Taking on the MINI Cooper – arguably the haute couture hatch to beat – is always going to be an uphill task. Style is as important a factor as driveability and practicality. After all, in this realm of stylish small hatchbacks wearing premium price tags, going out of fashion simply isn’t an option.
Although looking much sharper than its pre-facelift predecessor, the C30 continues to be an esoteric choice in this niche segment. Comfort, roominess and friendly functionality are the Volvo’s strong points, but these are offset by its relaxed performance and “stressful” pricing.
Knowing that its retrospective design is what attracts buyers, MINI has left the Cooper exterior largely untouched and upgraded the interior instead. The agile handling maintains the fun-to-drive factor, but the Cooper’s drivetrain needs something special to really make the entire package sparkle.
MINI might have pioneered the trendy happy hatch, but it is the A1 that has now redefined this concept. The mini-Audi’s blend of outstanding looks, attention to detail and dynamic driveability has pushed the benchmark higher and rewritten the rules of the game.
Audi A1 1.4 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
Type Inline-4, 16-valves, turbocharged
Capacity 1390cc
Bore x stroke 76.5mm x 75.6mm
Compression ratio 10:1
Max Power 122bhp at 5000rpm
Max Torque 200Nm at 1500-4000rpm
Power to weight 108.4bhp per tonne
Gearbox 7-speed dual-clutch
Driven Wheels Front
PERFORMANCE
0-100km/h 8.9 seconds
Top Speed 203km/h
\Consumption 18.9km/L (combined)
SUSPENSION
Front Macpherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Rear Torsion beam, coil springs
BRAKES
Front / rear Ventilated discs / Discs
TYRES
Type Bridgestone Potenza RE050A
Size 215/40 R17
SAFETY
Airbags 6
Traction Control ABS with ESP
MEASUREMENTS
Length 3954mm
Width 1740mm
Height 1416mm
Wheelbase 2469mm
Kerb Weight 1125kg
Turning Circle 10.6m
BUYING IT
Price $128,861 incl. COE
Warranty 3 years/100,000km
+ Chic design throughout, punchy engine, rapid transmission
– Tight back seat, costly options, jerky Start-Stop function
Volvo C30 2.0 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
Type Inline-4, 16-valves
Capacity 1999cc
Bore x stroke 87.5mm x 83.1mm
Compression ratio 10.8:1
Max Power 145bhp at 6000rpm
Max Torque 185Nm at 4500rpm
Power to weight 105.1bhp per tonne
Gearbox 6-speed dual-clutch
Driven Wheels Front
PERFORMANCE
0-100km/h 9.7 seconds
Top Speed 205km/h
Consumption 12.3km/L (combined)
SUSPENSION
Front MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Rear Multi-link, coil springs, anti-roll bar
BRAKES
Front / rear Ventilated discs / Discs
TYRES
Type Continental ContiSportContact 2
Size 205/50 R17
SAFETY
Airbags 6
Traction Control ABS with DSTC
MEASUREMENTS
Length 4266mm
Width 1782mm
Height 1447mm
Wheelbase 2640mm
Kerb Weight 1379kg
Turning Circle 10.6m
BUYING IT
Price $169,000 incl. COE
Warranty 3 years/100,000km
+ Spacious cabin, thoughtful ergonomics, solid overall feel
– Sedate performance, no paddle shifters, stiff gear lever
MINI Cooper 1.6 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
Type Inline-4, 16-valves
Capacity 1598cc
Bore x stroke 77mm x 85.8mm
Compression ratio 11:1
Max Power 120bhp at 6000rpm
Max Torque 160Nm at 4250rpm
Power to weight 100.8bhp per tonne
Gearbox 6-speed automatic with manual select
Driven Wheels Front
PERFORMANCE
0-100km/h 10.4 seconds
Top Speed 197km/h
Consumption 14.9km/L (combined)
SUSPENSION
Front Macpherson struts, coil springs
Rear Multi-link, coil springs
BRAKES
Front / rear Ventilated discs / Discs
TYRES
Type Bridgestone Turanza ER300 II
Size 195/55 R16
SAFETY
Airbags 6
Traction Control ABS with DSC
MEASUREMENTS
Length 3723mm
Width 1683mm
Height 1407mm
Wheelbase 2467mm
Kerb Weight 1190kg
Turning Circle 10.7m
BUYING IT
Price $131,800 incl. COE
Warranty 3 years/100,000km
+ Go-kart handling, jolly design, great steering feel
– Small boot, uninspiring engine note, ageing automatic
