2010 MINI Cooper Hatchback Base – Search from our large range of certified pre owned Mini’s. Find the best price deals today.
Market price from: $17,417
On paper, it’s a great idea: a very small car made by BMW. Luxury and economy in the same vehicle. If anyone can make a subcompact car safe, it would be BMW, right?
The 2010 MINI Cooper Hatchback is a two-door subcompact hatchback. It has a 1.6 liter, 4-cylinder engine that produces 118 horsepower. It has 15-inch alloy wheels, front-wheel drive, and a 6-speed manual transmission with hill assist. It is rated at 28 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway, and goes from zero to sixty in 8.5 seconds.
The Mini Cooper is equipped with a tilt-telescope steering wheel, a 6-way adjustable driver’s seat, cruise control, full-power accessories, standard air conditioning, keyless entry, leatherette upholstery, and multicolor ambient lighting. The audio system has 6 speakers, AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, and an audio jack.
The Mini Cooper also has front side airbags, side curtain airbags, stability control, traction control, and anti-lock brakes. In government tests, it got scores of 4 stars out of 5 in front impact protection, 4 stars in rear passenger side impact, and 5 stars for front seat side impact. It got a score of average from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in roof strength testing.
Conclusions and driver feedback:
The Mini has controls that are counter-intuitive to operate. They look really cute, though. The materials are very nice for its price range and the inside is visually pleasing. The front seat has a surprising amount of headroom and legroom for such a small vehicle. Once you are out of the front seats, though, your options diminish rather quickly. There is almost no legroom in the rear seat, and there isn’t a lot of cargo space in the trunk, either, unless you count 6 cubic feet as “a lot.”
The Mini handles extremely well. The steering and suspension are both very responsive, and the engine has a decent amount of power. This is one of the most agile cars on the road. The problem is that it feels like a go-kart if you are a passenger. Anyone expecting BMW’s famous suspension that drives sporty and gives a luxury ride is going to be “sorely” disappointed.
We are impressed that the Mini did so well in crash tests, but drivers of cars this small are statistically more likely to be injured in crashes than drivers of bigger cars. Also the mileage isn’t really any better than that of many standard compacts that are being made in America and Asia right now. If the mileage isn’t any better than a compact, why make a subcompact in the first place, especially when you are marketing it as a “green car?”
The verdict: for most people, this car represents more risk than reward. But it is really cute.
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