The MINI hatch range received a mild facelift at the beginning of the year and the first reviews of the updated versions are starting to pop up online. One of the first videos on Youtube belongs to the guys from Auto Express who took their time to go over the fine details you might otherwise miss out on when it comes to the new MINI. From the new headlights and MINI logo to the taillights, they talk about it all.
So what’s new on the 3-door and 5-door MINIs? Apart from the Union Jack taillights, everyone’s talking about, there are a couple of interesting new tidbits thrown around here and there. Fresh exterior accents include new metallic paint colors, new alloy wheels and a modified LED headlight design. Furthermore, for the first time, Piano Black Exterior finish is offered as factory option. All the latest generation models carry the new, two-dimensional logo on the front and rear of the vehicle as well as on the steering wheel, in the display of the central instrument and on the remote control key.
New particularly stylish interior design options are available, with the range including Malt Brown for the Chester leather upholstery and Color Line as well as the MINI Yours Interior Style Piano Black options. The entertainment system in the MINI Hardtop, MINI Hardtop 5-door and MINI Convertible, which also got these updates, now includes touchscreen functionality for the central instrument display.
The engines remained the same though and, as the review points out, that’s a good thing as MINI models were and still are some of the best front-wheel drive cars you can get out there in terms of driving enjoyment. To put it in James’ words, ‘It just puts a smile on your face’ and that’s why people around the world love MINIs so much. And even though he recommends the Cooper model, I’d go for the Cooper S at the very least, as it comes with a decent amount of power and a nicely sounding exhaust.
