Introducing the MINI family
Welcome to a new video from Shift Up. Very often I get the question which MINI suits someone best. On the one hand this is of course based on what you think is beautiful, but on the other hand on what space and driving characteristics you are looking for.
Fortunately, MINI now has 5 different models to choose from. So in this special video, this time I'm not going to introduce you to just one MINI, but to the whole family! We have all the different models on display for you: the Mini Cooper 3 door, the 5 door, the convertible, the Clubman and the Countryman
The primal MINI, the 3 door, named famous and coveted by MINI
We are going to start with the famous and coveted primal MINI, the 3 door, or, the original. It is characterized by its iconic design that has been around since the 1960s
Recognizable from the outside by the floating roof design and the wheels placed close to the front and rear of the car, which create the typical MINI feeling, the feeling of driving a go-kart. Where from outside you see the iconic silhouette, inside you also see some iconic elements such as the big curve in the middle of the dashboard where the speedometer used to be. Nowadays, there is a display screen where you can see your navigation, among other things, as well as your phone, radio and parking sensors.
Another nice element is the ring that surrounds this curve, it is filled with LED lights. You can get your tachometer on this, for example, as well as the color of your ambient lighting and the signals from the parking sensors. If you've never driven a MINI before, you always have to get used to the relatively steep windshield. The roof extends pretty far forward and for that it feels a bit like looking through the visor from a helmet, really a unique view of the road.
Before we move on to the next family member, I'd also like to tell you what's available under the hood. Whether you buy a 3-door MINI, a convertible or a Countryman, you can get different engine variants in all these cars, namely the entry-level variant, the One, a 3 cylinder engine with 102 HP. If you want just a little more spice, then choose the famous Cooper variant, a three cylinder with 136 HP. If you want some more experience, you can go one step further to the 4 cylinder Cooper S engine with 192 HP. And if that is still not enough for you, then choose the fastest variant, the John Cooper Works with 231 HP in the 3-door and convertible, and in the Countryman and Clubman even available with 306 HP.
There are also two diesel variants, you can also get a plug-in hybrid variant in the Countryman, and a fully electric variant of this 3-door MINI. A fun fact about this MINI Electric variant, or Mini Cooper SE, is that it has the same interior space as a 3-door MINI with a fuel engine, because the battery pack is cleverly tucked away under the center console and the back seat and the car is 1.8 centimeters higher than the variant with a fuel engine.
MINI 5 drs
If you are looking for a MINI that is just a touch larger than the MINI 3-door, then opt for the 5-door. It is 18 centimeters longer than the 3-door and has two extra rear doors.
They are not the most large doors, but still it is more convenient to get into the back through these rear doors than in a three-door mini through the front doors. If you're 5 adults in the car it's still very cozy, but for children it's really fine. Also, it's just nice and convenient to just easily put your bag or coat in the back seat.
The nice thing about that 5 door MINI is that you have just a bit more space in the back seat and trunk, but still have that nice handling of the 3 door, that typical go kart feeling.
MINI convertible
If you prefer the feeling of sitting outside, MINI has the convertible version for that. Same in dimensions as the MINI 3-door, only no steel roof, but an elegant soft top made of linen.
It takes 18 seconds until the roof is fully opened and you can do that even driving up to 30 kilometers per hour. You don't necessarily have to open the whole roof, for example, you can also open only the front part so you have a kind of sunroof modes. And then once you have the roof off and you take your seat you also just really feel like you're sitting outside because of the steep roofline
Even though the MINI convertible is no space wonder, they have developed a very handy feature in this 3rd generation MINI convertible, namely the easy load function. This allows you to lift the roof slightly at the back, making it easier to load stuff. And rear seats can also be easily lowered with this button, handy right? A small point of criticism that you unfortunately cannot avoid in many convertibles is the rear view through the soft top with relatively small rear window, but that should certainly not spoil the fun of driving.
MINI Clubman
Want a lot more space without having to open the roof of your convertible? Then this MINI Clubman might be the solution for that, the station wagon from MINI. It is 43 cm longer than a normal mini and only 1 centimeter less wide than a BMW 5 series. And that just shows how big it is inside.
You can easily recognize it by its 2 unique rear doors with recessed taillights that you can open remotely with your even key. And behind those two doors you can put a lot of space and, according to our customers, an average-sized dog can also easily get in by itself.
What is also a big plus is the combination of space and good driving characteristics. Namely, you have a nice low seating position that allows you as a driver to really feel involved with driving. Despite its much larger size than the 3-door version, it still gives you the feeling that you are on the road with a kart. If you want even more grip than a kart, you can also order this Clubman with 4-wheel drive.
Countryman
Finally, we come to the car marketed by MINI as an adventure SUV, the Countryman. It is 14 centimeters higher than the 3-door and a whopping 48 centimeters longer. It has also become a really big car, for example, it is 23 centimeters longer than the previous generation Countryman and today shares its base with the Bmw X1. And because it is as adventurous as an SUV, 4-wheel drive is also possible in this model of MINI.
The higher sitting position is a trend that more and more people are starting to like. You have a good overview. The higher sitting position does affect handling, but not necessarily in a negative way. The direct steering of a go-kart is still present, only that the car tilts a bit more than the Clubman when cornering sharply.
If you own a dog, keep in mind that it can be a bit more difficult for him or her to get in. However, the Countryman does have another funny detail and that is the picnic bench, so you can comfortably make a stopover on your adventure with this MINI.
Conclusion
I hope this brief introduction to the MINI family has given you a better idea of which model best suits your needs. Personally, I do like the low seating position that really makes you feel at one with the car and the powertrain.
Let us know in the comments which MINI suits you best and why and do a thumbs up if you liked the video!
Want to know even more specific details and driving characteristics of these different models? Then check out our other videos in which we take you through each model in detail. See you next time!
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