MINI Cooper S

MINI Cooper S

Engine: 1,998cc, four-cylinder, turbocharged

Power: 189bhp and 206lb.ft. of torque

Performance: 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds and 146mph

Economy: 49.6 mpg (combined)

CO2 emissions: 133g/km

Price: £18,650

BMW struck gold when it reinvented the Mini back in 2001 but there was always a sense that the 2006 second generation car did not have quite the same resolve to its cute-retro styling.

When I first laid my eyes on this year’s third generation of the BMW Mini my fears that the styling slide had taken hold still further seemed to have been realised.

I have to admit an interest, as an owner of a gen-two BMW Mini, but take a step back and it’s hard to argue that the elongated nose and oversized rear light clusters have added much to the retro hatchback’s charm.

There are neat details, though. The cabin’s glass house and roof is now tapered to its rear end, its roofline falling to achieve a more aerodynamic silhouette.

LEDs on the Cooper S tested here form loops of daytime running lights that emphasise the round headlights, but also see to dip and main beam functions.

At the rear, a new bumper arrangement sees the trim skirt over familiar twin-exhausts.

Where other new Mini models now boast low-emitting three-cylinder turbocharged engines the Cooper S sticks with its trusted 189bhp 1.6-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged unit.

With a wide spread of torque peaking at 206lb.ft. making a 6.8 second sprint to 62mph and 146mph top speed possible alongside very nearly achievable 49.6mpg claimed economy and 133g/km CO2 emissions, it’s something of a star.

Making the new car’s power all the more palatable is the introduction of a clever rev-matching system for the six-speed manual gearbox.

Spookily accurate blips of throttle now greet downshifts, doing away with the need to master the technique of heel-toeing.

Mini Driving Mode, meanwhile, now offers the option of Sport, default MID and Green settings by adapting the throttle map, steering response and the suspension.

Green mode also decouples the gearbox while coasting to save fuel, adding to the eco-friendly regenerative braking and stop/start functions already in place.

Technology abounds in the new Mini’s cabin too.

An 8.8 inch colour display replaced what was once a plate-sized central speedometer at the centre of the dash in my test car, surrounded by LEDs which changed colour and shape in correspondence to functions selected via a BMW iDrive-style toggle controller.

Overall the Mini’s interior is a cool and truly premium-feeling place to be, the new car raising the bar for the hatchback segment, boasting keyless starting — a toggle switch fires-up the motor — a head-up speed and sat-nav display and an array of new gizmos and driver aids.

Among the options are camera-guided cruise control — maintaining a set distance from the car in front — robotised parking, pedestrian detection and smartphone connectivity which will bring everything from internet radio to Facebook into the cabin.

While not immediately apparent from the outside, the new Mini is 98mm longer, 44mm wider and 7mm taller than the outgoing car, meaning more space and a 30 per cent larger boot, albeit still only 211 litres.

I can vouch for the improved accommodation, but found it impossible to get my child’s Recaro car seat into the rear quarters as I regularly do in my partner’s Mini. I eventually resorted to posting it inside via the boot.

Out on the road the Mini has maintained much of its livewire b-road demeanour while adding a dose of refinement and composure.

In short, the new Mini feels more supple and comfortable but still boasts fairly formidable cornering traction.

A wider track (42mm front/34mm rear) and longer wheelbase (28mm) have added a little more progression, and improved stability, but it is still a livewire.

With Sport mode engaged and the interior LEDs glowing red, it’s rorty, fun and capable of carrying big speed through corners. The limits of grip perhaps aren’t as transparent as they once were but rarely will you get close to them.

This is a premium hatchback in every sense of the word and there simply isn’t another car in its class that mixes such quality, design curiosity and fun.

An impressive step forward for Mini, even the new £18,650 Cooper S looks like a bargain, managing to sing the same tune as its predecessors just a little sweeter than before.