Hatch Best New Mini yet
Brilliant handling and super-sharp turn-in; Cooper S’s great acoustics; improved cabin
Bottom-feeder front end; thicker pillars; three-pot should sound fruitier
The Pick:The excellent Cooper S manual on 17s with optional adaptive dampers
Ray $25,922 L3T 1.2 75 180 M6 1090 9.9 — 4.9 95 50 F
Ray $28,272 L3T 1.2 75 180 A6 1120 10.2 — 5.0 95 50 F
Cooper $27,400 L3T 1.5 100 220 M6 1085 7.9 — 4.7 95 48 06/14 F
Cooper $29,750 L3T 1.5 100 220 A6 1115 7.8 — 4.9 95 48 F
Cooper D $32,700 L3TD 1.5 85 270 M6 1135 9.2 — 3.7 D 48 F
Cooper D $35,050 L3TD 1.5 85 270 A6 1150 9.2 — 3.9 D 48 F
Cooper S $38,700 L4T 2.0 141 280 M6 1160 6.8 — 5.9 95 50 06/14 F
Cooper S $41,350 L4T 2.0 141 280 A6 1175 6.7 — 5.5 95 50 F
JCW $48,100 L4T 2.0 170 320 M6 1205 6.3 — 6.7 95 61 F
JCW $50,650 L4T 2.0 170 320 A6 1220 6.1 — 5.7 95 61 F
5-door Mini attempts a high-five
Longer wheelbase and extra rear doors broaden the Mini’s family-hatch appeal
Betrays the Mini’s DNA; rear doors look piddly; isn’t this what a Countryman is for?
The Pick:ACooperorCooperDautowiththesmallestwheels.TheSdoesn’tdeservethis
Ray $27,022 L3T 1.2 75 180 M6 1150 10.1 — 5.0 95 50 F
Ray $29,372 L3T 1.2 75 180 A6 1175 10.5 — 5.1 95 50 F
Cooper $28,600 L3T 1.5 100 220 M6 1145 8.2 — 4.9 95 48 F
Cooper $30,950 L3T 1.5 100 220 A6 1175 9.1 16.55.0 95 48 03/16 F
Cooper D $33,800 L3TD 1.5 85 270 M6 1190 9.4 — 3.6 D 48 F
Cooper D $36,150 L3TD 1.5 85 270 A6 1205 9.5 — 3.8 D 50 F
Cooper S $39,800 L4T 2.0 141 280 M6 1220 6.9 — 5.9 95 50 F
Cooper S $42,450 L4T 2.0 141 280 A6 1240 6.8 — 5.4 95 50 F
Cooper ConvertibleFun and functional drop-top
Characterful three-cylinder turbo; functional folding soft-top; accurate steering
Decent price premium for the drop-top; rear visibility not helped by fabric top
The Pick:Let’sfaceit,theconvertibleisallaboutthelooks,sosticktothebasemodel
$38,900 L3T 1.5 100 220 M6 1205 8.8 — 5.1 95 62 F
$38,900 L3T 1.5 100 220 A6 1230 8.7 — 5.3 95 63 F
S $46,500 L4T 2.0 141 280 M6 1275 7.2 — 6.2 95 64 F
S $46,500 L4T 2.0 141 280 A6 1295 7.1 — 5.8 95 64 F
JCW $55,700 L4T 2.0 170 320 A6 6.5 — 5.2 95 51 F
Clubman Mini at its best
Quirky styling; spacious interior; zingy engines; still handles like a go-kart; lots of doors
Lacks the dartiness of its shorter-wheelbase siblings but that somehow makes it better!
The Pick:IftheClubmanwillfitinyourgarage,anyofthem.It’sthebestMiniyoucanbuy
Cooper $36,900 L3T 1.5 100 220 M6 1300 9.1 — 5.4 95 53 F
Cooper $36,900 L3T 1.5 100 220 A6 1320 9.7 17.0 5.4 95 53 08/16 F
Cooper S $43,900 L4T 2.0 141 280 M6 1360 7.2 — 6.4 95 54 F
Cooper S $43,900 L4T 2.0 141 280 A8 1390 7.1 — 5.9 95 54 F
Cooper JCW $54,900 L4T 2.0 170 350 M6 1475 6.3 — 7.8 95 54 A
Cooper JCW $54,900 L4T 2.0 170 350 A8 1490 6.3 — 7.2 95 54 A
Countryman A large-Mini paradox
PlentyofdrivingfizzandMinicharacterinamorepracticalSUV-ishbody
SweettriplelosessomesparklehaulingthelargerCountryman;stylingalittleoverdone
The Pick:A front-drive Cooper S if you aren’t swayed by the VW Tiguan’s practical sense
Cooper $40,500 L3T 1.5 100 220 A6 1390 9.6 — 6.0 95 55 F
Cooper D $44,500 L4TD 2.0 110 330 A8 1430 8.8 — 4.8 D 55 F
Cooper S $47,200 L4T 2.0 141 280 A8 1460 7.4 — 6.5 95 56 F
Cooper SD All4 $52,300 L4TD 2.0 140 400 A8 1535 7.4 — 5.2 D 56 A
JCW $57,900 L4T 2.0 170 350 M6 1540 6.5 — 7.8 95 56 A
JCW $57,900 L4T 2.0 170 350 A8 1555 6.5 — 7.4 95 56 A
@wheelsaustralia 135
Price
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type
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size Power Torque Trans.
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weight
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tested DriveMitsubishi
5yr/100,000km
mitsubishi-motors.com.auMirage Cheap, cheerless mini
Better-equipped than you’d expect at the price; long warranty; should be reliable
Leisurely pace; bouncy ride; tight rear seat; gawky styling; a Mirage in name only
The Pick: A Holden Spark or Kia Picanto if you want new. Or a secondhand Mazda 2
ES $12,250 L3 1.2 57 100 M5 865 — — 4.6 91 41 04/13 F
ES $14,250 L3 1.2 57 100 C 890 — — 4.6 91 41 F
LS $15,250 L3 1.2 57 100 C 890 — — 4.9 91 41 F
Price
Eng
type
Eng
size Power Torque Trans.
Kerb
weight
0-100
km/h
0-400
metres
Fuel
cons.RON
Resale
%
Issue
tested Drive3 Wheeler Asweirdasitgets
It’sagoodwaytostandout;there’snothingelselikeit;characterpersonified
It’s a good way to get laughed at; thirsty; lacking useful features like a windscreen
The Pick:Something (anything!) with four wheels, unless you have a really big garage
$92,300 V2 2.0 60 140 M5 550 6.0 — 9.3 95 61 R
Aero 8 Onefortheroad
As conventional as Morgan gets; distinctive styling blends modern with retro
V8 doesn’t make a whole lot of power comparatively; nose looks like it’s been startled
The Pick:It’s a lot of money and there are many fine alternatives for the price
$270,000 V8 4.8 270 450 M6 1200 — — — 95 R
Classic A synonym for ’old-gen’
Fabulously raw and lightweight roadsters; relatively affordable
Forget about cabin ergonomics or ride quality; definitely not practical
The Pick: It has to be the Plus8 if you really want to carry off the inbred eccentric look
4/4 $89,900 L4 1.6 82 131 M6 868 8.0 — 6.3 95 67 R
Plus 4 $103,500 L4 2.0 115 201 M6 877 7.5 — 7.0 95 61 R
Roadster $139,775 V6 3.7 209 352 M6 950 5.5 — 9.8 95 67 R
Plus 8 $225,000 V8 4.8 270 490 M6 1100 4.5 — 12.1 95 50 R
Plus 8 $225,000 V8 4.8 270 490 A6 1100 4.5 — 12.1 95 50 RLancer Needstobedirtcheap
Neat styling; decent value; storied nameplate;retainsahintofLancerEvocred
Lots! Dynamics are rubbish; cheap interior; poor front seats; droning CVT...
The Pick: A competitor – even a Korean one
ES Sport $19,500 L4 2.0 110 197 M5 1285 9.6 — 6.9 91 47 F
ES Sport $21,000 L4 2.0 110 197 C 1315 10.3 — 7.4 91 47 F
LS sedan $23,500 L4 2.0 110 197 C 1355 10.5 — 7.4 91 48 F
GSR Sportback $22,500 L4 2.4 125 226 M5 1370 9.1 — 8.9 91 48 F
GSR Sportback $24,000 L4 2.4 125 226 C 1400 9.8 — 8.7 91 49 F
GSR sedan $22,500 L4 2.4 125 226 M5 1345 9.1 — 8.9 91 48 F
GSR sedan $24,000 L4 2.4 125 226 C 1375 9.8 — 8.7 91 49 F
ASX Better (looking) with age
Increasingly attractive with each facelift;keenpricing;torqueyturbo-diesel
Interior smaller than SUV rivals; lacks refinement; old and well past it
The Pick: 2WD is appealingly priced, so stay at the bottom end
LS $25,000 L4 2.0 110 197 M5 1335 — — 7.6 91 48 F
LS $27,000 L4 2.0 110 197 C 1365 — — 7.4 91 48 F
XLS $32,000 L4 2.0 110 197 C 1375 — — 7.4 91 46 F
LS 4x4 $32,500 L4TD 2.2 110 360 A6 1540 — — 6.0 D 46 09/13 A
XLS 4x4 $37,500 L4TD 2.2 110 360 A6 1540 — — 6.0 D 48 09/13 A
Eclipse Cross Shades its SUV siblings
Up-to-the-minute cabin; generous kit for all variants; smart styling with family DNA
Very close dimensionally to cheaper (but much older) ASX sibling; no diesel
The Pick: Owners of the entry LS will want for little unless AWD is a must
LS $30,500 L4T 1.5 110 250 C 1490 — — 7.3 91 48 F
Exceed $36,000 L4T 1.5 110 250 C 1490 — — 7.3 91 50 F
Exceed $38,500 L4T 1.5 110 250 C 1555 — — 7.7 91 50 A
Outlander Yougotsevenseatsinthat?
A compact-ish SUV that squeezes in seven seats except PHEV; quieter and smoother
Crappo infotainment functionality; about as American as a facelift can get
The Pick: Either a base LS manual or an XLS 4WD turbo-diesel with six-speed auto
LS $28,750 L4 2.0 110 190 M5 1410 — — 7.0 91 48 F
LS $30,500 L4 2.0 110 190 C 1430 — — 6.7 91 48 F
LS 4WD $33,500 L4 2.4 124 220 C 1500 10.8 17.8 10.8 91 48 06/17 A
LS Safety Pack $32,000 L4 2.0 110 190 C 1430 — — 6.7 91 48 F
LS Safety 4WD $35,000 L4 2.4 124 220 C 1535 11.0 17.9 7.2 91 50 06/15 A
LS Safety 4WD DiD $39,500 L4TD 2.3 110 360 A6 1630 — — 6.2 D 50 A
Exceed 4WD $44,000 L4 2.4 124 220 C 1535 — — 7.2 91 51 A
Exceed 4WD DiD $47,500 L4TD 2.3 110 360 A6 1630 — — 6.2 D 51 A
PHEV LS $50,490 L4H 2.0 120 332 A1 1810 — — 1.7 91 42 A
$55,490 L4H 2.0 120 332 A1 1871 — — 1.7 91 42 A
Pajero Sport From Challenger to challenging
Clever on-demand 4WD system; eight-speed transmission; rugged
Old-school Triton chassis hurts dynamics; gobsmacking styling
The Pick: Base GLX offers plenty for the money, but Toyota Fortuner is much prettier
GLX $45,000 L4TD 2.5 133 430 A8 2045 — — 8.0 D 52 A
GLS $48,500 L4TD 2.5 133 430 A8 2060 — — 8.0 D 53 A
Exceed $53,000 L4TD 2.5 133 430 A8 2070 — — 8.0 D 53 03/16 A
Pajero Mitsu’s staple family workhorse
Tough family transporter is also a proper off-roader; undercuts serious 4WD rivals
Feels old (it is) and creaky; noisy diesel; ponderous dynamics; heavy
The Pick: The thrifty diesel, but unless you venture off-road often, think Sorento or CX-9
GLX $53,990 L4TD 3.2 147 441 A5 2263 — — 8.6 D 51 A
GLS $58,990 L4TD 3.2 147 441 A5 2314 — — 8.6 D 51 A
Exceed $65,990 L4TD 3.2 147 441 A5 2335 — — 9.2 D 57 AMorgan
2yr/100,000km
morgancars.com.auMini
3yr/unlimited
mini.com.auGS Soft-roading mediocrity
Umm ... decent cabin space, strong warranty, 162kW grunt from 2.0-litre turbo
Poor cabin finish; lacklustre steering, savage ride, flimsy build
The Pick: A Nissan Qashqai, Suzuki Vitara, Honda HR-V or any other small SUV
Vivid $23,990 L4T 1.5 119 250 M6 1432 – – 7.4 91 56 F
Core $25,990 L4T 1.5 119 250 S7 1432 — — 7.4 91 56 F
Soul $27,990 L4T 1.5 119 250 S7 1420 — — 7.4 91 56 F
Essence $34,990 L4T 2.0 162 350 S6 1614 – – 9.6 91 57 A
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