The first time I ever drove a Mini was my grandma’s old red Morris Minor. It was a delight and I had often wondered if there ever was any chance to drive a car like that again.
So, when Miniscape came with an opportunity to test-drive all five MINI Coopers from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Baru and back, I agreed immediately. Time to relive the nostalgia!
On the first day of Miniscape, we were introduced to each MINI one by one. My fingers tingled with excitement as I drove the Cooper Countryman first and then the Cooper S 3-door for the first leg of the trip.
The Countryman boasts of its safety awards it received and is well deserved. Its corner brake control and strong frame enhances the vehicle’s handling, giving it a stable and smooth ride.
Driving the Cooper S was a blast and above my expectation. Despite being the earliest model in the MINI range, it still carries a degree of oomph with good cornering grip with its big tyres, stronger brakes and a nice steering making it just as exciting to drive.
After a short break and lunch in Malacca, I tested the Cooper 3 Door. While the lesser twin of the Cooper S, it maintains its premium look with its interior furnishings and still packs a punch from its Twin Turbo engine.
It is the perfect fit for those who enjoy the simple pleasure of driving, which I thoroughly did as I slowly cruised my way to Johor.
One of the interesting thing I discovered during the drive was the Mini Driving Modes. With just a simple flick, I could change into either one of the three different modes of Green Mode, Mid Mode or Sports Mode.
Green mode is basically fuel saving and I am sure is most useful for the day-to-day commute. The Mid Mode gives you that balance between fuel saving and power for that casual drive around.
And my favourite mode, the Sports Mode or also known by the nickname GoKart Mode, which gives you that great MINI experience when you want to indulge yourself with some driving thrill. In this mode, a light step on the accelerator pedal is enough to unleash a quick burst of power, and combined with its superb, sharp and responsive handling, it was almost like I was riding a roller coaster or a Go Kart, hence its nickname.
For the second day, I drove the Cooper S 5 Door for the second leg of the journey back to Cyberjaya.
Now, this MINI is about balance where it is more roomy compared with the three door but compact enough that you will have no trouble parking it.
Like other MINIs, it was also fitted with the in-built Dynamic Stability Control which applies selective brake pressure or engine power to give the driver much more control of the car, especially during really tight turns.
The suspension is superb as well, where it still feels smooth on uneven roads. Midway through the drive, we were treated to a surprise stop at a nearby racing circuit.
Here, we got to test drive the Cooper Countryman and Cooper S 3 Door in a racing environment.
It was exhilarating to say the least as we took turns to weave in and out the bends at high speed and try to clock the shortest time.
We pushed both cars to the max and I personally enjoyed the Countryman, more so because it was a John Cooper Works upgrade with higher horsepower, sportier transmission, stiffer suspension and oversized brakes, among other upgrades.
I let loose my inner speed demon but its above par handling made sure I was in control of the car everytime.
With that exciting bit over, the last car to test out was the Clubman.
The Clubman is the largest of the MINI range and in my opinion, the most luxurious as well as most comfortable.
Its iconic split rear doors with a foot-activated sensor is marvellous, most helpful when your hands are full with groceries.
Its premium interior finishing is nothing short of my expectation and it’s so comfortable driving in it. It felt like I was driving a beautifully crafted car. Yet, it still maintains the Twin Turbo engines but with the added 8 speeds auto transmission which none of the Minis have, it was a perfect drive home after a perfect day.
All in all, when BMW brings back a classic, it brings back in style, sophistication, speed and more importantly, it brings back fun into driving a MINI again. – PATRICK CHIN
Keyword: Big fun in a MINI package