2015 Mini Cooper S Overwrought or Just Cheeky

Is the 2015 Mini Cooper S overwrought or just cheeky? Is it a trend-setter or a fashion victim? And does it still continue to build on the heritage of the classic Mini?

Those are tough questions, we know. But when driving the Cooper S—the new-generation Cooper S that made its debut this past year—for the first time a few weeks ago, we couldn’t help but ask them to ourselves. MINI, the BMW sub-brand, making cars in England, has been around for 12 years, and this is the third generation of a vehicle that started as a sort of design homage to the classic 1960s (and later) Mini—and especially the more 'optimized' Cooper.

In some ways, we'd say the Cooper S embodies what a modern hot hatch should be; yet in others it’s confoundingly aloof, despite all the heavy-handed cues.

First off, the packaging: At just 151 inches long, the MINI Hardtop is definitely still mini by American standards. Sure, it’s grown closer to other subcompact hatchbacks like the Ford Fiesta or Honda Fit—and significantly larger than the modern Fiat 500, another retro-styled minicar that’s sold in the U.S. But it’s worth making a reality check that the new model is two and a half feet longer, a foot wider, and two inches taller, than the classic Mini.

Before I get into some of the more controversial points, there’s one thing we can all agree about, and it’s that the new Cooper models look pretty great on the outside. They’re essentially the same interpretation on classic-Mini-inspired proportions that MINI Coopers have had ever since BMW created the brand in 2002, but it seems that the nose edges just a bit longer with each generation (are there lies being told?). What we really do like is how there’s a little more contrast and sharpness brought about by the details. Read More