2007 MINI Cooper: What's New

Vehicle Overview
In March 2002, a brand-new model arrived in the U.S. that capitalized on the Mini’s heritage but was part of a new brand under BMW stewardship. Fans of the British-built Mini hadn’t seen one officially imported into the U.S. since 1967.

The Mini Cooper has been revamped for 2007. It features new exterior and interior styling, a new engine and a modified suspension. It’s slightly longer than the preceding Cooper, and a sport suspension with firmer springs, dampers and anti-roll bars is offered.

For avid enthusiasts who crave more power, the company also offers the Mini Cooper S, which has a 172-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder. (The Cooper S is covered separately in the Cars.com Research section.)

Exterior
Though the 2007 Cooper exhibits a new look, onlookers might be hard pressed to describe what, exactly, is new, as the overall shape of the car hasn’t changed much. The front bumper is more pronounced, and the Cooper has grown by nearly 3 inches in overall length. All four standard 15-inch alloy wheels are positioned at the car’s far outside corners.

Interior
The Cooper’s new interior features a center-mounted speedometer that now incorporates the audio system and optional navigation system. Mini says the narrow center console makes more room for the driver’s and front passenger’s legs. Cloth seats are standard and leather is optional.

Under the Hood
The front-wheel-drive Cooper uses a 118-hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder that teams with a standard six-speed manual gearbox or an optional six-speed automatic that features steering wheel paddles for driver-initiated gear changes.

Safety
Side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags and all-disc antilock brakes are standard.