2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 15:44
Mini and Diesel: Doesn't the driving pleasure fall by the wayside when you save? By no means! For the little runabout, the small diesel engine proves to be the ideal engine. The consumption can also convince.
By Sebastian Viehmann
The first diesel mini with its 75 hp was quite a sleepy. The new engine with 110 horsepower fits better with the sporty appearance of the car. Like the 175 hp petrol engine in the Cooper S, the engine comes from a cooperation between BMW and the PSA Group. The diesel with its standard particle filter therefore also works under the hoods of various Citroëns, Peugeots and Volvos. The four-cylinder draws its power from 1.6 liters of displacement and develops 240 Newton meters of torque with the help of a turbocharger. The noise of the diesel is always present, but in its moderate volume it is never annoying.
In 9.9 seconds to 100 km / h
From a standstill, the Mini sprints to 100 km / h in 9.9 seconds. The little car can be steered through the city as quickly as possible without any difficulty in approaching it. On the country road, it is easy to overtake quickly. Only in the intermediate sprint on the autobahn does the diesel mini sometimes lose its spit. But the engine always has enough thrust ready for quick travel. The six-speed gearbox, which can be operated crisply and precisely, also benefits the driving pleasure. The lush roadholding of the Mini ensures plenty of fun on bends, only on bumpy stretches it gets a little uncomfortable with the tightly tuned chassis.
The official average consumption of the Cooper D is 3.9 liters (4.7 liters in town, 3.5 liters outside of town). In practice, these values could not be fully realized. Our test car achieved the lowest value of 4.1 liters during a leisurely motorway drive at an average speed of around 110 km / h. On brisk tours and in city traffic, the average consumption always fluctuated between five and a half and six liters. When traveling from Berlin to Munich with one person plus luggage and a share of around 20 percent country roads and 80 percent motorway (speed between 120 and 170 km / h), the consumption was 4.5 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers.
Automatic start-stop on board
To save fuel in the city, the diesel mini has an automatic start-stop system on board. It switches off the engine as soon as the car has reached walking speed or is stationary and you let go of the clutch. If you press the clutch, the engine starts again with a slight shake while you engage first gear. So there is no delay when starting. In particularly dense stop-and-go traffic - for example in a traffic jam that only goes at walking pace - the constant on-off game is a bit annoying. This is especially the case when the car almost comes to a standstill and the engine switches itself off, but it continues immediately. The start-stop function can, however, be deactivated at the push of a button.
But even when you're stuck in a traffic jam, you really feel at home in the Mini. You can't get enough of the unconventional cockpit - the Mini seems to be smiling at the driver from every corner. The three-dimensional landscapes in which the various switches are embedded only appear playful at first glance. Once the sense of touch has registered the many different forms of the controls and stored them in your head, you can switch and control the Mini without looking away from the road. The only annoying thing is the pretty, but impractical monster speedometer in the middle of the dashboard. However, the speed can also be shown as a large digital number on the on-board computer display. It's in the tachometer right behind the steering wheel.
Good navigation
The Mini also delights its passengers with little things. Its warning tones, for example, are far removed from the high-pitched head teacher beeping of French or Japanese cars, which rings in your ears at every little thing. Instead, if the belt is not on, the Mini warns with a tone sequence that is somewhat reminiscent of old computer game consoles. The navigation system, which can be operated with a small joystick and two buttons in the center console, shows excellent operating ergonomics.
The Mini Cooper D actually only has two real disadvantages - but they are serious. One is the limited space. It's still comfortable in the front, but it's darn tight in the back. Above all, however, the trunk has not earned its name because it is already overwhelmed with a water box. So the Mini remains a car for singles or couples without luggage - if it is not used as a second car anyway. On the other hand - and this shows the second disadvantage of the Mini - the price is extremely steep. At a base price of 19,400 euros, there is not even air conditioning or ESP on board as standard.
