European Hatchbacks - Comparison - Mini Cooper

Built for speed, not comfort

If the C30 is an elegant evening gown, the Mini Cooper S is a low-cut, little black number. And like both types of dresses, they cover all the same bits, though the look and feel couldn't be more different.

Just check out at the dimensions: at 146.2 inches long, the Mini gives up 19.6 inches in overall length to the GTI and over 21 inches to the C30. It's also significantly narrower and shorter than both. No surprise where the inches were subtracted. The Mini's driver and front-passenger accommodations are certainly competitive, offering more headroom than the C30 and more legroom than the GTI; but forget about the rear passengers. Though the back seats are deep with good thigh support, passengers eat their kneecaps on long drives.

But then practicality isn't the point of the Mini Cooper, particularly if you go for the S-version and all the extra kit. Glammed up with racing stripes and 17-inch wheels, our Mini playes Versace to the C30's Valentino and the GTI's van der Roche: loud, proud, and definitely and acquired taste.

By now, we've gotten used to the standard Mini quirks: The massive, multifunction speedo and gated toggle switches are second nature in their second generation, but some of the newer features leave us scratching our heads. Idiosyncrasies like the circular key fob and push-button starter can be explained away as BMW parts sharing, but why must the cover for the optional sunroof let in light and noise when closed?

Quirks aside, the Mini S rewards those who love driving. Sure, it's the slowest of the group, but its 6.4-second 0-50-60 mph time and 15-second quarter mile are impressive given the significant displacement advantages of the other two (1.6-liter versus 2.0 versus 2.5). Ironic, too, that the Mini feels like the quickest of the bunch. Credit Cooper S's tiny, quick-spooling turbocharger. Yup, the S no longer stands for supercharged, which is a welcome change. Says Kiino, "The old supercharges motor was too whiny and crude for my tastes. This new turbo engine doesn't suffer from much lag and revs freely and in a refined manner."

The fusion of the spunky engine with a quick-shifting Getrag six-speed in a chassis that boasts the shortest wheelbase and quickest steering means the Cooper S is easily the most fun for squirting in and out of the canyon. Too bad this combo works against the Mini nearly everywhere else. "It seems the Mini is now biased too much toward the track," notes Harwood, "and suspension beats you up on the freeway." Editor Kiino also found the handling unpredictable, but adds that , "It's the only one here that can turn a run to the market into a rally stage."