Mini Cooper Chili. The true story of Mr. Cooper

The appearance of the second-generation Mini remained almost untouched, but the technical content underwent a serious rework. The question is whether the engineers managed to improve an already well-balanced design?

I'll start with a disappointment. The car has become noticeably more "feminine." It's not just that our test Mini with an automatic transmission accelerated leisurely and sometimes behaved unpredictably. All those numerous buttons, toggles, and switches scattered around the cabin in the most unexpected places were clearly designed with an eye to preserving a woman's manicure. The impression is that you're not in a car, but in Barbie's dollhouse.

2007 Mini Cooper Chili
© Photo: Sergey Krestov, 5 Koleso

The new engine, on the contrary, causes no complaints. Extracting 120 horsepower from a 1.5-liter engine is an excellent indicator. It's no surprise that a Franco-German team of developers spent several months on this unit. Owners of small Peugeot and Citroen cars will soon be able to appreciate the fruits of this work.

Speaking of acceleration from a standstill, the car reaches 100 km/h in 9.1 seconds. But when you need to accelerate, for example, from 60 km/h, an unpleasant surprise awaits the driver. When you press the gas pedal to the floor, the tachometer needle first rises from 2000 to 4500 rpm, and only then does a sharp jerk follow. What's the reason?

Mr. Cooper, during those very 2500 rpm, seems to thoughtfully chew a bagel — that's what people call the torque converter. In practice, the picture looks like this: the tachometer shows active rpm growth, but the speed barely increases. It seems the guys from Getrag, recognized masters of gearboxes, overcomplicated something here. Moreover, even in manual mode, managing the throttle with this automatic is quite difficult. One can only wonder why they didn't use proven gearboxes from ZF?

2007 Mini Cooper Chili
© Photo: Sergey Krestov, 5 Koleso

Despite the striking appearance, the car has lost its former playful character. The suspension has become a bit more comfortable, noticeable body rolls have appeared, although overall handling hasn't suffered critically. During another maneuver, a message about the deactivation of the DSC dynamic stability system appeared on the large round screen inside the speedometer. Simultaneously, the DSC deactivation indicator and the handbrake icon lit up on the dashboard. The onboard computer strongly advised visiting a service center immediately. I had to stop right on the road, turn off the engine, and restart it. And, oddly enough, everything worked as if nothing had happened.

Many ergonomic solutions raise questions. For example, only a rear passenger might see the current speed of the car. On this "alarm clock," the readings are hard to read because the speedometer is not turned toward the driver. Moreover, the needle moves not inside the dial but outside — you need to get used to that. To be fair, the developers duplicated the speed on the onboard computer display, which is located on the tachometer dial.

2007 Mini Cooper Chili
© Photo: Sergey Krestov, 5 Koleso

The paddle shifters on the steering column lack "+" and "-" markings, so you can only figure out which lever does what through trial and error. To insert a CD, you first need to remove the stereo control panel. And if the automatic transmission selector is in "P" position, the DSC deactivation button is not visible from the driver's seat at all.

2007 Mini Cooper Chili
© Photo: Sergey Krestov, 5 Koleso

The controls for secondary functions look very attractive. But the obvious bias toward style has seriously harmed usability. Using all these buttons, toggles, and knobs is quite difficult. Moderation is needed in everything. And don't think these are just nitpicks. After all, the Mini is just a car, not an object of worship. When assessing consumer properties, you shouldn't make allowances for the bright interior design. Nevertheless, despite all the quirks, Mr. Cooper remains popular. Ladies still adore the extravagant Englishman. And for the men, we report: Getrag specialists promise to perfect the all-wheel-drive version of the Mini. We await the production model.

I Know the Way

2007 Mini Cooper Chili
© Photo: Sergey Krestov, 5 Koleso

Now it's impossible to get lost behind the wheel of a Mini. A navigation system has appeared in the options list. True, it's hard to call it Russified — street names are displayed in Latin script. This creates confusion, especially when you're driving along Sharikopodshipnikovskaya or urgently need to find a lane in the Kirpichnye Vymki area. But that's perhaps the only drawback. The system offers a rich set of functions, and menu navigation follows clear logic. Prompts are voiced by a pleasant female voice, in Russian, by the way. If music is playing at that moment, its volume automatically decreases. Thanks to the intuitive interface and simple architecture, you can master the system in a few minutes. The speed of operation is also pleasing: as soon as the driver deviates from the route, the program instantly offers a new one. There's also a 3D map display mode, but it doesn't show street names.

Driving

The Chili confidently holds the road. During maneuvers and emergency braking, no steering correction is required.

Interior

Ergonomics are sacrificed for the aesthetics of the interior, which is not always justified.

Comfort

Sound insulation fails to cope with aerodynamic noise.

Safety

Euro NCAP specialists haven't yet tested the new generation Mini. It's unlikely that passenger protection will be worse than the previous four "stars."

Price

The high-tech little car is still unaffordable for most buyers.

Advantages and Disadvantages

+ Aesthetic solutions in interior and exterior design, maneuverability, dynamics.

- Low level of acoustic comfort, high price, unsatisfactory handling

Our Opinion

The small car is becoming more popular every year, and production volumes are growing. This is a clear sign that the marketing strategy has been chosen correctly. The high price is unlikely to affect sales volumes in Russia — big hopes are placed on the Mini here.

May 22, 2007

Author: Sergey Arbuzov
© 5 Koleso