2021 MINI John Cooper Works - The JCW Experience
A few weeks ago we got the opportunity to check out the MINI 3 Door John Cooper Works on the circuit of Zolder. Now we’re checking out the JCW Experience on public roads!
The current F56 MINI received a facelift earlier this year. Not something that was really planned but Covid-19 has been screwing over production timelines all throughout the automobile industry. Hence another light facelift that keeps the people interested in the little MINI’s.
The LCI2 received new front and rear bumpers on the outside. On the inside the F56 gets a new steering wheel, a bigger infotainment screen with renewed graphics, and new mood lighting. No further changes.
Something else that is new, is this multitone roof which gradually runs from this kinda purple to blue and then to black.
The JCW Recipe
The John Cooper Works recipe is quite simple actually. Take an already agile and small MINI, put in more power, better suspension and amazingly big brakes.
The result of this is unsurprisingly a very performant hot hatch. The JCW not only has its 231 hp 2.0L that provides power, but also possesses its lightness. At 1255 kg, the JCW is a very nimble piece of kit. Finishing off the 0-100 kmh in just over 6 seconds. It’s more than fast but that’s not really why you choose a hot hatch. No, you get one for the reason that it’s really nimble, and that’s where the low weight comes in.
Low weight means less bodyroll, faster turn in, better everything really. And whilst 1255 kg is not the lightest car out there, it’s still more than light to provide the go-kart feeling which MINI is so proud of.
Turning the wheel, pushing it through the corner is a pure joy. However sadly the tires were the limiting factor for getting more out of the car. Sitting on 205mm wide Goodyear runflats I think it’s best to opt for a more sticky compound to aid you with some slipping on the front axle. Especially in the wet the front axle will slide easily when starting to drive a bit sporty. Also, why do some manufacturers still insist on fitting runflat tires? Especially on cars that are already set up quite firm.
The gearbox isn’t as unfit as it was in the MINI GP but it’s still not my choice in a small nimble car. Gearshifts are quick but manual control still has some delay. Plus it has this overly aggressive push on the upshifts. Some will like it, personally I’m not a fan of it since it just throws the car too much around.
Shiny interior
So as said before, the interior has been refreshed a lot. The steering wheel has become a tad thicker and the buttons have been replaced from the round ones to a shiny piano black flat surface. Functions haven't changed but it looks a lot more premium now. The same can be said for the infotainment screen. It’s now using the full width of the circle it sits in, the buttons below have been replaced with piano black touch buttons and the light circle now has this waveform on there.
It looks all very nice and works as good as before with the extra benefit of the larger screen. One thing that does bother me is how quickly the piano black buttons get greasy looking fingers on it. So it’ll need a lot of cleaning.
The seats are still the same as they used to be, very nice, good lateral support and comfortable for longer journeys. New mood lighting can also be found in the doorcards creating a great atmosphere.
The best MINI you can buy right now?
So this is the tough part of this review. Should you run to the dealership right away and order one or opt out of this one?
The MINI 3 Door John Cooper Works is still the one that captures the true go-kart feeling. However, priced at nearly 45.000€ in this trim, it’s quite expensive. Pretty much in the same ballpark as a MINI JCW GP is. Granted the GP is sold out now and has no rear seats but it remains a very attractive package. If the GP is too much for you than this is the choice of hot hatch you’ll want. Space for 4 people, solid premium finish, drives extremely well and has the looks to back it up. At this price point, that’s something hard to argue with.
