2020 MINI Cooper S
September 19 2019, Max Landi
In the car world, there is nothing that has as much personality as a MINI. The brand and design of its cars are so distinct, everyone knows exactly what a MINI is. Especially for the 2020 MINI Cooper S. The looks have been tweaked and the car has grown over time, but the Cooper is the definitive MINI. This model year is part of the third generation of the modern MINI, since BMW took ownership of the brand at the beginning of the century. It’s available as a 3-door hatchback, or with an additional $1,300, grows another pair of doors. The 5-door configuration is best used for consumers that intend to use the back seats more frequently, as the growth in the wheelbase is used to add space to the second row of seats.
There are multiple powertrain options with the Cooper. The standard model is a 1.5L three-cylinder turbo engine. The Cooper S has a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder and the more powerful model, John Cooper Works (JCW), has a higher-output version of the same engine as in the Cooper S.
The 5-door is only available as the Cooper and Cooper S. All of these models come with the choice of manual or automatic shifting. A six-speed manual gearbox is the standard transmission with the various engines. The automatic transmissions vary however, with the different power plants. The Cooper and Cooper S both have a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), a first for the MINI brand. The JCW keeps the same six-speed single clutch automatic from the previous model years. On the surface, most drivers and passengers will only notice the different shift levers between the two automatic gearboxes. They both shift efficiently and discreetly with the option of manual shifting by sliding the gear knob in the Sport Shift position. This is different to the Sport mode, which increases throttle response and holds onto gears higher in the rev range. Other driving modes include Mid and Green; these are the typical normal and eco modes found in many cars today. But, the MINI with the DCT goes a step further with the Green mode. As a means of reducing fuel consumption, the MINI has a coasting function. This coasting function decouples the transmission from the engine when power isn’t needed during certain speeds. During the time the car is leaving the off-ramp from a highway, the speed is great enough for the engine and gearbox to uncouple and reduce the rpm’s, meaning less fuel is used.
There’s so much more to the MINI than how it drives, though. The design and impressive interior space are another major part of the MINI Cooper’s appeal. To find out more about the Cooper S and other models, visit MINI Calgary at Calgary's Southeast Auto Mall!
