Used 2011 MINI Hardtop

The Mini Cooper and Cooper S continue their retro appeal as sporty small cars with premium features and premium pricing. Built by parent company BMW, both of these two-door, four-seat hatchbacks boast sporty handling, distinctive styling and more interior space than might be expected, given their exterior dimensions. The success of the Mini Cooper has allowed the company to expand its lineup and helped Americans accept higher-priced small cars, including the new, similarly Euro-centric Fiat 500. Other competitors include the Volkswagen GTI, Mazda Miata MX-5 and Audi A3.

It’s hard to drive the 2011 Mini Cooper without smiling. The responsive steering, go-kart handling and natural-feeling clutch and gearshift make the car a joy to drive. In base Cooper trim, acceleration is adequate, but it needs a downshift to maintain highway speeds on hills. The turbocharged engine in the Cooper S provides plenty of willing power with little if any detectable turbo lag. Peak torque is available across a wide rev range, giving the car ready power from a stop and plenty in reserve for quick and worry-free passing. The standard Sport button is a neat feature that quickens throttle response, firms up the steering and holds gears longer in Minis equipped with the automatic transmission. The result is a car that is docile during daily drives – firm ride notwithstanding – but ready to tackle a canyon road at the push of a button.

The 2011 Mini Cooper’s retro looks extend to the interior, which is highlighted by a large center-mounted speedometer. The look is stylish, with toggle-type switches, contrasting colors, backlit armrests in the doors and handsomely sewn seats. However, the dashboard layout may confuse owners coming from more traditional cars, as the knobs and switches can be hard to access and many of them look basically the same. The Mini Cooper uses its limited space well. Front-seat passengers have plenty of head and legroom, but rear passengers may find legroom and shoulder room more than just a little constricted. Like the exterior, the interior can be personalized, with a range of seat upholsteries, dash trim colors and trim accents in metal, wood or carbon fiber.

The reborn Mini Cooper received a second-generation makeover for the 2007 model year and it gets a facelift this year. Traditional Mini design cues are still there – most notable among them the contrasting colors for the roof and side mirrors, the round headlights and the black wheel flares. Changes for 2011 include a revised front fascia with a larger lower grille and larger fog lights, new taillights, and reverse lamps with optional rear fog lights. Cooper S models also get chrome-ringed functional brake ducts in the front grille. In addition to a wide range of exterior colors, buyers can opt for black, white or body-color roof paint, as well as numerous hood and roof graphics. Also offered are various wheel designs, aero kits and a chrome package.

Sport Button
The Sport Button changes the Mini Cooper’s personality. Keep the Sport mode off during daily commutes and the steering and throttle reactions are relaxed, making for a less fatiguing drive. Enter Sport mode and the Mini transforms into a fun and focused driving machine with sharper reactions.

Panoramic Sunroof
The optional dual-pane sunroof provides an outside view for both the front and rear passengers, adding a sense of spaciousness. With the front section in the vent position, the rear section can tilt up so rear-seat occupants can enjoy the breeze. Alternately, the front portion slides rearward like a traditional sunroof.

Standard equipment on the 2011 Mini Cooper includes a six-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, push-button starting, six-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo with MP3 capability, tilt/telescoping steering wheel and power windows/mirrors. Newly standard for 2011 are Sirius Satellite Radio and HD Radio. Among the standard safety features are Dynamic Stability Control, anti-lock brakes (ABS), tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and six airbags.

The Mini Cooper and Cooper S offer a dizzying array of options. Most are available as stand-alone features, but Mini combines many of the more popular items into packages. The Convenience Package comes with a universal garage remote, Bluetooth connectivity, rain-sensing wipers, iPod adapter with USB port, auto-dimming rearview mirror and automatic headlights. The Premium Package includes a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, 480-watt harman/kardon audio and automatic climate control. Sport and Cold Weather Packages are available as well. Mini also offers a wide range of dealer-installed accessories for customers to personalize their cars. For enthusiasts, Mini has the John Cooper Works performance package, which significantly boosts horsepower, suspension tuning and braking capability.

All 2011 Mini Coopers are powered by 1.6-liter in-line four-cylinder engine, while the S model’s is turbocharged. Both get a slight bump in power for 2011, as well as improved fuel economy. Though not overloaded with power, the base model tips the scales gingerly, so its 121 horsepower is acceptable for everyday driving. The Cooper S engine really ratchets up the fun, with maximum torque of 177 pound-feet available from 1600 to 5000 rpm and an “overboost” mode that increases torque to 192 pound-feet for a few seconds to aid acceleration. A smooth-shifting six-speed manual transmission is standard and a six-speed automatic is optional. Both allow either engine to operate in its ideal rpm range to maximize performance and efficiency. The automatic-transmission model has significantly better EPA fuel economy for 2011, with gains of three mpg city and highway for the base engine and one mpg city and highway for the turbocharged engine.

1.6-liter in-line 4
121 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
114 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 29/37 (manual), 28/36 (automatic)

1.6-liter in-line 4 turbocharged
181 horsepower @ 5500 rpm
177 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1600-5000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/35 (manual), 26/34 (automatic)