For Canadians of my vintage, and sports fans, you’ll be familiar with “Pocket Rocket” – Henri Richard of the Montreal Canadiens, younger brother of “The Rocket”, Maurice Richard. I never thought “Pocket Rocket” would be applicable anywhere else until I stepped into the new BMW Mini Cooper S Five Door.
OK, so there’s a little bit more elbow room than the name implies. It’s still unmistakably a Mini compact, though, right out of the Italian Job, that Mark Wahlberg movie over 20 years ago.
I’ve written about BMW Mini Coopers in the past, including this convertible one, but still, when I am offered one for a week, I never turn it down. They’re cheeky, built for zipping through city streets. This time the drive took us to Collingwood, 2.5 hours north of Toronto, which is fast gaining a lot of the characteristics of its big city brethren in terms of growth and density.
The five-door layout makes this version of the Mini more practical without losing that go-kart grin. So two adults packed it up comfortably for a three-day weekend vacation.
Collingwood road trip with the wife. Coffee is a must. Image by Mark Keast
Is It a Luxury Car?
According to price point, no it isn’t.
Look, how are you defining luxury? Because if you are among a minuscule percentage at the top of the financial food chain in Toronto, parking your Lamborghini illegally to go sip an Americano outdoors in Yorkville during the summer months, this article is not for you.
Collingwood parking lot at dusk. Image by Mark Keast
BMW Mini Cooper S 5-Door Price
If you are on a ladder to that 1% level of wealth – and we see you one percentiles, those paying $11,000 for a Blue Jays World Series ticket – a BMW Mini around CAD $56,000, depending on trims and options, is a great ride on the way up the ladder.
Go talk to someone at a dealership, though – doesn’t get any better than these guys, in the city’s downtown east end.
OLED touchscreen. Image by Mark Keast
Put a Price Point on Sex Appeal
The exterior keeps the iconic rounded headlights and bold grille, now stretched to a 159.8-inch length, which somehow makes it look even sassier. The S trim adds sporty flair with a honeycomb front air dam, quad exhausts, and 17-inch alloys that beg for custom colors like my favorite Racing Green.
Pop the door, and you’re greeted by a surprisingly roomy cabin for a car this small. Rear legroom isn’t limousine-level-think 31.4 inches – but it’s enough for adults on short trips, and the 13-cubic-foot cargo space swallows groceries or a weekend’s gear with ease. I somehow got my two in-laws in the back seat for a ten-minute drive from their downtown Collingwood home to our Airbnb condo by the Blue Mountain ski hill.
The seats hug you just right, with sporty red stitching and tartan cloth options that scream personality.
BMW Mini Cooper is a Retro-Tech Masterpiece
The dash is a retro-tech masterpiece: toggle switches for climate control, a minimalist gauge cluster, and an 8.8-inch touchscreen that’s responsive but not finicky. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, so syncing your playlist is a breeze.
Under the hood, the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder dishes out 189 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque, paired with a slick eight-speed automatic (the six-speed manual is a gem if you can find one). It’s no track beast, but 0-60 in 6.7 seconds is quick enough. The steering’s sharp, and the suspension-stiffer than the base Cooper-handles corners with precision.
OLED touchscreen. Image by Mark Keast
Watch the Potholes While Holding a Hot Coffee
The seven-speed dual-clutch snaps gears like a pro gamer, and steering’s so sharp you could slice bagels. Handling? Pure Mini DNA-go-kart grip, minimal body roll thanks to stiff suspension. But here’s the catch: that firmness means potholes talk back, and the ride’s jittery on rough roads. Be careful – if you’re holding a open mug of hot coffee you risk talking soprano.
Fuel economy hovers around 26 city/35 highway-not bad, but not hybrid-efficient. Safety gets four stars from NHTSA, with standard autonomous braking and lane-keeping, but blind-spot monitoring’s optional. Competitors like the VW Golf GTI offer more space and similar zip, but none feel as the BMW Mini Cooper.
Quirky charm, premium vibe, and that perma-smile factor make it a blast. Just don’t expect it to haul a family or cruise highways all day. It’s a city slicker with a weekend alter ego. Still, if you’re after personality in a practical (ish) package, the Mini Cooper S five-door delivers.
Any Negatives?
I was fidgeting in those seats over three hours – not the most comfortable. Rear space is tight for adults; your six-foot buddy will be folding like a lawn chair. Tech can feel dated too-the infotainment lags sometimes, and no full digital dash like some rivals.
I am a 50-something Torontonian who loves everything about my city. It’s been my home, my playground, for my entire life. I went to school here. I met my wife here. I own real estate here. I love writing about the transformation of my city on the world stage, which hasn’t been anything short of dramatic. That continues on, as I write this. I write on the real estate scene. I write on travel and fashion. I like following the world of luxury watches.
But I love writing about cars – check that, luxury cars, a level of superior, engineering sophistication, high performance and style, that transports you not just from one destination to another but also out of whatever you are going through on a particular day, whatever mood you are in, all to another head space. It’s complete and total exhilaration, head to toe.
Check out my stories, and email me direct at mkeast@regardingluxury.com
