In contrast to the usual MINIs, the John Cooper Works (JCW) mannequin performs in a extra crowded discipline of established sports activities vehicles that features the Honda Civic Kind R, Toyota GR Corolla, and Volkswagen Golf R. You could possibly even cross-shop the JCW with the Subaru WRX and Nissan Z, however not one of the aforementioned supply the customization, esoteric appeal, and the upscale cabin and facilities of the MINI, setting it aside and permitting this British hatchback to shine.
Consider JCW because the M to BMW, or AMG to Mercedes. It’s a spicier, rowdier, and extra performance-oriented MINI Cooper with a stiffer suspension, revised steering ratios, 18-inch wheels, and an uprated 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 228 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, 44 lb-ft greater than the final JCW. That energy is routed via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and is sufficient to dash from 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds.
The JCW comes with a extra aggressive physique equipment, a double-winged rear spoiler, and when dressed up on this Nanuq White paint with pink roof and hood stripes, it appears to be like like a slick baseball. However when was the final time a automobile had a single middle exhaust pipe? It seems unbalanced with such a large stance, and might need seemed higher with faux exhaust recommendations on all sides, however maybe MINI didn’t wish to observe that darkish street as Audi has. And if you happen to stick your head below the automobile, you’ll spot a second, hidden exhaust outlet on the left driver’s aspect. We expect a triple-outlet would have seemed cleaner, Civic Kind R type. A lot to our annoyance, there aren’t any passenger-door keyless entry options on any of the MINI Coopers, together with this JCW.
In contrast to the outside with eleven selectable paint colors, the inside of the JCW is proscribed to only one: black leather-based with pink accents. Which is a disgrace contemplating how MINIs are seen as private, fashionable expressions on the street, however MINI have probably achieved their analysis and realized the JCW is a really driver-focused alternative.
Nonetheless, the JCW additions are purposeful. The brand new seats use cloth upholstery on the higher half of the seatback, and leather-based on the decrease half and seat backside. The built-in headrests are curved ahead at a shallow angle so that you’re not pressured to hunch ahead, and are properly supported on the thighs and hips. It’s straightforward to discover a snug seating place with a steering wheel that telescopes and tilts a substantial distance (although not as versatile as BMW’s).
The inside adopts an identical design to the brand new Countryman with scrupulous consideration to element, and a 9.4-inch frameless round OLED touchscreen sitting fairly within the middle and stealing the highlight. It presents the newest MINI infotainment system and is suitably lag-free and responsive to the touch inputs. MINI invested an excessive amount of money and time into designing a vibrant and welcoming interface for every menu display screen, the whole lot from the aircon menu to the driving modes, making every button press a pleasant shock.
The whole cabin makes use of upscale supplies and makes the motive force really feel like they spent more cash than they’ve. Eliminating the gear shifter and changing it with a toggle on the dashboard has tremendously improved cabin area, and we are able to’t overstate how useful that cubby field within the middle console is, particularly for drivers who don’t carry round private luggage or have deep pockets, and have a tendency to throw their pockets and keys all over the place. This field retains them contained and from flying across the inside, and away from prying eyes. The one subject is that the field opens away from the motive force, so passengers don’t have easy accessibility to the contents.
With out a conventional instrument panel behind the steering wheel, all the essential data is positioned both on the middle touchscreen or the small head-up show, however the latter is proscribed in how a lot data could be proven without delay, and there’s no gear indicator displayed on the HUD both, even within the sporty Go-Kart Mode. Which means we’ve got to distractingly look on the middle display screen and take our eyes off the street to capitalize on important information, which incorporates the gear place.
This two-door MINI is extra spacious inside than one may count on. My six-foot self has no points discovering a comfortable driving place with the seat reclined again or when sitting straight up. There’s oodles of additional headroom and a generously sized footwell to stretch your legs. The cabin structure is extra ergonomic than the earlier mannequin’s intrusive armrest and awkwardly positioned gear lever and handbrake. The armrest right here isn’t adjustable however it’s skinny and doesn’t impede you from accessing the cupholders. The rear home windows and twin sunroofs add a major quantity of pure mild to an in any other case darkish and black inside, although there are handbook sunblinds do you have to want a vampire vibe. However don’t count on to suit any reasonably-sized adults in these rear vestigial seats, except they sit sideways in with their legs hunched up.
On the street, you instantly really feel the tighter steering and firmer trip in comparison with the Cooper S. The trip is tough on something however a glassy street, which is superb if cornering skill and chassis fluency are what you’re after, however consolation and compliance are secondary priorities with the JCW. If every day street use is its future, then we’d advocate the extra snug S mannequin as a substitute to cut back the influence of vertical oscillations in your backbone.
However the agency trip is purposeful and provides to the JCW’s agility and front-end sharpness. There’s verve and vigour to the way in which the automobile rotates, and the heavier steering might take extra driver effort however you’re feeling extra linked to the entrance tires because of this. Talking of which, it has been some time since we’ve pushed a automobile with this a lot torque steer – we had the identical criticism with the Cooper S however it’s exacerbated on this higher-output JCW. Put the pedal to the metallic and the entrance wheels will chirp and wrestle for grip, tugging the steering wheel left and proper because it tries to claw in. Honda appears to have solved their torque steer points however we’re perplexed why MINI can’t, or haven’t. The ensuing drive makes us really feel like we are able to’t absolutely extract what this JCW is absolutely able to with out a good working window. We acquired tire squeal even in second gear with Go-Kart mode.
The 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox is barely smoother and extra compliant than within the BMW X2 M35i. Upshifts are barely delayed when flicking the proper paddle however downshifts are peaky and crispy. It’s shy on hitting the 6,500 rpm limiter, and the plastic paddle shifters really feel low-cost, flimsy, and unsatisfying to set off – it’s essentially the most two-bin a part of an in any other case upscale cabin. However there’s now a Enhance Mode characteristic built-in into the left paddle whereby pulling it unleashes ten seconds of full sport settings, letting you carry out fast overtake maneuvers in a pinch. We nonetheless yearn for a handbook gearbox comeback – it’s out there within the rivalling Honda Civic Kind R, Toyota GR Corolla, and Volkswagen Golf R.
At the very least the JCW sounds the half. The exhaust is considerably louder than the Cooper S and even the Countryman JCW probably because of the driver’s proximity to the exhaust. It’s a suitably rowdy and thrilling soundtrack with related vocals to the X2 M35i. Deep bass burbles are emitted on throttle overrun and upshifts, accompanied by artificial noises that sound just like the opening of throttle our bodies. Roll down the home windows and you may even hear turbo flutters. It’s appropriately loud, youthful, and befitting of the JCW badge.
The MINI Cooper JCW is a vastly charismatic sports activities automobile with a frenetic exhaust and a totally overhauled inside that delivers premium high quality at a comparatively entry-level value. Its efficiency envelope is broad because of a vibrant engine however the anodyne gearbox and important quantity of torque steer limit us from exploring these limits and finally, from falling in love with an in any other case charming and memorable hatchback.
Specs:
Mannequin: 2025 MINI Cooper John Cooper Works
Paint Kind: Nanuq White
Base Value: $51,990
Value as Examined: $52,690
Size/Width/Top (mm): 3,879 / 1,744 / 1,431
Powertrain: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Horsepower: 228 hp @ 5,000 rpm
Torque: 280 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch
Engine & Drive Configuration: Entrance engine, FWD
Noticed Gas Economic system (L/100km): 10.2
Tires: Continental Sport Contact 7; 215/40R18
