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Edmunds
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Edmunds
2025 Mini Countryman S: What's It Like to Live With?
Why did we get it? We have a habit of taking on Minis here at Edmunds. Not too long ago we added a similarly green Mini Cooper S to our garage. A lot more of Mini's legacy rode on the shoulders of that car because of its more traditional size and shape, and frankly, there was only the faintest whiff of that old magic in that car's bones. But the question here is largely the same. Does Mini still have the juice? The entire lineup has been reborn since then — all Cooper and Countryman models are new. So does the Countryman offer an exciting, more whimsical alternative to the bland malaise of two-row crossovers you see everywhere? Is it the antidote to the relentless slog of boring, uninspired, bad-to-drive, not-so-cute utes that have taken over our roads? A year of evaluation is going to help us figure out that and much, much more. What's happened so far? We've spent a lot of time behind the wheel of our Mini already. A round-trip drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco and back revealed a lot about its credentials as a long-distance cruiser (and just how fuel-efficient it can be). We also already need to take it in for a service. Look for updates about all that (and more) in the coming months. Something tells us it's going to be an interesting year.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
Test-Driving The 2025 Mini Aceman John Cooper Works
2025 Mini Aceman JCW I believe in the saying: 'Life's too short to drive boring cars'. After passing my driving test, I made a beeline for a Daihatsu Copen, a tiny two-seater that looks like a Croc sandal. I didn't care that people laughed as I tootled past with the roof down, my head poking out like a protruding toe through a worn-out sock. I was driving something special. A few years ago, I bought a Mini Paceman Cooper S, also known as the Countryman's ugly sister. It's good, but when I heard Mini was dropping the 'P' with its new model, my intrigue spiked. I never tested the Mini Aceman. But I, of course, said yes when Mini asked if I fancied a go in its lightly spiced John Cooper Works (JCW) guise. It doesn't take me long to become smitten with odd cars; it's usually love at first sight. Was that the case with the Mini Aceman JCW? I'm not sure, but hear me out. I like its startled face: its gawking eye-like headlights and its large mouth-esque plastic 'grille'—it's almost like it's seen John Cooper's ghost. But it didn't quite make me tingle the same way as the first JCW Countryman did. 2025 Mini Aceman JCW From the side and rear, the Aceman JCW follows the Countryman's design cues but is smaller in size, and this got me, and many others, asking a question: Who's it for? The answer is simple: like Mini's, but don't like the idea of cramming bags of shopping and a Great Dane in the boot of a three-door Cooper hatch? The Aceman's the one for you. Of course, you can opt for the larger Countryman with its 505-litre boot, but it's a bit more cumbersome. The Aceman JCW shares a very similar interior with the JCW Electric three-door, but it has a loftier roofline. The pin-sharp touchscreen is filled with quirky animations and features, including a selfie camera. Entry-level Minis are usually fun, but if you want to take pleasure to the next level, you'd usually opt for a Cooper S or the ASBO-inducing John Cooper Works (JCW). The latter's usually powered by potent and burbly engines that aid the Mini's already naughty character, but that's recently changed. You can still buy ICE versions, but Mini's upped its EV game, giving buyers a broader choice. 2025 Mini Aceman JCW The Mini Aceman JCW shares its 254bhp motor and 54.2kWh battery with its low-slung three-door JCW sibling. This means a 242-mile combined (WLTP) range, 0-to-62 mph in 6.4 seconds and a 124mph top speed, but there's a catch. To get all 254 bhp, you pull back on an aptly named 'boost' paddle behind the steering wheel, which gives you 10 seconds of hair-on-fire mid-range madness. Straight-line pace isn't enough for a JCW, many cars at the same price point can achieve those acceleration figures, instead, JCW's were always praised for their tight chassis and snappy brakes. But the Aceman variant has been left in the oven that little bit too long: its chassis is just too firm. A Porsche 911 GT3 almost feels Rolls-Royce-like in comparison. The Aceman JCW is a compact electric SUV, and it should be able to traverse crumbling urban roads at 30 mph without bouncing its occupants through the sunroof. I noticed a slight improvement as speed increased, but I was always of the car fidgeting beneath me. Likewise, it doesn't like mid-corner bumps. Hitting these throws the car off course and largely dampens the fun factor. 2025 Mini Aceman JCW interior Finding smooth tarmac drastically changes the Aceman JCW's behaviour. Its steering is tight and precise, and throwing its 1,800kg around bends is heaps of fun thanks to its grippy tyres. This, combined with snappy brakes, means it can be amusing. Regarding range, my test car averaged 3.5mi/kWh over motorways, dual carriageways and country roads. Realistically, the Aceman JCW should return circa 180 miles in warmer weather over potholed roads and roughly 190 on slower routes. Mini's injected the Aceman JCW with its zesty spirit. It's like a four-wheeled carnival; you'll never get bored of touching or looking at it. The Mini Aceman JCW also boasts great efficiency and has a decent range, and enough interior space, but it's simply too firm for most roads. Follow me on Instagram.
Mail & Guardian
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Mail & Guardian
A super Cooper by Mini — but is it too expensive?
The fifth generation Mini Cooper I have blurred memories of the Mini 1275e that my parents owned back in the Nineties and the early 2000s. All I remember is that my mum piled up her students in the back to give them a lift to and from her tuition. To get an image of what that looks like, you might have to picture Mr Bean putting a few passengers in his Mini. That Mini cost my parents R2 500 back in 1991 and, when they eventually let go of it, they were able to sell the car for R6 000. If only we could buy cars for R2 500 now. If only we could make a profit on vehicles after piling on years of mileage. Thirty-five years on, it costs 238 times the price to get into a brand-new Mini Cooper. For those who are bad at maths, that means the new fifth-generation Mini Cooper starts at R595 000. If you need the five-door variant, it will set you back R617 000 and the Mini Cooper SE, which is electric, is rather reasonably priced at R802 000. At an entry price of just under R600 000, I was expecting big things from the little Mini. The exterior For starters, Mini has never lacked style. This one does not disappoint. The front has a striking grille that ties into the headlights well. The headlights also have a very cool animation and wink at you when you unlock the vehicle. The daytime running lights run around the oval-shaped headlights and it just looks distinctive in every aspect. The three-door Cooper sits on 17-inch black alloy wheels that add to the stylish exterior. The brand has also built itself by making vehicles customisable. For example, I had a bright yellow version on test with black alloy wheels, a white roof and white exterior mirrors. Mini is the one brand that could tie those colours together and make it look fun. The rear of the vehicle is just as exciting as Mini has brought a completely new design to it. The weirdly shaped triangular tail lights are connected by a black strip with the 'Cooper' lettering across it. Ultimately, the exterior of the vehicle embodies fun and gives you an idea of what the vehicle is about. The interior The interior of the fifth-generation Mini Cooper amplifies the message you are given on the outside. Once you jump in, you are greeted by a superb leather and cloth interior. Majority leather on the seats means that the driver and passenger are comfortable. For those wanting to squeeze into the back, the room is very limited — that's why I used the word passenger in the singular above. It is a three-door, so I did not expect much room for backseat passengers. The boot space is also very tight. After a short experiment, I realised this is not the vehicle to take on your monthly grocery shopping trip. The boot isn't able to take more than exactly three Checkers packets. The dashboard gets some lovely cloth which has ambient lighting projected through it. For me, this was aesthetically pleasing but also subtle enough to not be distracting. Unlike most vehicles with their large rectangular screens, the Mini Cooper has a circular screen that is 240mm in diameter. That screen has all your driving information, so you don't get an instrument cluster. It is a touch odd to not have an instrument cluster, because there's nothing behind your steering wheel, but Mini has taken a minimalist approach and decided to just push everything into that one screen. The infotainment system can be changed to different experiences: Core, Go-Kart, Green, Vivid and Timeless. The Timeless experience set the infotainment screen into an elegant and classic format with an analog clock that made me feel like I was back in that Mini 1275e again — but with some technology. The car just gets more unique as the stop-start button is shaped like a key that needs to be twisted to start the vehicle. The gear shifter is also tiny and placed under the infotainment screen next to the stop-start button. That timeless experience: The mode that took me back in time in the new Mini Cooper The drive I was surprised by the drive. For a small vehicle, on the poor roads we have, it was exceptionally smooth. Mini has given the Cooper a three-cylinder 1.5 litre turbocharged engine that delivers 115kW of power and 230Nm of torque. This was more than enough power to get you by. In a vehicle this small, those numbers are impressive. There was also no turbo lag and the car gave an instant kick whenever you needed the speed. Because the car is so tiny, and has a good amount of power, it is really fun to drive. Navigating bendy roads becomes exciting and it's the type of car that makes you want to drive it all the time. The new tailights really bring the back of the Mini together Safety The 2025 Mini Cooper E has earned a five-star safety rating from both the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) and its counterpart the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (Ancap). Euro NCAP tests show it achieved an 89% score for adult occupant protection, 85% for child occupant protection, 77% for pedestrian protection and 79% for its active safety systems. It also has safety features such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and parking sensors. Blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-departure warnings, rear automatic braking and an exit-warning system are optional. Verdict Easy to park, fun to drive and with great manoeuvrability, the Mini Cooper is a gem on the road. The exterior and interior both embody the fun nature of the car and it has a personality that very few manufacturers can match. And, while it is no longer the Nineties, where you could purchase a car for under R10 000, the hefty price tag of R595 000 is just about the only downside of this little vehicle.
Auto Express
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
The MG HS just got hot! New 221bhp Hybrid+ model joins line-up
When the latest MG HS arrived last year, it came with either a pure-petrol or plug-in hybrid powertrain - now you can add a full-hybrid to that list with the new Hybrid+. Priced from £28,995 in SE trim, the Hybrid+ sits between the standard £25,995 pure-petrol HS and the plug-in hybrid - which starts from £31,995. Like the other two powertrains, the Hybrid+ can also be had in a more lavish Trophy guise, priced from £31,495. That pricing means the HS Hybrid+ is positioned closely to the similarly-sized Dacia Bigster Hybrid 155. In full-hybrid guise however, the Bigster costs £28,190, so it's first blood to the Romanian car. Advertisement - Article continues below As with the petrol and PHEV, the MG HS Hybrid+ comes with a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine, though the full-hybrid features a 1.8kWh battery (the same one found in the MG3 and ZS Hybrid+) sending power to an auxiliary electric motor with 195bhp. Combined power stands at 221bhp (way more than the Dacia's 153bhp output), helping the HS Hybrid+ launch from zero to 62mph in 7.9 seconds. There's also a two-speed automatic transmission that we first saw on the HS PHEV. Fuel efficiency is of course a key aspect behind the HS Hybrid+ and while it's understandably lower than the plug-in hybrid's 564.9mpg, the full-hybrid's 51.3mpg figure is noticeably better than the pure-petrol's 38.3mpg. Still, the MG can't quite match the Bigster Hybrid 155's impressive 60.1mpg claimed economy. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below On the outside the Hybrid+ looks the same as any other MG HS. As standard you get LED lights front and rear, 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, plus a 'follow me home' light function. There's a suite of handy technology too like rear parking sensors, a six-way adjustable electric driver's seat, air conditioning, keyless entry, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control and an electric parking brake with auto-hold function. Like the rest of the HS range there are two 12.3-inch displays on the dash. The central touchscreen comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity with the Trophy version adding a 360-degree aerial camera, plus wireless smartphone charging pad and an uprated eight-speaker sound system. The driver's screen is customisable with scope to use sat-nav, or focus on entertainment and the car's functions. The placement of the battery means there's no impact on the HS's interior space. Like the PHEV and pure-petrol, the Hybrid+ offers a 507-litre boot capacity, increasing to 1,484 litres with the rear seats down. Both the HS Hybrid+ SE and Trophy are available to order now and both receive MG's lengthy 80,000-mile/seven-year warranty. Now you can buy a car through our network of top dealers around the UK. Search for the latest deals… Find a car with the experts It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA Mike Rutherford thinks Jaguar's 'Reimagine' strategy will result in the company exploring further opportunities in the USA Slow death of the manual car revealed in exclusive new data Slow death of the manual car revealed in exclusive new data There are now very few manual cars available to buy, a trend that's been exacerbated by the rise of EVs Car Deal of the Day: Nissan's X-Trail is a do-it-all seven-seat hybrid SUV for only £235 a month Car Deal of the Day: Nissan's X-Trail is a do-it-all seven-seat hybrid SUV for only £235 a month If the Qashqai is too small for you, then the larger X-Trail is a fine alternative. It's our Deal of the Day for 25 May
Edmunds
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Edmunds
The 2025 BMW 540i xDrive is Probably More Car Than You Need
Our first encounter with BMW's all-new 5 Series came last year when we tested the four-cylinder-powered 530i. We came away impressed by its sub-6-second 0-60 mph time and excellent braking performance. Along with sharp styling and a significantly upgraded and luxurious interior, the new 5 Series seemed to have everything going for it ... except driver engagement. While we couldn't deny it's an excellent luxury sedan, it just wasn't a very fun one, regardless of what the test numbers said. Which left us wondering, with a turbocharged six-cylinder under the hood, would the 2025 BMW 540i xDrive provide the extra kick we needed? Only one way to find out, so we hit the track and the results were ... surprising. Power everywhere The 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder in the 540i xDrive puts out 375 horsepower, a full 120 hp more than the 530i. So it's no surprise the 540i crushes its little brother in acceleration. The BMW hit 60 mph from a standstill in 4.3 seconds and breezed through the quarter mile in 12.6 seconds at 109.3 mph. For context, that's 1.4 seconds quicker than the 530i to 60 mph and 1.5 seconds quicker through the quarter mile with a trap speed that's a full 12.4 mph faster.
