are installed on all Coopers and Mini’s seven ‘Expérience of the screen’ with different colours, styles, fonts or widgets.

This is where you can go from a minimalist style with pared-back graphics, to an older look with classic-style gauges and warm colours, the straight–to-the point ‘GoKart’ mode which displays power scale (large tacho) and all sorts of other stylised performance figures – not to mention various mechanical tweaks we’ll later touch on.

Those are very fun, and they give the Cooper a real character. The same type of set of switchgear below the screen is backing it up, which includes a volume dial and three large switches (one dedicated to flicking between Experiences) that are used for backing it down.

The middle is a key-like switch you twist to start or stop the engine, followed by another up/down switch that acts as the gear selector. Trying to think it’s going to take newcomers a second to fathom it all out, but we really like these to play with.

Also, it’s worth noting that Mini hasn’t replaced the circular speedo in front of the steering wheel on older-generation Coopers with a clear, plastic head-up display (HUD) panel. Possibly less than the sleekest of all these things, is it’s probably too upright for a normal HUD so that panel– but still works.

There’s a good mix of materials, where you’ll find an interesting . The dash and doors are made of a JCW-specific red-and-black knit-like material, the steering wheel is very stout in true BMW style; there’s plenty of copper-coloured accents scattered around.

It’s a nice steering wheel to hold with its perforated leather finish, and we like the circle-themed paddle shifters and the quirky strip of fabric pretending as if it was merely. It looks a little out of the blue on BMW’s buttons and stalks, but we can appreciate that everything is legible and clean – there’s no piano-black plastic anywhere, either.

Their JCW-specific seats are paired with a synthetic leather-and-fabric mix, complete in dozens of sportsy style components and many other elements of the seats. They’re very firm, with strong bolstering, but at least there’s powered adjustment and heating (though no ventilation) of .

Although it feels very ‘flat-airy’ in the cabin, storage options are somewhat limited and slightly restricted. One of the passenger-side glovebox and slim door bins is a fan, two cupholders are in the centre console while Mini has its own lidded storage box.

Alternatively, you can wirelessly charge your phone by sliding it under the elastic strap below the central screen or plug it in using the USB-C ports and 12V outlet under fixed central armrest.

That’s what is expected in a compact three-door hot hatch, but the rear seats aren’t exactly working. The front seats slide and fold to make it easier, but there are only two seats back here and they’re fairly flat and firm – you still get child seat anchors (though the Anchor is not always on top of your chair), though.

In the centre, a cupholder is generously mounted with one cup Holder in an effort to provide for his . GR Yaris is similar to legroom and headroom, but the seats of the Toyota’s seats are slightly more cushy – perhaps a Toyota Morizo-esque rear-seat delete would be retaliation for pursuing fewer hardcore JCW.

The boot is similarly cramped, although its 210 litres of quoted capacity is larger than the quoted 174L of the GR Yaris. In the Cooper, although floor space seems less generous than in the original – but vertical space is bigger thanks to its boxier body, it appears larger.

It’s a small car, but it is expensive to say that there’s no power tailgate or spare wheel. But the opening is generous and you’ll fit in a couple of small suitcases, perhaps more if you like Tetris game.

Ultimately, the current Mini Cooper has an interior that’s funny but is true to the DNA of the nameplate and there are just enough JCW enhancements to make you interested before you drive.

| Dimensions | Mini Cooper JCW Favoured |
| — | — |
| Length | 3876mm |
| Width | 1744mm |
| Height | 1452mm |
| Wheelbase | 2495mm |
| Cargo capacity | 210L (rear seats up) 725L (rear seats folded) |

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What’s under the bonnet?

The power of all Cooper JCW models is a 2. 0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine 170kW of power and 380Nm of torque. During the drive, Drive is delivered to the front wheels by seven speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) which sends drive to DCT.

| Specifications | Mini Cooper JCW Favoured |
| — | — |
| Engine | 2.0L 4cyl turbo-petrol |
| Power | 170kW |
| Torque | 380Nm |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch auto |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Kerb weight | 1330kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 6.1 seconds |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 6.8L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | 6.9L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 44L |
| Fuel requirement | 98-octane premium unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 155g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 6 |

Compared to the most powerful powertrains in the Cooper range, JCW variants are all vehicles with front-wheel drive and every version of combustion-powered versions have seven-speed DCT.

Below is a brief breakdown of each variant/powertrain combo, though it is somewhat confusing:

Mini Cooper C (Core, Classic, Favoured):

• Cooper C 3-door, 5-door: 1.5L 3cyl turbo-petrol (115kW/230Nm)
• Cooper C convertible: 2.0L 4cyl turbo-petrol (120kW/250Nm)

Mini Cooper S (Classic, Favoured, JCW Sport):

• Cooper S 3-door, 5-door, convertible: 2.0L 4cyl turbo-petrol (150kW/300Nm)

Mini Cooper JCW (Classic, Favoured):

• Cooper JCW 3-door, convertible: 2.0L 4cyl turbo-petrol (170kW/380Nm)

Mini Cooper SE, JCW E (Favoured):

• Cooper SE 3-door: Single-motor electric (160kW/330Nm), 50kWh li-ion battery
• Cooper JCW E 3-door: Single-motor electric (190kW/350Nm), 50kWh li-ion battery

A mix of highway, suburban and country driving (although the latter was at higher speeds on twisty roads) – we had our week with the petrol-powered Cooper JCW Favoured.

Nevertheless, we recorded fuel economy was almost the same as Mini’s claim (which is already fairly frugal for a performance car). For example, in the context of this automatic GR Yaris combined fuel consumption is 9 per cent for each. A turbo three-pot of 1L/100km produces a peppier 221kW and 400Nm, but its generates ‘Peppie 3MkW.

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How does the Mini Cooper drive?

While Mini has long spruced the ‘go-kart’ angle in its marketing spiel for the Cooper, it may seem slightly off on top of the tongue but the JCW is an excellent example of why you shouldn’t knock things before you try them.

The experience begins with a twist of the key-like switch on the centre console, and then the JCW is born to life with an apparently gruff four-cylinder idle. While the unique centre-exit exhaust is far from slurp, you’ll quickly notice that some of the noise inside are synthesized. That’s always a little disappointing in if you have gotten.

Yet if there is any doubt about the effect of this particular Mini’s JCW badge on its own Mini, or that interior, it’ll be cast aside quickly. A suspension is very stiff for one, not unexpectedly so – it’s an ultra-sharp hot hatch and the paper-thin tyres also help to give you more hard ride than you get in the GR ‘Yarises.

But while the Toyota was designed to handle rough off-road terrain and loose surfaces, this Mini shines in exactly the opposite conditions – even though it is not always seen as an ideal example of how hard on road roads. The fitting is that the original 1960s Mini was dubbed with its stripes on the tight, twisty tarmac of the Monte Carlo Rally.

If you throw the modern JCW in a twist, and its kart-like personality immediately shines through it. This is a very fast, small body and short wheelbase for’very lively but stable hatches that only feel more comfortable as the roads get twistier.

Point the chunky steering wheel into a bend and the car follows in an apparent manner, while s say it is “obediently inclined” to turn around. It’s particularly sharp on changes of direction, and the way the rear-end dances about while the front bites into the road is addictingly fun – exactly how a front-drive hot hatch should be.

A good JCW in ‘Go-Kart’ Experience mode, where everything is dialled up the steering gets heavier, the suspension becomes firmer; the fake engine noise increases loud enough (the transmission prioritises lower gears) and the real engine sounds are loud. And it’s the whole nine yards of .

It just feels right to balance everything, and you could spend all day on twisty roads without sickening of it. The JCW’s bespoke brakes are an excellent job of keeping the same when you’re constantly throwing out the anchor, we can also thank for their work. This car’s impressive chassis skills will be a real test for average drivers, who can never really take advantage of this vehicle.

But besides the faux sound that is pumped through the speakers, nothing about it is fake and as for the engine. As the engine spl quickly and smoothly through its rev range, plant your foot on the loud pedal (of course) and the car shoots off as you put your feet on it.’ The vehicle is shot down in a straight line with an angle of speed; this means that when you do so at any given point?

If you are a front-drive car, and when you accelerate hard out of sway, some finesse on the throttle goes long way so that it’s not too much torque. It’s by no means unmanageable, as 170kW is hardly monstrous power and the power delivery and throttle mapping are well-calibrated and predictable.

For a car of this size and purpose, its performance capability feels perfectly appropriate for its size-and function. Certainly, the power enough to attract you but not outrageously so that it’s hard to control – in the race for JCW is slower than an GR Yaris (a sure-time sprinter), but still holds up for its dynamically high.

The Yaris are brilliant cars, but there is no really any modern car that captures the vibe and character of their predecessors like this Mini Cooper.

And that’s an ergonomic point of view, the JCW also impresses on that note as well. The cars are remarkably similar to behind the wheel in a direct comparison with ‘first-gen BMW Cooper JCW’ from the early 2000s, as far as proportions of the A-pillars and windscreen (and even the dashboard haven’t changed at all) were concerned.

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That makes sense given the new car’s wheelbase is practically the same as it was 25 years ago, while the overall length is only 200mm longer. The modern Mini hatches are similar to the Mazda MX-5 roadster in that sense, which has famously stayed the same size since its inception.

Obviously, the new Cooper is worlds away from the old British Mini in terms of size, technology and sophistication, but the trade-off for its trademark razor-sharp sportiness is compromised everyday driving.

A JCW’s thin tyres and stiff suspension (even with adaptive damping that softens the ride slightly outside of Go-Kart mode) is not compliance on bumpy regional roads and a louder noise, making it tiresome when you’re spending so much time in the sticks.

And that said, we were surprised by its livingability when commuting daily. The seats are supportive, the firm suspension won’t be a problem if you’re used to performance cars and its direct steering and compact dimensions make it rip through the city and park in tight spots (although non-JCW variants are even better for urban world).

Despite hard driving and day-to-day use, the JCW’s solid engine performance is supported by a good dual-clutch automatic transmission that works well with its power. While crawling in traffic or going from traffic light to traffic, it doesn’t suffer typical dual-clutch struggles and does not confuse with sudden throttle inputs.

A second nice-to-have feature is the steering wheel paddle shifters, which has a manual mode that uses BMW’s ‘Boost–mode’ mode. This is 10 seconds of maximum power to accelerate fast or make an overtake after holding the downshift paddle and then delivering it’s speed up quickly or making an out-of-clock jump.

But the Cooper is also a BMW product, so being an automobile manufacturer benefits from high-tech safety tech. No of its safety systems will fuck you as you drive along, and the adaptive cruise control with lane-centring function is reliably reliable to match traffic around you and maintain speed in tight-ish highway bends.

Large windows, combined with the extensive suite of safety equipment to make the Cooper a breeze to manoeuvre and park, give excellent outward visibility as it ispping it all off.

To see how the Mini Cooper stacks up against its rivals, use our
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What do you get?

The mini cooper has four trim levels – Core, Classic and Favoured as well as JCW Sport. A C, S and SE designations are a classification of different powertrains and/or states of tune that is represented by the names C (and/OR) and JCW.

2026 Mini Cooper Core equipment highlights:

• Alloy wheels:

• 17-inch ‘U-spoke’ – grey
• 17-inch ‘Parallel Spoke’ – two-tone

• Tyre repair kit
• Automatic LED headlights with cornering function
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Power-adjustable, auto-dimming, heated side mirrors
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Roof rails (5-door only)
• Velour floor mats
• Leather-wrapped sport steering wheel
• Heated steering wheel
• Sport seats
• Synthetic leather and cloth upholstery (2 colours):

• Grey/Blue cloth
• Black/Blue cloth

• Head-up display
• 240mm circular touchscreen infotainment system
• Mini Connected Services
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• 6-speaker sound system
• Wireless phone charger
• 2 x USB-C ports
• Classic Trim design elements with piano black highlights
• Classic Trim interior styling
• Dual-zone climate control
• 7 ‘Mini Experience’ modes:

• Core
• Green
• Go-Kart
• Personal
• Timeless
• Vivid
• Balance

• Keyless entry

Cooper S Favoured

Cooper Classic adds:

• 18-inch ‘Slide Spoke’ two-tone alloy wheel option
• Panoramic glass roof (3-door and 5-door only)
• Power soft-top roof with ‘sunroof’ function (convertible only)
• Wind deflector (convertible only)
• Heated front seats
• Augmented reality navigation
• Interior camera

Cooper JCW Classic adds (over Classic):

• Alloy wheels:

• 17-inch ‘Sprint Spoke’ – black
• 18-inch ‘Lap Spoke’ – two-tone

• John Cooper Works sport brakes
• Adaptive damping
• Optional chili red roof and mirrors
• Sport stripes:

• Jet Black
• Chili Red

• John Cooper Works exterior styling
• John Cooper Works interior styling in black/red
• John Cooper Works steering wheel
• John Cooper Works seats
• John Cooper Works black synthetic leather upholstery
• Anthracite headliner
• Paddle shifters

Cooper Favoured adds:

• Additional alloy wheel options (excl. SE):

• 17-inch ‘U-Spoke’ – Vibrant Silver
• 18-inch ‘Night Flash Spoke’ – two-tone

• Union Jack soft-top roof option (convertible only)
• Sun protection glazing
• Synthetic leather upholstery (2 colours):

• Beige
• Nightshade Blue

• Active driver seat functions
• Powered front seat adjustment with memory
• Anthracite headliner
• 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
• Favoured Trim design elements with Vibrant Silver highlights
• Favoured Trim interior styling

Cooper JCW Favoured

Cooper JCW Favoured adds (over Favoured):

• Alloy wheels:

• 17-inch ‘Sprint Spoke’ – black
• 18-inch ‘Lap Spoke’ – two-tone

• Optional performance tyres
• John Cooper Works sport brakes
• Adaptive damping
• Optional chili red roof and mirrors
• Sport stripes

• Jet Black
• Chili Red

• John Cooper Works exterior styling
• John Cooper Works interior styling in black/red
• John Cooper Works steering wheel
• John Cooper Works black synthetic leather upholstery
• Paddle shifters

Cooper JCW E Favoured adds (over JCW Favoured):

• 18-inch ‘Mastery Spoke’ alloy wheels with sport tyres
• Passive damping
• 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system

Cooper JCW Sport adds (over non-JCW Favoured):

• Alloy wheels:

• 17-inch ‘Sprint Spoke’ – black
• 18-inch ‘Lap Spoke’ – two-tone

• John Cooper Works sport brakes
• Adaptive damping
• Sport stripes:

• Jet Black
• Chili Red (excl. convertible)

• John Cooper Works exterior and interior styling
• John Cooper Works steering wheel
• John Cooper Works black synthetic leather upholstery
• Paddle shifters

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Is the Mini Cooper safe?

The current-generation Mini Cooper has not been crash-tested by ANCAP and is therefore unrated.

Standard safety equipment highlights:

• 9 airbags, incl:

• Front
• Side
• Head
• Front-centre

• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Cruise control
• Driver attention monitor
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Intelligent emergency call
• Lane-keep assist
• Parking assistant
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Reversing camera
• Safe exit assist
• Speed limiter
• Tyre pressure monitoring

Cooper Classic adds:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic speed limit assistant
• Lane-centring
• Parking Assistant Plus
• Surround-view monitor

To see how the Mini Cooper stacks up against its rivals, use our
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How much does the Mini Cooper cost to run?

The range is supported by Mini Australia with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. While the brand does not define service intervals, it is based on its parent company BMW in following a ‘Condition Based Service’ schedule.

| Servicing and Warranty | Mini Cooper JCW |
| — | — |
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 3 years |
| Service intervals | Condition-based |
| Capped-price servicing | 5-year, 80,000km prepaid plan |
| Total capped-price service cost | $2425 |

In its cars, Mini says it keeps track of their own health through data collected from on-board sensors and alert owners (and your local Mini workshop) when they’re ready for a service. It also cites service intervals will depend on the owner’s driving style and the vehicle’.

In any case, Mini Australia offers a five-year prepaid service plan across its lineup for $2425.

The GR Yaris auto is serviced every six months or 10,000km, with the first six services (three years) at $335 each for $2010 as opposed to rivals.

A. Hyundai i30 N will cost $1975 over five years, and a Honda Civic Type R would cost $995 over the same period as it is priced at an estimated $199 for each of its first five services.

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childcareman.xyz’s Take on the Mini Cooper JCW Favoured

A brand that clearly understands what a JCW should be and knows how to execute it properly, called the Cooper JW is an absolute blast.

As the JCW is one of the last bastions of performance-focused, front-drive compact hatches from Europe has been dragged down with the death of cars such as the Ford Fiesta ST and Renault Clio RS. Only the VW Polo GTI is a real example of the breed, but no Euro brand has really stuck to the three-door hatch formula in the way Mini has.

A good example of this is the Cooper JCW, and its . With its small body, short wheelbase and well-tuned suspension, it is a fun but stable car to drive at all speeds; striking the perfect cornering balance with lively rear end pivoting and confidence-inspiring front-end grip – there’s no deadly front driver understeer here.

A part of that is because it’s a power output which suits this app perfectly. I don’t think it feels like Mini has tried to make a monster here. In its place, it has interpreted the short and produced a good-sized car that is just enough power to keep you entertained.

And that’s backed by a good transmission and strong brakes, all of which combine to make for – well-rounded driving package. That’s a bad thing, however The modern Mini marque doesn’t have familiar, easy-to–learn interiors for familiar and simple- to-leARNing interior.

The Cooper’s cabin is the most unusual of any other car’. It may be a very good introduction to the modern Minis, but it’s certainly an acquired taste.

This is a Mini, but the price seems to be an obvious demonstration of ‘BMW tax’. You can buy the same price for a similar size but larger-sized GR Yaris, which is more powerful and all-wheel drive. It’s a much more flashy interior of the Toyota, but you might say that makes it less intimidating than the Cooper.

Compared to the Toyota, at least the Mini is cheaper to service and it’s hard to dispute that this is a well-engineered car with high build quality. That’s all combining to create a small hatch that is refreshingly interesting to drive, as well with unique features. A world of cookie-cutter car designs, it’s refreshing that Mini still caters to those with a hankering for something slightly left-field in the context of Cookie-Cutter cars.

Considering the fact that we have been given an idea of how good Cooper JCW would be with a manual gearbox as it was in the original JWs but, on the whole, the hard-core British hot hatch formula here doesn’t make us want – and so does this mean.

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