The diesel engines in the Mini are due for an update this September and if you like your hatchbacks to be cheap to run then you’ll appreciate the Mini Cooper D.
BMW are ditching the PSA-sourced 1.6-litre diesel and replacing it with one of their own engines. Sourced from the BMW 116D but with a slightly reduced capacity, the new engine gives the Mini One D 89bhp while the Cooper D benefits from 110bhp. Both engines return improved economy of 72.4mpg and also manage to achieve CO2 emissions of just 99g/km, making the car road tax-free under existing VED rules.
While it might not be the fastest thing on four wheels the Cooper D can reach 62mph in 9.7sec and a maximum speed of 122mph. You’re also getting that renowned Mini chassis, so it makes for some decent warm hatch fun that won’t break the bank.
There are a few visual changes to the Mini range. There’s more chrome around the front grille area, a revised front bumper designed to perform better in pedestrian impacts, and LED tail-lights now feature on all models. There are also new paint colours and alloy wheel designs to choose from, but if it were me I’d be steering well clear of the metallic brown in the picture above.
There are also a raft of changes to the interior trim, specification and options list, apparently offering customers more choice than ever.
Expect to see the revised Mini on sale on 18th September, and while prices have yet to be confirmed they are unlikely to add much to the current range.
