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2008 MINI Cooper Hardtop Quality Review

August 18, 2008

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

More interior space than its exterior dimensions might imply
Kelley Blue Book

Base models ride better than S versions
ConsumerGuide

BMW build quality and engineering
Car and Driver

The 2008 MINI Cooper hatchback provides a surprising amount of interior space, with a reasonably well-outfitted interior that’s confusing to operate and prone to squeaks and rattles.

“The Cooper line is much roomier inside than people expect,” Cars.com leads off. For a very small car, the 2008 MINI Cooper offers a surprising amount of room for front occupants. Kelley Blue Book points out "those riding in the front seats enjoy excellent head and legroom." ConsumerGuide notes "seats are firm and supportive but mounted too low for easy entry and exit." Long rides will be much more comfortable in the 2008 MINI Cooper, thanks to improved seats; three levers let drivers and passengers maneuver their seats into optimal positions, as does the telescoping steering wheel. “Even those taller than 6 feet will find a comfortable seating position,” Edmunds observes.

The sculpted seatbacks give rear-seaters marginally more room for knees, even though interior dimensions haven't changed. The backseat remains a place for occasional riders in a good mood. “With those tall folks up front, though, rear seat leg space is practically non-existent, even if headroom is ample,” Edmunds reports.

Quality is a major source of discontent with reviewers from around the Web, including TheCarConnection.com’s editors. The redesign of the MINI’s interior has style, but its look makes for a cluttered set of buttons and knobs inside; “the audio controls are bunched confusingly into the huge center speedometer, and both manual and automatic climate controls are also poorly designed,” Edmunds says. The “center-mounted speedometer” also incorporates an “optional navigation system,” Cars.com reports, piling more complexity on the layout. Edmunds adds, “both manual and automatic climate controls are also poorly designed,” and “numerous squeaks and rattles seem to be a Mini hallmark.”

Conclusion

The 2008 MINI Cooper has a surprising amount of room in front, but a crowded dash and a noisy ride cut into the fun.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:More interior space than its exterior dimensions might implyKelley Blue BookBase models ride better than S versionsConsumerGuideBMW build quality and engineeringCar and Driver The 2008 MINI Cooper hatchback provides a surprising amount of interior space, with a reasonably well-outfitted interior that’s confusing to operate and prone to squeaks and rattles. “The Cooper line is much roomier inside than people expect,” Cars.com leads off. For a very small car, the 2008 MINI Cooper offers a surprising amount of room for front occupants. Kelley Blue Book points out "those riding in the front seats enjoy excellent head and legroom." ConsumerGuide notes "seats are firm and supportive but mounted too low for easy entry and exit." Long rides will be much more comfortable in the 2008 MINI Cooper, thanks to improved seats; three levers let drivers and passengers maneuver their seats into optimal positions, as does the telescoping steering wheel. “Even those taller than 6 feet will find a comfortable seating position,” Edmunds observes. The sculpted seatbacks give rear-seaters marginally more room for knees, even though interior dimensions haven't changed. The backseat remains a place for occasional riders in a good mood. “With those tall folks up front, though, rear seat leg space is practically non-existent, even if headroom is ample,” Edmunds reports. Quality is a major source of discontent with reviewers from around the Web, including TheCarConnection.com’s editors. The redesign of the MINI’s interior has style, but its look makes for a cluttered set of buttons and knobs inside; “the audio controls are bunched confusingly into the huge center speedometer, and both manual and automatic climate controls are also poorly designed,” Edmunds says. The “center-mounted speedometer” also incorporates an “optional navigation system,” Cars.com reports, piling more complexity on the layout. Edmunds adds, “both manual and automatic climate controls are also poorly designed,” and “numerous squeaks and rattles seem to be a Mini hallmark.” ConclusionThe 2008 MINI Cooper has a surprising amount of room in front, but a crowded dash and a noisy ride cut into the fun.  2008 MINI COOPER STYLING | [10 out of 10] AOL Autos: "Distinctive bulldog appearance" ConsumerGuide: "Distinctive, complex blend of colors, shapes, and textures" Road & Track: "Hip, retro styling" The 2008 MINI Cooper may not look new, but in 2007, the British hatchback was ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Picking competitors for the 2008 MINI Cooper is difficult because it's a costly two-door with a historic shape. The same can be said of the Ford Mustang, which comes in convertible form, too, and has a big V-8 option along with plenty of special editions like the Bullitt. The Volkswagen New Beetle is a modern spin on the classic Bug shape, with better everything, but no air-cooled engine. Moving way up the price ladder, the Porsche Boxster adopts the look of the classic 1950s Porsche Spyders and melds it with stunning performance and a leather-laden cockpit.

Next Steps:

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for a 2008 MINI Cooper Hardtop near you

See the MINI Cooper Hardtop in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002

Comments (1 total)

  1. By Ayesha Reez #1, Posted: 9/12/2008

    HOT!!

    I'm in LOVE wit tis car!! Gosh..it's so damn cute..
    especially the red one..
    damn gorgeous..

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