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Cooper Convertible
People of most sizes can makes themselves comfortable, although the proximity of the rear bench means that tall drivers may find it hard to push the seat back far enough to be truly happy. The steering wheel adjusts for reach and rake. Rear visibility isn't great, especially with the roof down and wind deflector up. Standard rear parking sensors do help, though.
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Running Costs
The Convertible's trump card is its desirability, which pushes up resale values. Both engines are relatively frugal, and economy is boosted by an engine stop-start system, brake regeneration and a gearchange indicator. Running costs will be further improved if, as expected, diesel engines are added to the line-up.
Cooper
The seat is nicely padded and, like the steering wheel, fully adjustable, so making yourself comfortable is a straightforward operation. The trouble is, the designers have tried too hard to replicate the look of the 1959 Mini while packing in lots more features, and it all comes across as fussy, contrived and awkward to use.
Running Costs
Will the door arrangement, particularly the daft rear door on the right, put people off seeking a more spacious Mini? In some cases, possibly, although overall we reckon the desirability of the Mini brand will win through. The Clubman costs £1200 more than the three-door, so it's not cheap, but running costs are low.
Cooper Hatchback
The driver's seat is comfy and there's a wide range of adjustment for both that and the steering wheel, but the dash is far too fussy. The huge central speedo is hard to miss, but the stereo and heater controls are difficult to read and awkwardly placed. The retro toggle switches put style above ease of use, too.
Running Costs
It's not cheap, and you can forget about discounts, yet the Mini still makes great financial sense. No car in this class holds its value as well, and fuel, contract hire and company car tax bills are all extremely low. For £150, you can also have Mini's TLC package, which covers all routine servicing costs for five years or 80,000 miles.