Skip advert
Advertisement

Mini JCW

Our current class champion continues to set pulses racing

The scorching MINI John Cooper Works is no stranger to success. After beating the hugely talented Renaultsport Clio 197 Cup and Honda Civic Type R in a closely fought group test (Issue 1,022), the tiny tearaway went on to scoop the Best Hot Hatch award in Auto Express’s prestigious New Car Honours 2008.

Advertisement - Article continues below

But the fastest-ever MINI can’t rest on its laurels. In fact, to see off the new Scirocco it will have to call on all its reserves of performance, dynamic driving ability and charm. And first impressions are good. Thanks to its wheel-at-each-corner stance, aerodynamic bodykit, bonnet-mounted air scoop and large twin exhausts, the JCW has the tough look of a true hot hatch.

The trouble is, the basic shape is a victim of its own success – there are so many MINIs on UK roads that the JCW doesn’t turn as many heads as its sleek rival. It also trails in terms of versatility – it can’t match the VW’s practicality, no matter how much more inviting its design is. Although the JCW is technically a four-seater, you wouldn’t want to be sitting in the cramped rear for too long. While headroom is adequate, legroom is virtually non-existent. Luggage capacity is equally compromised, lagging far behind the space offered by the Scirocco.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

3008

2022 Peugeot

3008

50,658 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £16,197
View 3008
Kuga

2022 Ford

Kuga

39,000 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £15,997
View Kuga
Mokka

2024 Vauxhall

Mokka

27,554 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £15,697
View Mokka
SQ7

2023 Audi

SQ7

67,000 milesAutomaticPetrol4.0L

Cash £53,581
View SQ7

There’s better news for those travelling in the front seats, where there’s bags of room. And although the VW has the more eye-catching exterior of the two models on test, the MINI cabin scores on style. Retro touches like the large central speedometer, chromed console-mounted switches and aluminium-finish pedals add further to the car’s appeal.

Advertisement - Article continues below

To really understand the attraction of a JCW, though, you have to hit the road. Press the starter button and the turbocharged 1.6-litre engine burbles menacingly into life. Incredibly, despite having a 400cc disadvantage – the VW’s capacity is 2.0 litres – the 208bhp unit in the MINI is the more powerful of our pair.

At the test track, it played this trump card to outstanding effect, completing the sprint from 0-60mph in only 6.2 seconds. That’s half-a-second faster than the Scirocco, while the JCW’s in-gear acceleration times were even more impressive. The sharp steering, strong grip and clever electronic limited slip differential make the MINI incredibly quick.

It’s full of character, too. Accelerate hard, and torque steer causes the steering wheel to writhe in your hands, while the large exhaust tailpipes pop and crackle with every prod of the throttle. The MINI doesn’t have the finesse of the VW, but it’s far more fun – and is clearly the choice for keen drivers. The question is whether this appeal is stronger than that of the more rounded Scirocco.

Details

Price: £20,995
Model tested: Mini JCW
Chart position: 1
WHY: A fantastic chassis and engine make the fastest-ever MINI our current pocket rocket champ.

Economy

Take a look at the list price and the MINI is hardly off to a great start. Not only is it more expensive, but the costly options would soon add up if you were to match the VW’s standard equipment list. In other respects, though, the JCW makes much more financial sense than its rival. First, there’s the excellent tlc service package, which costs a bargain £150 for five years’ routine maintenance. What’s more, as the MINI makes the most of parent firm BMW’s EfficientDynamics tweaks, it returned 32.4mpg in our test. Official CO2 emissions of 165g/km place it in road tax band D. Both are remarkable figures, given its enormous performance potential.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £3,331 off RRP*Used from £9,900
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,848 off RRP*Used from £7,649
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £13,895
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,065 off RRP*Used from £14,748
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Ford Fiesta to return? Icon could be reborn as re-nosed Volkswagen ID.2
Ford Fiesta facelift - front cornering

Ford Fiesta to return? Icon could be reborn as re-nosed Volkswagen ID.2

VW’s sales and marketing boss considers Ford tech share “very successful” – and won’t rule out future projects
News
30 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025