Model Tested: 2022 Mini Cooper S Hardtop 2 Door
Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4, 189 horsepower, 207 lb-ft torque
Transmission: 7-speed automatic, front-wheel-drive
EPA Rating: 28-mpg city, 38-mpg highway, 31-mpg combined
Base Price: $26,900
As Tested: $36,250
Performance:
Peppy, turbocharged engine
Very nimble, fun to drive
A blast on twisty country roads
Good fuel economy—our best was 36.6-mpg highway
Pretty smooth auto stop/start feature
Great head up display
Paddle shifters
Drive modes: Sport, Mid, Green
Available 6-speed manual transmission
Comfort:
Excellent comfort and supportive front seats
Manual adjustments
Thigh support
Deep bolsters
Seat height pump
Heated seats (3 temps)
Stretch-out front legroom
Extra thick, contoured leather steering wheel
Good tilt/telescopic range
Snug back seat
Utility:
Small cargo area
Extra space below removable floor section
Panoramic sunroof brightens interior
Very small console bin, more of a phone holder
Narrow front door bins
Small sun visors but extra visor on driver side
Large central circular infotainment screen
Medium size glovebox, but no lock
WOW Factors:
It’s a fun car, loaded with personality
Great city car, easy to park, darts through traffic
Excellent head up display
Wild color-shifting multi-tone roof paint
Whines:
Low profile tires transmit a lot of road noise
Tight backseat unless fronts are up a lot
Poor steering wheel auxiliary controls
Expensive options boost price
Bottom Line:
The 2022 Mini Cooper S hardtop 2-door is a fun car. It’s loaded with personality. It makes you smile when you drive it and when you look at. The Mini has plenty of quirks and shortcomings, but its fun factor overrides things you wouldn’t tolerate in a more boring car. The Mini Cooper S received a facelift for 2022, but its look is still definitely Mini. The 2022 Mini Cooper S isn’t a perfect car, but it is perfectly fun.
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