2007 Mini Cooper
Test drove: 6/5/2007 to 6/19/2007
Polly/Barbie Car Just Right for This Mom
What is it about little girls and tiny toys? Growing up, I couldn’t have cared less about Barbie dolls, but I loved all the little clothes and accessories that came along with them. Nowadays, Barbies are out and Polly Pockets are in — you know, those little dolls with the most minuscule parts imaginable. Those clever marketers made the Polly Pocket shoes so nano-sized they lasted less than 10 minutes outside the packaging before they disappeared into the dolly graveyard deep within my sofa cushions.
Well, when my girls first saw the 2007 Mini Cooper, they both immediately likened it to Polly’s car. I can’t say I disagree. Driving the Mini is so much fun, I feel like Barbie (or Polly) and want nothing more than to have Ken take me out on a date in it. But don’t even think about getting into that driver’s seat there, Zippy Ken. We all know Barbie had a career as a professional NASCAR driver and would kick Ken’s ass on the road.
Immediately upon entering this car, the hilarious tone of the dinging seat belt reminder made me smile. Imagine that: A car with a sense of humor — and a British one at that! You gotta love it. My 6-year-old immediately picked up on the circular theme in this car. Everything from the key fob and rearview mirror to the instrument gauges and seatbacks is round. Even the foot pedals are round.
Speaking of the key fob, apparently you have to be smarter than Barbie to instinctively know how to use it. My daughter figured it out before I could even get to the round-ish glove box to find the owner’s manual: Insert round disk key into the corresponding round disk slot on the dash, press in once, then push the circular Start button. Once you’re moving, be forewarned about the very large — and yes, circular — illuminated center-mounted speedometer. My kids quickly turned into Little Miss Polly cops policing my every driving move: “Mom, why are you going 70 when that speed-limit sign says 65?”
Maybe it was because of the lack of cruise control in my base-model Mini. Or it might have been because I was distracted by the irritating tin-can effect the cheap sound system in this car puts out. I’m no audiophile, but if you plan on playing any music in this car, go ahead and spend the dough to upgrade.
Now, you might be thinking, ”What kind of lunatic parent would go out and buy a Mini as a family car?” I admit to being a little skeptical myself, but after two weeks with booster-seat aged children in this little toy car, I’m practically ready to go out and buy one. Despite the obvious inconvenience of having to slide one of the front seats forward so my dolls can climb into the back (thankfully the human variety are much more nimble than the plastic toy versions), the Mini is really quite functional. I only have to open one door to get all three of us into the car. Luckily, my legs aren’t nearly as endless as Barbie’s, so there’s sufficient legroom behind me for the kids.
By far, my favorite thing about the Mini is the surprising generosity of its interior dimensions. The backseat only seats two, but each seat is wide enough to perfectly cradle a high-back booster seat without obstructing access to the seat-belt buckle. The seat belts are also easy enough for both kids to use on their own, making my life really quite simple. I wouldn’t recommend trying to put infants or toddlers in the Mini in rear-facing child seats (there’s just not enough legroom) or even forward-facing child safety seats (you’ll have to Gumby yourself to buckle and unbuckle their five-point harnesses). However, if you need to try either of these in a pinch, the Mini has incredibly simple Latch connectors with a swinging hinged cover. I also appreciate the absence of a deep seat crevasse, aka Polly Pocket shoe magnet and nasty crumb collector.
Another surprisingly large space inside this seemingly unlarge car is the cargo area. With the rear seats filled, I still had room for groceries and an umbrella stroller. With the rear seats folded, I hauled an amazingly large loot from the plant nursery: An entire flat of phlox, two 8-inch pots of Russian sage and two HUGE hanging baskets of some unknown red flowering variety. Barbie’s gardener would be so proud.
To block the summer sun that my plants so love but I absolutely hate while driving, I got a huge kick out of the driver’s side sun visor located just above the window jam. One for the front and a second one for the side kept me from having to perform my skilled duck-and-swing maneuver every time I turned a corner and needed to reposition the shade.
For us moms who prefer Barbie’s recent career as a NASCAR driver to that of one as Ken’s arm candy, the Mini might just be the progressive, smart (think great gas mileage) and unconventional mom-mobile we’ve been searching for. Before writing this car off because of its perceived size — bigger isn’t always better, you know — slow down your shopping and broaden your vehicular horizons.
*For more information on the Mini Cooper and its safety features, visit Cars.com. With questions or comments regarding this review, write to motherproof@msn.com.
LET’S TALK NUMBERS
Latch Connectors: 2
Seating Capacity (includes driver): 4
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT
Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair – Ample
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair – Ample
SENSE AND STYLE
Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair – Great
Fun Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove On): Groove On
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| Base price: | $18,050 |
| Price as tested: | $22,300 |
| Engine: | 118-hp, 1.6-liter 4-cyl. |
| Fuel: | 30/37 mpg |
| Length: | 145.6” |
| Width: | 66.3” |
| Ground Clearance: | 5.5” |
| Turning Radius: | 17.5’ |
| Cargo space: | 5.7 – 24.0 cu. ft. |
| NHTSA Crash-Test Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Frontal Impact | |
| Driver’s side: | Not Rated |
| Passenger’s side: | Not Rated |
| Side Impact | |
| Front occupant: | Not Rated |
| Rear occupant: | Not Rated |
| Rollover resistance: | Not Rated |
Comments
thanks for posting this!! my future husband and i are considering the mini cooper s as our "family car" as well. he is the proud owner of a 2006 ford mustang gt, so having a "fun car" is important to him. i'm more concerned with gas mileage and avoiding the stereotypical soccer-mom-suv/minivan-driver image. i think the mini satisfies both of our desires. :) this article was very helpful.
Posted by: sm | Jul 20, 2007 9:39:47 PM
I LOVE my mini, and so does my 5 year old daughter. It feels like being in a cockpit, with the controls and measurement readings and the rounded vents, so we pretend we're flying sometimes. She really digs the sunroof, too, since she gets her own! My husband is 5'10 and 200 pounds and muscular, and he has plenty of shoulder and leg room. And the 39 to 43 mpg mileage is a dream. LOVE IT! (Plus I've had over 30 fun conversations with people asking me all about my car.)
Posted by: Amy P | Feb 8, 2008 9:20:36 PM
I LOVE my mini, and so does my 5 year old daughter. It feels like being in a cockpit, with the controls and measurement readings and the rounded vents, so we pretend we're flying sometimes. She really digs the sunroof, too, since she gets her own! My husband is 5'10 and 200 pounds and muscular, and he has plenty of shoulder and leg room. And the 39 to 43 mpg mileage is a dream. LOVE IT! (Plus I've had over 30 fun conversations with people asking me all about my car.)
Posted by: Amy P | Feb 8, 2008 9:21:33 PM
I LOVE my mini, and so does my 5 year old daughter. It feels like being in a cockpit, with the controls and measurement readings and the rounded vents, so we pretend we're flying sometimes. She really digs the sunroof, too, since she gets her own! My husband is 5'10 and 200 pounds and muscular, and he has plenty of shoulder and leg room. And the 39 to 43 mpg mileage is a dream. LOVE IT! (Plus I've had over 30 fun conversations with people asking me all about my car.)
Posted by: Amy P | Feb 8, 2008 9:22:18 PM
I LOVE my mini, and so does my 5 year old daughter. It feels like being in a cockpit, with the controls and measurement readings and the rounded vents, so we pretend we're flying sometimes. She really digs the sunroof, too, since she gets her own! My husband is 5'10 and 200 pounds and muscular, and he has plenty of shoulder and leg room. And the 39 to 43 mpg mileage is a dream. LOVE IT! (Plus I've had over 30 fun conversations with people asking me all about my car.)
Posted by: Amy P | Feb 8, 2008 9:22:32 PM
I LOVE my mini, and so does my 5 year old daughter. It feels like being in a cockpit, with the controls and measurement readings and the rounded vents, so we pretend we're flying sometimes. She really digs the sunroof, too, since she gets her own! My husband is 5'10 and 200 pounds and muscular, and he has plenty of shoulder and leg room. And the 39 to 43 mpg mileage is a dream. LOVE IT! (Plus I've had over 30 fun conversations with people asking me all about my car.)
Posted by: Amy P | Feb 8, 2008 9:22:56 PM
We have a Mini S, and actually had to get rid of it with our newborns...this car is definitely not meant for rear-facing child seats (the rear seats are buckets) and the bigger stroller and diaper bag take up all the space in the boot. A very sad day for our family! This may be a great car for when your kids are older, but definitely not for anyone with little ones.
Also, for any family car, everyone should plan for the very high maintenance costs of a MINI (it is a BMW, after all). Since space is a premium, the MINI has run-flat tires, which can only be installed at the dealership. Depending on how your MINI is configured, new tires may be needed as frequently as every 15k miles. At $300-$500 a tire, it adds up. All maintenance is free for 3 yrs/36k miles, but after that, scheduled services will top $1,000 and simple things like oil changes will cost $250 or more.
Posted by: Jason | Apr 3, 2008 3:52:49 PM
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Thanks for testing and posting this article. I'm a mom of two boys 12 and 5 and we're all thinking hoping we can fit our busy and active lives into a Mini Cooper S as or "family" car. Your article was a big help and we appreciate the viewpoint. Keep on motoring!
Posted by: wendi | Jul 8, 2007 1:42:57 PM