A Weekend in the MINI John Cooper Works

Breathtaking Performance

The John Cooper works is one of the most recognisable models in the MINI range. With it's aerodynamic design, shouty exhaust and iconic driving style, it's instantly recognisable and highly desirable. We decided to head out in one for the weekend to find out what it's like to live with a MINI John Cooper Works. 

The first thing you notice in the MINI John Cooper Works is the performance. The noise from the twin-pipe exhaust upon ignition is enough to get you excited before you've even started moving. 0-62mph is dealt with in a shade over 6 seconds thanks to a 4-cylinder TwinPower turbo engine. As you'd expect, the JCW performs exceptionally well in the corners and features that distinctive MINI go-kart feel. The handling feels tight and responsive while at the same time excitable.

Braking is firm and stable thanks to Brembo brakes and sports suspension. The gearbox allows you to quickly slip through all six gears with confidence and reminds you of why you love that manual experience. Engine responsiveness is instant with gutsy low-end torque and a throaty, crackling exhaust note that puts a beaming smile on your face, especially when downshifting under braking.

A Driving Mode for Every Occasion

There is no denying that the MINI John Cooper Works is a high-octane performance car, but that doesn't mean that it's without a civilised site. Switch driving modes to 'Green' and you can achieve am impressive 44.1 mpg. Throttle mapping, steering weight and engine noise can all be altered by toggling through the different driving modes.

A Luxurious Interior

MINI have managed to design a car that can catapult you from A to B in style while at same time offering an interior that you can live with everyday. The full leather seats are supremely comfortable and a joy to sit in. Our model was fitted with the Chili packs that comes with cruise-control as well as automatic wipers and lights.

My favourite feature by far, however, is the centre console. At the centre of the dashboard is an interactive touchscreen display that is a dream to use. It's colourful, intuitive and offers satellite navigation, bluetooth connectivity for the likes of Apple CarPlay and a rear-view camera.

Our MINI John Cooper Works also featured MINI's Excitement Pack which includes extra lighting elements for the interior and exterior. It's quirky, can be fully-customised and is quintessentially MINI.

A Head-Turning Exterior

The body shape of the John Cooper Works is unmistakably MINI, but with a few head-turning tweaks. Larger alloys, an air-intake on the bonnet and a spoiler at the rear all help to make the MINI John Cooper Works really stand out. The Union Jack brake lights and rally style front lights are another couple of unique touches that add a quirky element that is synonymous with the MINI brand.