NEW Mini Cooper C In-Depth Review! Amazing Interior - But Still A True Cooper?

23 years since its reinvention, Mini might have made another fun filled icon. But has our appetite for fun cars changed too much for it to be relevant? Sam Sheehan investigates in this seriously fun review.

The new Mini Cooper C 3-Door might look like an evolution of the last car, but it's actually much more than that. The 2024 Cooper gets a revamped look (especially at the back), while inside it's been positively transformed with a bespoke digital infotainment system and a new dashboard. This F66 Cooper feels like a big departure from what's come before, which begs the question: Is it a true 21st-century Mini?

The best way to answer that question is to introduce the new Mini Cooper to the original BMW offering, the R50 Mini Cooper that launched way back in 2001 (so it's a modern classic in its own right). With a 1,075kg kerbweight and peppy 115hp 1.6-litre petrol engine, the manual gearbox R50 was - and still is - a real hoot to drive, even in an urban environment.

The new automatic gearbox-only car might not be much bigger on the ground (its wheelbase is just 29mm longer than the R50's), but it is much heavier, tipping scales at 1,335kg, thanks in no small part to its more substantial front crash structure and the extra tech aboard this 2024 model. It does at least have much more muscle, with 156hp produced by its turbocharged 1.5-litre engine.

That punch ensures power-to-weight is up in the F66 versus the much lighter R50, with the former producing 124hp-per-tonne, compared to the latter's 107hp-per-tonne. That translates into a quicker 0-62mph time of 7.7 seconds for the 2024 Cooper, which easily beats the 2001-2006 model's 9.2 seconds. But straight-line speed is only ever part of the equation when it comes to fun in a Cooper.

That brings us to our video, where Sam Sheehan considers fun, engagement and usability in evaluating whether this new F66 Mini Cooper C looks, feels and drives like a proper BMW-era Mini. We hope you enjoy it!

Presenter: @samsheehan55
Editor: @montymakesmovies

00:00 2024 Mini Cooper C review
00:30 Mini essential ingredients
00:53 Mini Cooper dimensions
01:05 Design comparison
01:50 Beer can exhaust?!
02:04 R50 Mini Cooper driving impressions
02:18 R50 Cooper exhaust sounds
02:45 How to buy from cinch
02:53 New Mini Cooper C driving impressions
03:26 F66 Cooper exhaust sounds
03:38 Reversing camera
04:07 Power and engine size
04:40 Automatic gearbox
06:07 New Mini interior
07:36 Awesome infotainment
08:12 Back seat space
08:20 Boot space
08:44 Verdict!

#cinch #carreview #mini #minicooper #miniadventure #minidrivers #newcars #carsforsale #carslover

[SamSheehan]

If you have any more questions about the new (or old) Mini, fire away in the comments here! We had lots of fun filming this, hope you enjoy watching it 😃

[adambradshaw]

Sam - you are an incredible reviewer. You get the point across without gimmickery, are upbeat, and articulate. Such an improvement over... hmmm... some other car-purchasing-related channels. Breath of fresh air!

[thanasisbert]

I have an r53 for 22 years as a daily car and we have covered several road trips in europe. I love him but it's time for something better, comfortable and with better technology and lots of other things that I like in the F66.
It was a fun car, a beautiful car and great companion but it's time and I am 100% sure for my new cooper c with jcw trim. Same speed/acceleration with almost half of fuel consumption, better suspension, better dct with paddles, better seats...

[willi]

The front is Mini, but the rear of the car somehow Suzuki or Renault style. Mini come on ! I will wait for the 2027 facelift . Things can only get better.

[simonweakley]

The big question, how much does the car cost? I bet it's £35k which is way beyond my price range, but it has some style, not as much as the R50

[jayoncars]

It’s definitely a bold design in my eyes but I think it will age really well! I think it’ll be a little like the new M4 and the looks will grow on me the more I see them around

[RobertOlley-il]

Love the edit and the cars such a nice clean car always timeless!

[shankarbalan]

The new 2024/2025 Mini Cooper is nice. Plenty of space in the centre console. Lovely Round screen - a good tribute to the original. Very comfortable inside. Plenty of legroom and shoulder room. I saw it recently at the unveiling in India and liked it.
However, I’m very happy with my little 12 year old R56 and its compact proportions which I actually prefer.

[markbiggart]

I’ve been so excited this afternoon looking on the car configurator and was genuinely thinking about ordering one but no paddles is a deal breaker - no manual is bad enough.

[Timw]

Do you have any knowledge on how this rides handles, feels etc compared to last years petrol models. I appreciate the underpinnings are similar in the petrol version, rather hoping that some tweaks / improvements might have been made being a new model. Best wishes.

[philippebiever]

According to the configurator in Luxembourg, paddles are available, but only in JCW trim. Which in itself is nice but also quite expensive and restricitive on interior options. Might go for it though, my Cooper SE leasing coming to an end in 2025.

[KllStcy]

You really gotta give it to mini, its one of the smallest new cars you can get in the US, the only 3 door hatchback you can get new in the US. And the cooper s is still available with a proper 2 liter and a 6 speed manual.

The fact that they've kept the mini, mostly mini, available with 3 doors, with the option for a gas or electric, plus the option for a manual. And still can sell it in the hell hole that is the new car market in the US without making it impractical for european roads. Its quite amazing to be honest.

[nathanricketts]

They drive that well that the engine gives up in them 😅 had 2 so speaking from experience!

[Sr.D]

The best review of the new Mini I've seen, especially when compared directly with the first BMW Mini, is that the R50's design is unbeatable. The new one, just like the F56, is disproportionate in comparison. Also, the interior is too simple and looks cheap. The lack of a manual transmission is too much for me.

[paulphillips]

Quite like the new 3 door Mini, may just give it a go. 3 door cars are really few and far between, which is why I've kept my Suzuki Swift for nearly eight years because I like 3 doors. The fact that the Mini is automatic may be just what I need, because at 72 the knees are showing signs of wear and tear.

[DavidWade]

You would think in 2024 that they would of designed a forward and rear built into the corners of roof bodywork a car cam system, 😊, , at that price of the car, I would expect this to be fitted,

[georgewalker]

You not only do not get leather on the dash, that is not Leather on the steering wheel, but does look and feel like leather, no leather seats in them either.

[andrewbarten]

No manual transmission in a Mini Cooper?!? They're kidding!

[benwelham]

Nothing wrong with 'nerds like Ben'...

[johnpublicprofile]

MISSED OPPORTUNITY
Mini had a great opportunity to go back to it's roots and make the mass market car that the world needs with the most suitable world recognised brand to do it.
Instead of larger luxury vehicle with a limited lifespan drive-train, they should have made it smaller, economical fittings and design with a pure designed for EV front drive EV. They would likely be the best selling EV in decades.
Mini has the brand image of being fun small cars, the world desperately needs a fashionably acceptable small EV. Mini was better placed to do this than perhaps any other European and USA recognised brand.