MINI Cooper 3 Door Review
Refreshingly The Same, But What Is Different For The 2018 MINI Cooper 3 Door?

I have always liked how the MINI hatch handled, and having driven a few in Bali, with some very nice turns, and again moire recently on another road trip from Bangkok to Khao Yai in Thailand, I’ve come to appreciate how the car’s handling is sharp, steering responsive and the way it simply engages you.

MINI having to design their 3dr hatch was a rather tall order, given that that they always had to bear in mind their mantra of Go Kart-like handling, meaning that within a limited 2,495mm wheelbase, and a length of only 3,821mm, there has to be space for 2 and another +2, and a little more for things to go into the boot.

While a new car will be quite some time away, the MINI Cooper has gone through a much-needed freshening up.

New to the car are dazzle-free LED headlamp units, with integrated daytime running lights which form a ring surrounding the contour of the headlight unit, and double up as indicator lamps. At the rear, a very lovely set of “Union Jack” themed tail lamps are a fitting replacements, a little reminder of MINI’s British roots; and I can believe that some current owners will be looking to upgrade thiers.

Tyre and rim sizes stay the same at 205/45 R17, and MINI has also included a new Rail Spoke 2-tone design as an alternative. I like it that MINI had kept the iconic “beer can” tailpipe finisher. For those who do not know, when the first full-sized clay mock-up of the “New” MINI was created, one of the designers had realised while having a beer that the clay model did not have a tailpipe. So he finished his drink, stripped the paint off the can, carefully put a hole into its base, and popped it on. His revelation about his little “design inspiration” to top BMW executives certainly delighted them enough, that the iconic look has been carried over to this present generation.