Mini‘s onslaught of new models continues with the latest addition – the Coupe.
It’s a love-it-or-loathe-it two-door variant, pitched as something of a halo product to the rest of the range.
The BMW-owned firm understands that take-up isn’t likely to be huge – especially in the fleet sector – due to the practicality implications of its two-seat layout. Worth noting, though, is that, at 280 litres, the Coupe’s boot is considerably larger than that of the hatchback, which musters only 160 litres with the rear seats in place.
There are also other practical features to compromise for the lack of seats, including boot netting and a small hatch that allows access to the boot from the cabin and enables the loading of long, thin luggage.
Most of the other engines in the range are available with the Coupe in addition to the 2.0-litre diesel unit in the SD tested here, although the cheaper and less powerful diesel has been dropped from this model line so as to imbue a more sporting presence.
To drive, it retains all the hallmarks of the hatchback – sharp, responsive handling – so it is at least entertaining. The Coupe has its drawbacks, though, namely a rough ride (it’s claimed to be the most rigid-bodied Mini) and exceptionally poor rear visibility, made worse by the rear spoiler, which rises automatically at around 50mph.
An effective stop/start system comes as standard and the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, while noisy when revved, returns impressive figures for a sporting car – 65.7mpg and 114g/km – that keep it within the 13% BIK bracket, which is impressive for a performance-orientated coupe, especially one with a 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds.
Good running costs and Mini’s usual cast-iron residual values are attractive to business users, but that’s about where the appeal ends. Two doors, two seats and strictly limited practicality and visibility means that, other than emotionally, there’s little allure for the fleet community.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
