MINI Cooper S Seven
FIRST DRIVE Special edition brings distinctive look and extra kit
WHILE the 210 gets a power boost, MINI has also looked into its retro parts bin to produce the special-edition Seven.
Revealed earlier this year, the new model promises to be a big seller in the UK, thanks to its extra equipment and unique styling. While the Seven is available from £18,545 if you spec an entry-level Cooper, it’s the £21,180 Cooper S we try here first.
The easiest way to spot the Seven is by its silver roof and door mirrors, as well as the unique 17-inch alloy wheels. You can choose from four exclusive colours, with our car finished in Lapisluxury Blue, while silver bonnet stripes are optional as well.
The car commands a premium of £2,200, but standard kit includes part-leather seats, a 6.5-inch display with sat-nav and dualzone climate control. This builds on the DAB radio, Bluetooth and sports steering wheel you get on the regular Cooper S.
Options include the popular Chili pack (which adds full leather, LED headlights and cruise control), heated seats and an upgraded stereo. The circle-themed design inside isn’t for everyone, but it’s something different, and the high-quality materials mean it has more of a premium feel than many mainstream rivals – including the Volkswagen Polo GTI.
As with much of the MINI range, though, it’s still expensive to buy, especially when you put this Cooper S version next to something like Ford’s brilliant Fiesta ST, which costs from just £17,985 and is available for much less than that if you haggle. But if you really want a MINI, the Seven could make sense. It adds all the equipment you’d need, and thanks to some Seven badges around the car, feels a bit more exclusive.
The changes are purely cosmetic, however, which means it’s still not as fun as the Ford – but the MINI remains one of the best-handling superminis on the road. The 189bhp four-cylinder engine is good fun, too, with plenty of low-end torque, which helps when zipping around town. It’ll cover 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds, so it’s got plenty of performance, and sounds good, too – if not as throaty as the Works 210 (left).
Economy of 49.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 133g/km are impressive for a sporty hatch, and mean that it shouldn’t cost too much to run. It provides a good balance between driving fun and everyday usability.
“The easiest way to spot the Seven is by the silver roof and door mirrors, plus the unique alloy wheels”