Mini has launched the 2018 facelift for its Cooper and priced it from Rs 29.70 lakh to Rs 37.10 lakh, depending on the body style and engine on offer. The range has been brought to India soon after its international debut in January this year.
Like the previous model, the hatchback is available in three-door, five-door and convertible body styles, where the three-door model gets petrol and diesel engine options, the five-door gets just the diesel, and the convertible only comes with the petrol option.
Visually, there is quite a bit different about the 2018 Cooper, with front and rear LED lights offered as standard and matrix LED high beams available as an option. The LED tail-lamps feature a Union Jack-inspired design, influenced by the tail-lights seen on the 2017 Mini Electric concept. There are three new exterior colours to choose from – Emerald Grey metallic, Starlit Blue metallic and Solaris Orange metallic – taking the total to 14 exterior paint shades. Additionally, petrol models get an optional exterior piano-black finish that replaces chrome touches around the headlights, tail-lights and radiator grille.
The cabin of the refreshed models now feature a new three-spoke steering wheel integrated with multifunction buttons, sports seats, brown leather upholstery and a piano black finish on the doors and centre console. The ‘Mini Yours Interior Style Piano Black Illuminated’ option adds a backlit interior surface on the passenger side of the dashboard, stylised as a Union Jack. The other optional Mini Excitement Pack adds LED interior and ambient lighting available in a choice 12 colours.
Optional extras include a sunroof, a 6.5-inch touchscreen instrument cluster and Mini Wired Pack that includes an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, navigation, Mini’s Connected apps, wireless charging, two USB inputs and a 20GB internal hard drive for media storage. Other infotainment options now include Apple CarPlay and a 360W Harmon Kardon system with 12 speakers and an eight-channel digital amplifier.
A highlight of the facelift is the powertrain. While the 192hp/280Nm 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine on the Cooper S is the same, there’s a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission on offer that can be operated via steering-mounted paddleshifters. The Cooper D makes do with the pre-facelift model’s 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine that makes 114hp and 270Nm of torque. The six-speed automatic is unchanged as well. The engines also come with three driving modes – Standard, Green and Sport – which adjust the suspension and engine based on driver preferences.
In terms of safety features, all models come with dual-front airbags, brake assist, three-point seat belts, stability control, a crash sensor, ABS, Cornering Brake Control and run-flat tyres as standard. Driver assistance systems that are available as standard are cruise control, rear view camera and head-up display, while Park Assist is an optional extra.
The Cooper rivals the likes of the Mercedes A-class and Volvo V40 in India and is priced close to its competition.
| Prices (ex-showroom) | |
|---|---|
| Variant | Price |
| MINI 3-door Cooper D (Diesel) | Rs 29.70 lakh |
| MINI 3-door Cooper S (Petrol) | Rs 33.20 lakh |
| MINI 5-door Cooper D (Diesel) | Rs 35.00 lakh |
| MINI Convertible Cooper S (Petrol) | Rs 37.10 lakh |