Whereas the usual Cooper and warmer Cooper S are nice enjoyable in their very own rights, probably the most raucous Minis put on John Cooper Works badges. You may get the go-fast JCW remedy on every little thing from the usual Hardtop to Mini’s Convertible, Clubman and even supersized Countryman. It is the last word technique to expertise Mini motoring. However be warned: All that further energy comes with much more concessions in on a regular basis drivability.

Energy up

The John Cooper Works has quite a lot of perks over its Cooper and Cooper S siblings, beginning with a wholesome energy enhance. The two.Zero-liter turbocharged engine places out 228 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque on this JCW Hardtop, will increase of 39 and 29, respectively, over the Cooper S. To maintain that further grunt in test, bigger Brembo brakes deal with stopping responsibility, a stiffer suspension presents improved poise and a bigger rear spoiler improves aerodynamics.

The very first thing I discover as I slip behind the wheel is a two-inch steel cylinder sitting within the cup holder. Seems it is a Bluetooth-enabled distant for the non-obligatory Professional Valve Exhaust. Two clicks of the button opens a valve, permitting exhaust to bypass the muffler for a a lot louder sound. At velocity, it appears like there is a bike trailing you — it is superior.

Flip the JCW Hardtop into Sport mode, and also you get extra weight to the steering, in addition to improved throttle response and revised shift mapping from the six-speed computerized transmission (sure, you may get a handbook, and you need to). On the twisty roads of Northern California, it instantly turns into clear that this isn’t a automobile for softies. The suspension is stiff, and when paired with the no-cost-optional Pirelli P7 Cinturato run-flat, all-season tires, the general trip high quality is critically harsh. The JCW crashes and jounces over even the smallest highway imperfections, the arduous sidewalls completely unforgiving. If I purchased this automobile, I would stick to the summer season tires.

That mentioned, on clean roads, the JCW Hardtop jogs my memory how enjoyable front-wheel-drive automobiles might be. The steering is crisp and correct, with that typical Mini go-kart-like feeling. Torque comes on robust from simply 1,250 rpm and stays plentiful as much as four,800 rpm, that means there’s loads of juice within the majority of the rev vary. On my favourite again roads, I can largely go away the automobile in third gear and know there’s all the time loads of energy to rocket me out of a flip. Straight-line efficiency is not too shabby, both, with Mini estimating a 5.9-second Zero-60 time, which is similar as a Volkswagen GTI, and faster than a Honda Civic Si.

As for driving aids? There are not any. Blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping help are absent. Adaptive cruise management is an possibility, however my tester does not have it. Boo.

Cute, helpful tech

Mini’s infotainment system is principally a cuter model of BMW’s iDrive. You possibly can management it with the rotary knob on the middle console, or just by touching the display. Housed in an Eight.Eight-inch display inside a gimmicky color-changing ring on the sprint, the Mini Linked system is as intuitive as any iteration of BMW iDrive, and whereas it options Apple CarPlay compatibility, Android Auto is unavailable.

The onboard navigation is simple to make use of and has no bother with voice instructions, even when asking it to ship me to the hard-to-pronounce Cahuenga Boulevard (that is “ca-wang-ah”) in Los Angeles. As a bonus, there is a fast search discipline for if you simply want to seek out the closest pizza joint or grocery retailer.

Enjoyable cabin, and never too small

If the Mini’s ultra-cute exterior does not make you say “Awww,” then maybe the inside will. All the things is spherical and colourful, with cute little graphics in every single place (just like the checkered flag sample of the redline indicator). Local weather management capabilities are operated by conventional dials and buttons on the middle stack, however issues just like the engine on-off change, parking sensors, stop-start, traction management and driving modes are all managed by toggle switches. Should you’re in search of the window change toggles, they’re again on the doorways, the place they belong.

The Mini is a small automobile, however at 5 ft, 9 inches, I’ve no downside with headroom, even with the non-obligatory panoramic sunroof. Positive, my six-foot-five video producer has to duck his head a bit, however he has no complaints about front-seat legroom. There may be, in idea, room for 2 adults within the again. However let’s be trustworthy, you are not going to place actual individuals again there. As a substitute, fold these seats down, and you will find 34 cubic ft of house, which is a giant enchancment over the Eight.7 cubic ft that is obtainable with the seats upright.

How I would spec it

First, spend some further coin on the Signature or Iconic trims to get the Dynamic Damper Management. No want for that harsh trip if you’re simply commuting, plus that is the one technique to get driver’s aids like ahead collision warning and computerized emergency braking. The excellent news is that even on the lowest Traditional trim, there are such a lot of methods to customise your Mini. Stripes, mirror caps, illuminated piano black inside particulars and extra are all obtainable. It may well get expensive, certain, however no less than you may be distinctive.

The 2018 Mini John Cooper Works Hardtop begins at $31,800, however with the non-obligatory computerized transmission, navigation system, premium audio and panoramic sunroof, my check automobile comes out to a lofty $39,850. Yeah, that is rather a lot.

Nice automobile, unhealthy worth

There are many small, sporty automobiles on the market, however nothing fairly just like the John Cooper Works Hardtop. The closest competitor, in my eyes, is the less-expensive, barely less-powerful Volkswagen GTI. After all, for the worth of my check automobile, you could possibly have a 292-horsepower Golf R with all-wheel drive.

Different alternate options embody the Honda Civic Si, which presents much less energy however a a lot cheaper price. The Mazda MX-5 Miata, Subaru BRZ or Toyota 86 are different good choices if you’d like naturally aspirated grunt and rear-wheel drive. You would even get into one thing like a Fiat 500 Abarth, which sounds killer, however is tremendous cramped inside and considerably down on energy.

In hardcore John Cooper Works type, the Mini Hardtop is a blast — darting by means of site visitors and zipping round city to run errands is tons of enjoyable on this little man. However its harsh trip high quality and costly value level makes it a tricky promote alongside conventional sizzling hatch rivals. It is a zippy little pocket rocket with a personality all its personal, but it surely comes at a fairly excessive value.