From the moment you open the light yet solid front door, it’s obvious that the Mini is a different type of small car.

The frameless doors give it a hardtop feel, though it’s a shame the necessary thick B-pillar doesn’t allow for the rear windows to find down for a truly ‘60s American hardtop-style open side experience.

The 5.0-inch black-panel instrumentation redesign does much to reduce the old Mini tweeness inside, with motorcycle-style digitised analogue-look dials and fresh new graphics and functionality (with new ‘favourites’ shortcuts added) for the rectangular centre multimedia screen. Based on BMW’s excellent iDrive system, it’s all easy and intuitive to operate.

However, that dash is looking old and messy now, with its small letter-box screen and messy buttons, though the toggle switchgear is pleasant to operate and adds to the Mini’s sense of occasion too. The kerbside mirror won’t automatically dip in reverse, and Android Auto users aren’t accommodated like Apple CarPlay users are.

Still, storage is sufficient for most peoples’ needs as long as the things they need put away aren’t too large, backed up by a foldable armrest-cum-cubby and handy pair of big cupholders ahead of the gear lever.

For a three-door four-seater coupe, practicality is better than you might imagine, aided by good all-round vision and thoughtful packaging.

Access to the rear is an easy single-step process. Once sat out back, you’ll find a pair of cupholders and map pockets, a trio of cupholders as well as elbow rests incorporated into the side panels. All double up as receptacles for odds and ends. Lots of glass and those upright pillars impart a surprisingly spacious feel.

However, betraying the F56 Cooper’s age, while the front centre-armrest sited smartphone charger is accessible to rear-seat occupants, there are no USB ports of any variety or overhead lighting in this sunroof-equipped example. Nor will you find a folding centre armrest or overhead grab handles. In fact, the latter is only provided for the front-seat passenger.

Also, keep in mind that passengers cannot crack a window back there.

The base Cooper Classic includes automatic transmission (sadly a manual gearbox is no longer offered), LED lighting front and rear, cloth seat facings, piano-black interior trim, digital instrumentation, an 8.8-inch touchscreen, wireless phone mirroring and charging, digital radio, reverse camera, parking assistant (that steers the car into parallel spots automatically), front and rear parking sensors and 16-inch alloy wheels (with no spare).

On the safety front you’ll find six airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control with stop/go, among a host of other technologies.  See the safety section below. 

Our red test car was the Classic Plus, which means keyless entry, more-bolstered ‘leatherette’ sports seats, front seat heaters, a panoramic sunroof, Harman Kardon audio upgrade, eco and sport extra driving modes, stronger window tinting and 17-inch alloys in either silver or black.

The Classic Plus’ standard front seats are a highlight.

Superbly supportive and with extensive adjustment permutations so even taller and heftier folk can find the right position, they help create a snug yet not cramped environment, with a low, focused driving position that’s easy to get comfy behind thanks to endless column and seat adjustability.

Access to the Mini's rear is obviously not going to be the Hatch’s easiest party trick, but a single-action lift-up latch (located on both front seats' shoulder area) that slides and automatically returns each front seat back to the original spot helps enormously.

Once sat out back, you’ll find a firm but inviting bench and 60:40-split backrest (for two). The backrest angle is about right for most people, as is the depth of the cushion. The latter does not slide back and forth to increase boot room.

Speaking of space, because it’s only a two-seater configuration, there’s a welcome amount of acreage for elbows, shoulders and bottoms back there, while legroom isn’t too bad for a 178cm adult sat behind themselves. There’s nothing cramped or oppressive in the Classic Plus we’re in, save perhaps for the endless black trim.

The Mini Cooper Classic Plus needs 8.2 seconds to reach 100km/h from standstill, on the way to a 210km/h top speed.