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2009 MINI Cooper Review
Sporty handling, engineering excellence, design, economy.
2009 Cooper Review Summary & Specifications
The Mini Cooper offers agile handling and crisp performance and a distinctive bulldog appearance, the latter enhanced by a variety of trim and color options. We're traditionalists, so we prefer the hardtop over the convertible. Either way, the Mini provides the most fun per dollar of any car on the market with the possible exception of the Mazda MX-5.Gary Anderson filed this report to NewCarTestDrive.com from Amsterdam, with Barry Brazier in Barcelona, John F. Katz in Pennsylvania, and Kirk Bell in Chicago.
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| Vehicle Category | Compact Cars |
| Editor | New Car Test Drive |
| Model Lineup | Mini Cooper hardtop ($18,550); Cooper S hardtop ($21,950); Cooper John Cooper Works hardtop ($28,550); Cooper convertible ($23,900); Cooper S convertible ($28,600); Cooper John Cooper Works convertible |
| Engines (standard) | 1.6-liter dohc 16-valve turbocharged inline-4 |
| Engines (optional) | 118-hp 1.6-liter dohc 16-valve inline-4; 172-hp 1.6-liter dohc 16-valve turbocharged inline-4; 208-hp 1.6-liter dohc 16-valve turbocharged inline-4 |
| Transmissions (standard) | 6-speed manual |
| Transmissions (optional) | 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic |
| Safety Equipment (standard) | dual front airbags, tire-pressure monitor; traction control; electronic stability control, ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist; Cornering Brake Control |
| Safety Equipment (optional) | Dynamic Stability Control with Hill Assist, rear park assist, run-flat tires |
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/50,000 miles |
| Assembled In | Oxford, England |
| Manufacturer Phone | |
| Manufacturer URL | www.miniusa.com |
| Base Price MSRP | 18550 |
| Model Tested MSRP | Mini Cooper S hardtop ($21,950) |
| Standard Equipment | air conditioning, power steering, electrically-assisted disc brakes, trip computer, sports suspension; AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with six speakers, RDS, and pre-wiring for satellite radio; power windows with auto-down; power locks; remote keyless entry with electronic signal transmitter in place of the ignition key: leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel; six-way adjustable driver's seat; split-folding rear seat; outside temperature display, cooled glovebox, interior air filter rear wiper and defogger; ASCT traction and stability control, performance exhaust system; rear spoiler, fog lights, P195/55R16 all-season run-flat tires on alloy wheels |
| Options as Tested (MSRP) | Premium Package ($1,250) includes panoramic sunroof, automatic climate control, interior air filter, cruise control, steering wheel audio controls; Convenience Package ($1,250) with rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, Bluetooth, universal garage door opener, iPod adapter, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and keyless access and starting; bi-xenon headlights ($500); Park Distance Control ($500); Gravity leather upholstery ($1,500); chrome line interior ($250) and exterior ($250) kits; 17-inch Crown Spoke wheels ($750) |
| Destination Charge | 650 |
| Gas Guzzler Tax | |
| Layout | front-wheel drive |
| Price as Tested | 28850 |
| Horse Power | 172 @ 5500 |
| Torque | 177 @ 1600-5000 |
| Fuel Economy | 26/34 |
| Wheelbase | 97.1 |
| Length/Width/Height | 146.2/66.3/55.4 |
| Track Front/Rear | |
| Turning Radius | 35.1 |
| Seating Capacity | 4 |
| Front Head/Hip/Leg room | 38.8/50.3/41.4 |
| Middle Head/Hip/Leg room | |
| Rear Head/Hip/Leg room | 37.6/44.7/29.9 |
| Trunk Volume | 24 |
| Payload | |
| Towing Capacity | |
| Front Suspension | independent MacPherson struts |
| Rear Suspension | center-arm axle |
| Ground Clearance | 4.7 |
| Curb Weight | 2679 |
| Stock Tires | 205/45VR17 |
| Brakes Front/Rear | disc/disc with ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, Cornering Brake Control |
| Fuel Capacity | 13.2 |
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