2015 MINI Cooper Hardtop John Cooper Works & Sport Package

The mini cooper is a sophisticated little car that's fuel-efficient and great fun to drive. The 2015 Mini Cooper Hardtop (Mini's moniker for the two- and four-door Cooper hatchbacks) marks the second year for the third-generation Mini Cooper. Last year's full redesign brought with it a pair of new turbocharged engines, a much-improved automatic transmission, bigger dimensions, an overhauled interior with upgraded materials and a host of fresh features. The big additions this year are a four-door Cooper hatchback with more cargo room and enough space for five passengers and a new, more powerful John Cooper Works hardtop. The theme for the 2015 Mini Cooper, if there is one, seems to be an increase in space, while retaining all the fun. The two-door hatchback is larger than its predecessor, but it remains an unusually small car that fully warrants the Mini name. The newly introduced four-door hatchback is only 6.3 inches longer than the two-door, so it'll still fit in some pretty tight parking spaces. Interior space bridges the gap between the smaller two-door Cooper and the larger Countryman. The backseat of the two-door provides more room than the previous-generation car, and the four-door hatchback gets a fifth seat, but both places will still be uncomfortably tight for adult passengers. Similarly, maximum cargo capacity for the two-door is up more than 50 percent at 38 cubic feet, and the four-door gets a little bit more room with 40.7 cubes. On the flip side, the Mini's a cinch to park just about anywhere, and the competition generally can't match its nimble, champing-at-the-bit driving character. Under the hood, the hatchback's base turbocharged three-cylinder engine or upgraded four-cylinder in the S version are both quite likable thanks to strong power and fuel efficiency. Even more power is available in the form of the new John Cooper Works hatchback version with an impressive 228-horsepower turbocharged engine. The 2015 Mini Cooper is available as a two- or four-door hatchback (hardtop) and a two-door convertible. The two-door hatchbacks and the convertible are both available in base Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works (JCW) trims. The four-door hatchback is available in base Cooper and Cooper S trims. The convertible features a power soft top with a glass rear window and a partial-open "sunroof" function. Both the two- and four-door Cooper hatchback models come standard with 15-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, heated mirrors, a tilt-and-telescoping leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, adjustable driving modes, full power accessories, automatic climate control, a refrigerated glovebox, cruise control, a trip computer, height-adjustable front seats, leatherette (vinyl) upholstery, 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks, color-adjustable ambient lighting, Bluetooth connectivity and a six-speaker sound system with HD radio, an USB/iPod adapter and an auxiliary input jack. The Cooper S hatchback adds a more powerful engine, a hood scoop, a black mesh grille, dual center-mounted exhaust tips, a "torque-vectoring" electronic limited-slip differential, 16-inch wheels with run-flat tires (regular tires are optional), LED foglights and sport seats. Additional equipment for the John Cooper Works hatchback includes 17-inch wheels, Brembo front brakes, an even more powerful engine, a sport-tuned suspension, an aerodynamic body kit, a sport steering wheel and special cloth upholstery. The standard suspension is available as a no-cost option. The base Cooper convertible is equipped similarly to the base hatchback aside from its previous-generation hardware, but it doesn't get the adjustable driving modes, and it comes standard with 16-inch wheels. The Cooper S and Cooper JCW convertible likewise receive performance-themed perks similar to those of the Cooper S and JCW hatchbacks. The LED foglights and sport seats are offered as options on base Cooper models. Other available features, many of which are grouped into various packages with fun names (Flash, Wired, Loaded, Fully Loaded, etc.), include LED and xenon headlights, an array of 17- and 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, adjustable suspension dampers, chrome exterior trim, a dual-pane sunroof, a roof spoiler, power-folding mirrors, keyless entry and ignition, rear parking sensors and a rearview camera, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a head-up display and an automated parking system, cloth or leather upholstery, a navigation system, smartphone app integration, heated front seats, satellite radio and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Even more personalization is available through a large selection of custom details such as hood stripes, contrasting hardtop roof colors and special interior trim pieces.