     2012 Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works Hatchback. Click image to enlarge |
The JCW upgrades continue inside as the six-speed shift diagram on the shift knob is detailed in red, and piano black interior accents are found throughout. One of the first things I noticed when sitting in this Mini was the upgraded centre speedometer and infotainment gauge that is a piece of automotive art. The floating speedo needle surrounding the center screen looks futuristic and retro at the same time. Controlling this infotainment unit is a tiny joystick-like control knob between seats that is very easy to use and intuitive, although the downside is that nothing can be stored between the seats or else the knob is buried. Another note to make, the GPS system did lead Senior Editor Jonathan Yarkony and I astray twice in Detroit and we were left circling the city.
There is a double-paned sunroof that runs the length of the roof and unlike most double-pane roofs both sections can open. The rear section only vents upward and closes if the front sunroof pane is opened all the way, but this is still more functionality than found in most rear sunroof panes. When the front pane is opened, the gap in the roof is large and airy. A large wind buffeter pops up at the leading edge and takes away nearly all wind interference inside the Mini’s cabin. The downside is that this wind-screen sticks up so far that it becomes a bug collector—especially in the country or at night.
The front seats are comfortable and supportive, but not meant for long distance cruising. They are better for a long trip than the Mazda MX-5’s seats, but not by much. ‘New’ Mini interiors have always included an array of toggle switches that are love them or leave them; they are decidedly retro in look and feel. The rest of the JCW-trimmed interior featured soft touch materials everywhere but both steering wheel and shift knob seemed cheap and down market for a $40K car; why not drop in one of those fabulous BMW wheels for JCW models?
The Mini hatch provides a lot more space than its exterior dimensions led me to believe. I fit my tall torso with no problems in the front seats and thanks to the square dimensions of the Mini, could fit in the rear seats as well, albeit with a bit less legroom than I would like. In fact, four average-sized adults can fit in Mini as long as there is no cargo, or 2 adults can travel with a ton of luggage as long as the rear seats are folded down. For those into specs and numbers, there is only 160 L of cargo space behind the rear seats, but it grows into an impressive 680 L with the rear seats folded down.
So the Mini JCW definitely dispelled my doubts that a front-wheel-drive vehicle could perform this well. What about my other preconceived notion that it is overpriced? Well, as always, that becomes a matter of personal opinion. At $42,830, this is not a cheap Mini. On one hand, it is easy to argue that this is a $43,000 sub-compact hot hatch, which seems ridiculous when compared to the likes of the Veloster Turbo, 500 Abarth, or even a WRX. However, on the other hand, this is a solidly built, luxuriously appointed near-luxury sporty car that I would take in a heartbeat over BMW’s own, similarly priced, six-speed manual 328i I drove recently. Yes, that is quite a bold statement coming from this rear-wheel-drive-loving reviewer, but I found it just that rewarding. Oh, and the icing on the cake? The Mini JCW averaged 7.1 L/100 km after nearly 2,000 km of driving. I guess I finally get what these Mini-Fanatics have been preaching all along.
Pricing: 2012 Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works
Base price: $36,900
Options: Comfort Package ($1,900), Wired Package ($1,850), Championship Red Lounge Leather ($1,900), Black Light Alloy Wheels ($150), John Cooper Works Bonnet ($130)
A/C tax: $100
Freight: $1,595
Price as tested: $44,525
Specifications
