2020 Mini Convertible Reviews

Mini’s hard-charging John Cooper Works GP has been seen lapping the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit this week, albeit with a camouflage livery, giving racing fans a first glimpse at the new-generation hot hatch.

The first all-electric Mini Cooper S E has been spied undisguised ahead of its debut later in 2019. Tipped to use the same drivetrain (albeit front-drive) as the BMW i3s, the Cooper S E is expected to use a 44.2kWh 120 Ah battery pack which feeds an electric motor rated at 135kW of power and 270Nm of torque. This places it not far off the outputs of the petrol 2.0-litre turbo petrol Cooper S. We expect a similar range to the i3s of around 280km from a charge. Visually, there aren’t many clues to differentiate the Cooper S E from regular Cooper S models - the mirrors are a slightly different shape, the wheels are different, but the dead giveaway is the lime green grille treatment and the green ‘E’ logo that also features on the sides and rear. Otherwise, all the classic Mini cues are there - the circular lights, central bonnet scoop (albeit, fake) and LED Union Jack tailights all feature. Mini Australia is yet to confirm the Cooper S E for Australia, but considering the recent arrival of the Countryman PHEV and other electric BMW Group products, a local introduction could happen as soon as 2020. 

Mini has revealed its updated John Cooper Works (JCW) Clubman and Countryman, which have received a significant lift to performance thanks to a new engine borrowed from the mechanically related BMW X2 M35i.

Mini has added a new special edition model to its range that celebrates 60 years of the brand - the inventively-named Mini 60 Years Edition.

The Mini Countryman is an interesting beast, isn’t it? It’s a Mini, but not mini at all. In fact, it’s a five-seater SUV, for those who love the unique styling of a MIni but want more space to fit the family.It still looks like a Mini, just an oversized one, and is in competition with cars like the Mercedes GLA, Audi Q3 and BMW X1.I was driving the Mini Countryman Cooper S, which is in the middle of the range and retails for $48,900 before on road costs.How does it work with a real family? I drove it with my gang of four over seven days to find out.

Mini has revealed an updated version of its five-seat Clubman wagon with a range of exterior and interior design changes, additional standard features and new digital connectivity tech.A fresh front-end design is centred on a new grille with optional LED headlights (featuring a high-beam matrix function) and new LED fog lights either side.Additional body colours include ‘Piano Black’, tail-lights are LED (Union Jack design optional) and updated alloy wheel designs in 16- through to 19-inch diameter are offered.A sports suspension lowers the car by 10mm, a fully adaptive suspension is optionally available alongside the sports set-up, extra leather trims and interior elements have been incorporated, the ‘Mini Connected’ system has new functions added and the ‘Original Mini Accessories’ range has been extended.As well as Piano Black, ‘Indian Summer Red metallic’, ‘British Racing Green metallic’ and ‘Mini Yours Enigmatic Black metallic’ have been added to the exterior colour palette.A range of available interior treatments includes illumination of the door bezels, cockpit trim and centre console elements.Although Australian pricing and spec is yet to be finalised, Mini has launched the new Clubman globally in eight model variants powered by a range of three- and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, with a choice of six-speed manual gearbox or seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission.The eight model (global) Clubman range starts with the Mini One, stepping through the Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, One D, One SD and SD All4.BMW Australia says the new model is scheduled to arrive in the fourth quarter of this year, with the local line-up likely to mirror the outgaing range, "Cooper and Cooper S initially, with the new JCW arriving after that, likely early into the new year."That means no diesels, with current model pricing a guide prior to the newcomer's arrival - $37,900 for the 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol Cooper, $45,900 for the Cooper S, through to $56,900 for the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol JCW All4. 

Mini is celebrating its 60th birthday with a special edition named after the UK's famous Millbrook proving ground. As the name would suggest, it's sharpened to a fine point..

Mini has launched a plug-in hybrid version of its Countryman SUV into local showrooms, priced from $57,200 plus on-road costs.The Countryman plug-in hybrid uses a 100kW/220Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. This is combined with an electric motor making 65kW of power and 165Nm of torque - the latter drives the rear wheels, giving the Countryman plug-in hybrid all-wheel drive capability. Combined, the plug-in hybrid produces 165kW/385Nm, which results in a 6.9 second 0-100km/h sprint time - just 0.4 seconds behind the performance-focused Countryman John Cooper Works. Using a 7.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the Countryman plug-in hybrid can be charged in three hours, 15 minutes using a regular household socket, or in two hours, 15 minutes using a Mini 'Wallbox'.Mini will sell the Wallbox to owners who can then install it at their house or workplace (or both) for faster charging.In addition to its claimed 40km all-electric driving range, Mini claims the Countryman plug-in hybrid uses 2.1L/100km of fuel, and CO2 emissions are claimed at 49g/km. Priced $3,300 above the Cooper SD - but $2,200 below the John Cooper Works - the plug-in hybrid sits at the upper end of the Countryman range. To help maximise efficiency, the Countryman plug-in hybrid is equipped with ‘eDrive’, which allows the driver to select different driving modes at speed. 'Auto' mode allows the electric motor to drive the car at up to 80km/h (the petrol engine kicking in above that), 'Max' mode allows the electric motor to drive the car at up to 125km/h, and the 'Save Battery' setting regenerates the battery to 90 per cent charged, maintaining that capacity from there. Sitting near the top of the Countryman line-up, the plug-in hybrid is equipped with automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, an 8.8-inch touchscreen multimedia system (with wireless Apple CarPlay and DAB+ digital radio), dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera, an electric tailgate, six airbags, AEB with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality. Mini is yet to announce available options packages for the Countryman plug-in hybrid, though the standard models are available with almost endless personalisation for buyers. 2019 Mini Countryman pricing (plus on-road costs): Cooper: $41,900Cooper D: $45,900Cooper S: $48,900Cooper SD AWD: $53,900Plug-in hybrid AWD: $57,200John Cooper Works AWD: $59,900

Mini Australia has announced it will make a previously-optional safety pack standard across the Cooper hatch, convertible and Countryman ranges.

I’ve never been in a Mini and didn’t know what to expect - besides the fact that I knew it was going to be small. I certainly wasn’t expecting to love the exterior so much, and I sure didn’t know how utterly cool the interior was. The whole week was full of nice surprises.I was in the Mini Cooper five door hatch, in the automatic. It’s the base level Mini and is in a similar category to the Audi A1 and Fiat 500. And sure, it’s not the first thing you think of when you talk family car, but my friend is considering buying one because her family consists of her and her teenage son.So the family thing is relative. And as a second, runaround car, the Mini is hard to beat. But it is pricey for a small car, this one starts at $31,150 with the auto version at $33,650 - and that’s before on-road costs.I put it to the test for a whole week with my family of four.