There’s a new three-spoke steering wheel, with materials, motifs and the general cabin feel dictated by three trim levels. These are Classic, Exclusive and Sport. Classic in particular uses a fun new 2D knitted textile, while you get houndstooth with Exclusive and multi-coloured knit with Sport. Classic looks cool to us. The rest of the interior design? Minimal yet premium, as you’d expect of Mini. Save for the big circular glass slab, it all looks pretty airy and light too.
2024 Mini Cooper – still a ‘Go Kart’
As above, for now the new Mini Cooper is all-electric, with Electric E and Electric SE models available. They have 184PS (135kW) and 218PS (160kW), with 190-mile and 250-mile respective stated range figures. They’re pretty peppy too, with the E getting to 62mph in 7.3 seconds. The SE takes just 6.7 seconds. Charging is predictably swift in the right circumstances, with up to 95kW available, allowing for 10 to 80 per cent charge in under 30 minutes. The Mini Cooper Electric can also prepare its battery for charging if you use the in-built navigation to plot a course for a charger.
The new Mini is, unsurprisingly, wider and longer than its predecessor, although that’s nicely disguised by the styling. The driving dynamics have been finely honed to give that signature Mini feel, while driving modes dictate the car’s personality.