Date Published: 17th December 2010
Mini’s long-awaited SUV is one of the it-cars of the moment, and one of the few 4x4s that make people smile. Inside, too, the dash design caught all our testers’ eyes. It’s based around a vast central speedo in traditional Mini style, which is so huge there’s space in the middle for a sat-nav screen and various other instruments.Unfortunately, with this taking pride of place an awful lot of the controls on the central stack are shunted way down low, making them awkward to reach. Style over substance, our testers felt, but there was praise for the materials and their standard of fit.
You can choose between four and five-seat layouts; we had the former, with a full-length central rail running through the cabin on which sliding accessories are mounted. These include a miniscule cubby box, whose size is symptomatic of generally dire oddment stowage.
Leg and head room are both limited in the back, only making the Mini suitable for four adults over short journeys. The rear seats drop down to leave a long enough but angled floor, however the back portion props up to reveal a very useful hidden section.
Next - To Drive Jump: 1. To Live With 2. To Drive 3. Verdict
