Browse over 9,000 car reviews

2014 Mini Cooper and Cooper S detailed | video


galleryMini has announced new details of its new Mini Cooper hatch lineup, ahead of its local debut this month. Arriving in UK showrooms this week, the all-new Mini Cooper hatch is the third-generation under BMW's stewardship, and the largest Mini Cooper model to date. 

Growing by 98mm in length, 44mm in width and 7mm in height, the new Mini also rides on a 28mm longer wheelbase to offer the most spacious Mini hatch cabin to date. Continuing with seating for four, the extra cabin space has improved shoulder room, foot space, rear-seat access, and larger front seats have a greater adjustment range. Cargo space has also improved by more than 30 per cent to 211-litres. The new hatch may be bigger than ever, but it's still at least 60mm shorter than a Mazda 2 or Toyota Yaris.

The interior design is an evolution of the trademark modern mini circular theme, but with a new LED central display of up to 8.8 inches (depending on spec) and the window controls have been relocated from the centre of the car to the door trims as with the Countryman and Paceman models.

The new model brings the availability of LED headlights for main and high beams, along with LED daytime running lights forming a ring around the trademark circular lights. The taillights across all variants are also full LED designs, and the brand's trademark body and roof colour personalisation options continue.

The 2014 Mini introduces new modular turbocharged three and four cylinder petrol and diesel engines. UK models include two versions of each of the three cylinder units, kicking off with the price-leading Mini One with either 75kW/180Nm 1.2-litre petrol or 70kW/220Nm 1.5-litre diesel units. The mid-spec Mini Cooper is available with either a 100kW/220Nm 1.5-litre petrol or 85kW/270Nm diesel, and the hot Cooper S scores a 141kW/280Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

All promise improved efficiency, performance and driveability, and are available with new six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. When equipped with satellite navigation, automatic variants are able to integrate with the mapped terrain to choose the most efficient ratios ratios.

The new Cooper's chassis has also been heavily revised, with a new single-joint spring strut axle at the front and a multi-link axle at the rear to maintain the brand's renowned handling dynamics. Dual-mode adaptive dampers are also available for the first time.

Australian spec and pricing is yet to be confirmed, but all will be revealed with the model's local arrival in the coming weeks.

This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn

Watch the 2014 Mini Cooper and Cooper S video on our desktop site.