Mini Cooper S - Conclusion - Mismatch Comparison & Road Test Review

The smooth, predictable H2 is a comfort on urban and suburban roads, on rural roads, and on no roads. The Mini requires more attention and involvement than most mobile-phone-wielding multitaskers are willing to engage. But for us, the Mini is nearly perfect as a city car. Mini has softened damping rates on the 2004 model to address complaints that the 2003, even the non-S with standard 15-inch wheels, was too harsh. The 2003's suspension crashed over the type of bad roads you find in northern cities like Chicago and Detroit. The redamped Cooper S, with the standard 16-inch wheels was still a bit edgy, but much more comfortable overall. Avoid the optional 17-inch wheels in any metropolitan area that has less-than-tabletop-perfect roads.

Our Take: 2004 Mini Cooper S

What's Hot • Silly fun to drive • Perfect for traffic jams • German engineering

What's Not • Off-road capabilities • Back-seat legroom • British manufacture

Don't Miss ...a quick handbrake U-turn in a narrow alley

Bottom Line The car that has made small cars cool again

Neither the H2 nor the Mini got the kind of "wave and a thumbs-up" attention they both did when new, but people do watch for them. Other than the guy in the Santa Cruz sweatshirt, we noticed people turning to look, usually from a midsize sedan at the Mini and from midsize and full-size SUVs for the Hummer. Looking over the hood of the H2, with its fake 'copter bars, you can't help but get the sense that this thing can take you anywhere, on any expedition. And its size, ride comfort, and standard automatic transmission make it a better choice than the Mini for most Americans, even those who thought they'd prefer the Mini. Still, the H2's our second-place pick in this great and small two-way. It's an expressive fashion statement for anybody who regularly reads Outside magazine and harbors fantasies about rock climbing or snowboarding. We think it'll hold up well over the years as it develops a patina of use, like an old Jeep or Land Rover. But there's still a bit too much low-quality content, especially inside, to remind you that a Suburban will do nearly everything the average buyer needs an H2 for, but with more space and a lower price. And the H2's gas mileage is terrible!

Our fashion pick goes to the Mini Cooper S. It's an irresistible driver's car, with its now-cliche go-kart handling, comfy, nicely bolstered standard cloth seats, and interesting dash details and toggle switches. Two years or so into its North American product run, the Mini still feels like nothing we'd tire of driving. While the H2 represents the climax of the huge SUV phenomenon, the Mini has led a big, new fashion trend, for aspirational small cars, with Scion already on the run and smart on its way to the U.S. The Mini is the kind of car you can buy now and find fresh, fun, and interesting long after the last payment has been made.

Mr. Cooper is in, baby. Way in.