Wants and Cs

Mini's entry-level hatchback offering is all the Cooper you'll ever need

- Driver: Marius Boonzaier

Decades ago, I asked a grownup, “If money were no object, what car would you have?” Their answer surprised me. It wasn’t an iconic classic, nor one of the latest high-performance or luxury cars of the time. Instead, their car of choice was a compact hatchback... and not of the “hot” variety, I might add. Upon asking them why, they answered, “It’s all I need.”

As a child, I didn't quite understand this notion. However, as the years progressed, I'd like to believe I've become wiser and come to understand it. And the new Mini Cooper C is a great example of 'needs' outweighing 'wants'.

While the new S and John Cooper Works impressed in their respective April and October 2025 road tests, over the C's sixth-month tenure in the CAR garage, we were of the opinion that the entry-level model in Mini's modern product portfolio might just be all the Cooper you'll ever need.