2009 Mini Cooper

March 2009. Reviewers see the Mini Cooper in a variety of roles and market niches, from economy car to budget sports car. As a base model, the Mini Cooper is perfect for singles or couples who want an affordable, stylish hatchback that's fun to drive, easy to park and gets great gas mileage, reviewers say. They also recommend the Mini Cooper for those who want a well-engineered performance car that handles superbly, brakes well and has a distinctive, sporty look. An extensive options list lets a buyer equip the Mini with features that complement a variety of lifestyles, but critics warn it's easy to load up a Mini so the price is in the range of larger cars.

All models get praise for their fun-to-drive character, but the base model is not particularly fast, reviews say. Powered by a 118-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder, the base Mini Cooper (*est. $18,550) reaches 60 mph in about 8.5 seconds, according to the manufacturer. More impressive are its EPA fuel-economy ratings of 25-28 mpg city and 34-37 mpg highway, although premium fuel is recommended. The Mini Cooper S (*est. $21,950), with a 172-horsepower turbocharged version of the same engine, runs 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds, according to Edmunds.com, and gets 23-26 mpg city and 32-34 mpg highway according to the EPA. There's also a new top-of-the-line John Cooper Works Mini (*est. $29,200 for the hardtop) that boosts horsepower all the way up to 208 and includes a long list of high-performance equipment, adding an extra $10,000 to the price compared to the standard Mini Cooper.

Two of the most common complaints from reviews about the Mini Cooper are its overly firm ride quality and tiny rear seat, which is not comfortable for adults. Classified by the EPA as a mini-compact, the Mini Cooper's interior volume is among the smallest of any economy car, with minimal cargo space as well. For less money, some reviewers suggest that the subcompact 2009 Honda Fit (*est. $14,750 to $16,260) is a much more practical car with a good dose of driving fun of its own, although it has less power and slower acceleration. The larger 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit (*est. $17,515 to $24,770) or higher performance 2009 VW GTI (*est. $23,230 to $23,830) are also worth considering as great-handling hatchbacks, several auto writers recommend. But few competitors can match the Mini's excellent resale value. For fans seeking a bit more space, there's the long-wheelbase Mini Cooper Clubman (*est. $20,200 to $23,700) subcompact, introduced in 2008, with almost 10 inches of additional length and a back seat that's more easily accessed via a third, rear-hinged mini-door on the passenger side and a pair of barn-style cargo doors at the rear.