Mini Coupe Cooper Coupe 2dr Car Review - March 2012

The four cylinder engine delivers more than adequate power of 122 bhp at 6000 rpm with torque figures of 118 lb-ft at 4250 rpm. The Mini Cooper Coupe 2dr has a top speed of 127 mph, which is more than sufficient for a car of this class and it combines with relatively fast acceleration speeds that allow the car to reach 0-62 mph in 9.0 seconds.

In terms of noise disruption, there is a fair amount of sound within the cabin due to excessive wind and road noise. This petrol engine adds a little noise to this but sounds great when worked hard. In terms of efficiency, the engine is a great performer and manages 52.3 mpg on a combined cycle.

Green credentials are also strong with the car emitting 127 g/km of carbon dioxide, putting it into a relatively low road tax band (D).

In terms of in-car kit, all versions of the Mini Cooper Coupe come with the same range of standard equipment and only vary by the engine size and type which they are powered by.

The standard equipment for all models therefore includes: power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric windows, electric door mirrors, rear parking sensors and an advanced stereo system with CD and MP3 compatibility.

Additional extras can be added for a cost. Bluetooth connectivity costs £295; a built-in sat nav system is priced at £1,345. Meanwhile if you want a leather seated interior it will set you back £1,125. On top of this, cruise control, a metallic paint finish and climate control can be added for £175, £340 and £235 respectively.

For a coupe, this model offers plenty room: there is ample space for the driver and passenger and both the seats and the steering column are adjustable, allowing for a range of movement. So even if you are quite large, you should be able to fit comfortably into this vehicle.

The interior dashboard, whilst stylish, is a little bit difficult to navigate and some of the materials used on the interior are not quite what you would expect from the Mini brand. The boot offers a modest 280 litres of storage capacity, but is ideal for a car of this class.

Like most Mini Cooper models, reliability is usually good. But just to put you at even greater ease this model comes with a three year warranty on unlimited miles. Safety levels are also high with driver, passenger and front side airbags fitted as standard. There is also an alarm and immobiliser fitted.

Priced at £16,640 this is a great budget coupe for those looking for a stylish vehicle. Usually, Mini owners expect to pay a little more for the brand name but in this case the Mini Cooper Coupe range undercuts the rival Peugeot RCZ range model for model. On top of this, the resale values for Minis are known for their strength and as such this car is the perfect long term investment.

In terms of running costs, the Mini Cooper Coupe is fairly economical to keep on the road. Insurance premiums fall under insurance group 18 whilst road tax falls under band D thanks to low carbon emissions of 127 g/km. Combined with a more than reasonable purchase price and great fuel economy of 52.3 mpg, this model represents great value for money.