Mini Cooper

The Mini Cooper is the rare small car people buy with their hearts. The latest generation keeps the cheeky, stubby silhouette but moves almost everything inside to a single round OLED screen. In India it arrives only as the petrol Cooper S, a premium three-door hatch priced like a compact luxury SUV. You buy it for the steering, the styling and the badge, not for space or running costs. It remains gloriously impractical and genuinely fun.

On the road, the Cooper S is still the benchmark for small-car handling. The 2.0-litre turbo petrol sends 201 bhp to the front wheels through a quick seven-speed dual-clutch, and the chassis turns in with an eagerness most hatchbacks can only dream of. Body roll is minimal, the steering is meaty and direct, and the short wheelbase makes it feel alert in city traffic and joyful on a twisty road. The flip side is a firm ride that thumps over Indian potholes and broken patches, so it is happiest on smooth tarmac.

The cabin is the biggest talking point. Mini has stripped out almost every physical button in favour of a large circular OLED touchscreen that handles everything from navigation to climate to the drive modes, which it calls Experiences. It looks fantastic and the knitted dashboard fabric feels special, but burying common functions in menus is a usability step backward, and some controls take your eyes off the road. Build quality and material richness, however, are clearly a notch above mainstream hatchbacks.

Practicality is where the Mini asks for compromise. This is a strict four-seater with a tight rear bench that suits children or short trips, and the 210-litre boot is small. Rear access through the three-door body is awkward, and outward visibility is only average thanks to the chunky pillars. Equipment is generous, with a head-up display, panoramic sunroof, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Harman Kardon system and ambient lighting all on offer.

Value is the honest sticking point. At this price you are well into compact luxury SUV territory, and rivals offer far more metal, space and badge prestige for similar money. The Mini counters with character, driving fun and exclusivity that none of them match. Fuel economy in the mid-teens and premium servicing costs are part of the deal, so go in clear-eyed about what you are paying for.