TopGear - August 2015 PH

unit has a dash camera,

but it’s newly installed

and hasn’t been properly

tested yet. It’s a P50,000

option. Wow.

Moving on to the highlight

of this model, I’m told there’s a two-

inch increase in rear legroom. It actually

feels more than that. I sit in the back

with the driver seat configured for my

position, and my knees just graze the

backrest. For a tall guy like me, it’s quite

an improvement over the cramped

three-door hatch. There’s a 30 %

increase in trunk space, and a lot more

stuff can be swallowed with the 60/40

split-folding rear seats down. This Mini

is a practical hatch now. No wonder

sales in the US have gone up by 48 %;

how much of that is down to this model

is difficult to say. But you get the point.

As to how the Cooper S goes, it’s

a frisky little thing. Low to midrange

torque is good, with the turbo kicking

in almost instantaneously. Applying

the throttle smoothly is the best way to

control the car, because being aggressive

makes the front end more skittish than

you’d like it to be. Get everything right,

though, and the handling is fantastic.

Steering is nicely weighted and

precise, and the six-speed

automatic gearbox is quick

and aggressive.

I bring the car to ‘Tanay-

burgring’ in Rizal, and it feels

right at home. Sport mode with

the gearbox also in Sport brings

out the beast in this Mini. Tackling

the corners feels natural, and it keeps its

side of the bargain when it comes to the

“maximum go-kart feel” description.

This five-door S is as agile as the three-

door.

I’m back in Normal mode for city

driving, and the car offers the right

amount of fun. I place it in Green mode

for a moment to get the best fuel-

consumption return, which is about

the SPeCS

Price:

P2,800,000

engine:

2.0-liter SOHC I4

Power:

192 hp @ 4,700-

6,000rpm

torque:

280Nm @ 1,250-

4,750rpm

transmission:

6-speed automatic

Layout/seating:

FWD/5

thirSt Meter

the VerDiCt

The folks at Mini

were surely going to

come up with a

5-door hatchback.

It would be strange if

they didn’t.

18 20

GeArBOX

13 km/L in mixed conditions. You’d want

to at least keep it in Normal mode to feel

the car’s energetic character; return is

decent hovering around 10 km/L.

It would be nice to compare this

five-door hatch with the new Clubman,

but based on photos I’ve seen so far, the

upcoming model looks to have grown in

size, too. I wonder why Mini didn’t come

up with this five-door hatch sooner. The

added functionality on top of the peppy

performance is appealing. There are

purists who certainly don’t approve, but

the two extra doors and the larger trunk

make a hell of a difference.

RIVAL

THE

Mercedes-Benz

A250 Sport

Merc’s hot hatch is spunky,

but the ride is far less

forgiving.

The right thickness and size,

along with chunky thumb rests,

make it nice to hold.

Gauge cluster reflects the playful

character of the brand. It’s inviting

to look at.

Functions a la BMW are intuitive.

Pictured here is a power and

torque meter.

The circular theme and the mood

lighting option make the interior

far from boring.

Nicely bolstered and provide

good support. Brown fabric/off-

white leather combo is distinct.

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