Space is more generous in the front than it is in the rear
Darren Moss darren.moss@haymarket.com
WE DOUBT MOST car buyers have heard of Reginald Kenneth Dwight, but they will have listened to the music of Elton John. In short, a name change can help you stand out, and that’s exactly the thinking with this new Mini Cooper.
You see, when BMW reinvented the Mini hatchback in 2001, there was only one model. Today, though, there are multiple Minis to choose from, ranging from hatchbacks to SUVs, so the brand has decided a new identity is needed; where previously ‘Cooper’ denoted a mere trim level, now it represents the hatchback range as a whole.
To go with its new title, this latest Mini gets a thoroughly modern look.The front bumper is simpler than before and the plastic wheel arch cladding that has long been a Mini staple has been ditched. Meanwhile, at the rear, triangular LED lights sit either side of a black trim strip that bears the ‘Cooper’ name spelt out in bold type.