2018 Mini Cooper JCW

By Alex Forrest

The Mini Cooper JCW is an unusual package. 

It’s very expensive for its size, its practicality is limited, it stands out like a circus clown in a library and is even more fun to drive than you would expect after looking at it.  

This is because, unlike other sporty hatches, there really isn’t a sensible or serious side to this car at all. Every part of it that you see or touch has been made to be both functional and pleasing. 

This is one of the fundamental ways in which the Mini Cooper JCW differs from other hot hatches.   

For just over half of the JCW’s $54,700 drive away price, you can buy just as much driving hilarity if you go for a Ford Fiesta ST, which is so delightfully responsive and seemingly intuitive, it feels like you’re wearing it. 

However, if you squint, the Ford looks mostly like a regular light car. Its interior is sporty but conventional and it utilises most of the interior design and switchgear you get with the base model.  

The Mini, on the other hand, rams home the absurdity of its darty, exhaust-popping driving experience by making it look and feel the way it does. 

Aesthetically, there is much to take in. From the bold body striping to the jewel-like side indicators, the red roof and those 18-inch, two-tone alloy wheels.  

The Mini Cooper JCW puts a smile on your dial well before there’s anything on the dashboard dials.  

Like the original Mini Cooper of 57 years ago, the Mini JCW is also the most powerful model in the range, making a healthy 170kW and 320Nm.

However, one of the pitfalls of the Mini Cooper is it only has a 4-star ANCAP safety rating, which is below par for a car in this price range. Also, the ride is always firm, so if you just want to cruise smoothly, a different car would be the solution.    

Still, the beauty of a specialised tool is its ability to do a specific job, and when you’re in the mood, this is where the Mini Cooper JCW excels. Just be aware of the associated sacrifices.