The Mini Cooper Roadster was made in conjunction with the Mini Coupe, but went on sale four months prior to the Coupe. It is the sixth Mini version since 2001 when BMW revived the brand. The Roadster is a sportier version that has appeal to those who like comparable vehicles such as the Porsche Boxster, Audi TT, and the BMW Z4. The Roadster is a convertible that comes in the same versions as the other Minis, such as the base, S, and John Cooper Works models. It can also be customized to your liking.
Key Features
The Roadster comes with a 1.6 liter inline four cylinder engine that offers 121hp at 6,000 rpm. Expect to get around 27 mpg when driving in the city and 35 mpg when driving on the highway. The vehicle offers 114 pounds per foot of torque at 4,250 rpm. Standard features include MP3 compatible audio, leather wrapped steering wheel, trip computer, 16 inch aluminum alloy wheels, air conditioning, and fog lights.
Changes for 2012
This is the first Mini Cooper Roadster ever and the first two seater convertible for the Mini line.
What We Like
The Mini Cooper Roadster has a larger trunk than the convertible, it is 8.5 cubic feet making it better to transport cargo in. It also has a trapdoor behind the seats to allow passengers to store bags and other necessities in the trunk without having to stop the vehicle. Another cool feature is the Openometer, which tracks how often the car has its top down. The higher the number, the more you ride around with the top down.
What Concerns Us
The Roadster is a two seated sports car, so if you are needing something with luggage space or to carry a few passengers around you are going to be disappointed. Furthermore, if you live in winter climates, the Roadster might be best kept inside as it may not perform during bad conditions.
Available Models
The Mini Cooper Roadster come in the base, S, and John Cooper Works models. The horsepower for the S version is 181 where the John Cooper Works offers 208hp. All models come with the 1.6 liter inline four cylinder engine, just the S and John Cooper Works models are turbocharged.
Major Recalls
There are no recalls for the 2012 Mini Cooper Roadster.
Common Issues
Common complaints include the vehicle being expensive to maintain, paint is not very durable, and the lack of legroom.
