The Mini Cooper may be small in stature, but it offers plenty of front seat space and shoots around like a car much larger than it is. Our tested 2007 Cooper was comfortable to drive, had plenty of creature comforts, a speedometer so large you would deserve a speeding ticket if caught going too fast, and fuel economy that was delightful after several test drives of trucks and SUVs.
Fuel economy is why the Mini was first developed, a result of a major fuel crisis in England in the late 1950s. In 1957, Sir Leonard Lord of the Morris Co. directed his design team to create a fuel-efficient, four-passenger car. The result was a 1959 debut of the first generation MINI that became a popular race and rally vehicle in the 1960s (it won the Monte Carlo rally three times in that decade alone), was redesigned in 1999, and had its debut in the United States in March 2002 through the Mini Division of BMW of North America. It was named the 2003 North American Car of the Year.
Our Chili Red test model was equipped with the fuel-injected, 16-valve, inline four-cylinder engine that produces 118 HP, plenty to move the Cooper around pleasantly. The powertrain includes a six-speed manual Getrag transmission that performs with amazing smoothness.
Standard features include four-wheel antilock disc brakes; Electronic Brakeforce Distribution system; tire-monitoring system; All-Season Traction Control; climate control system with microfilter and air-recirculation system; power outside mirrors; power windows; a decent audio system with six speakers; split fold-down rear seats; a climate-controlled glovebox, a very handy feature; and about a dozen other items, including front, side-impact, and side-curtain air bags.
The tight suspension uses a MacPherson front-strut system with a multilink rear suspension. Combined with electric power-assist steering, the Mini handles exceptionally well.
Our tested Cooper had a base price of $18,050, but then there were several options that included five packages from convenience to cold-weather ensembles. A sport package upgraded the standard 15-inch alloy wheels and performance tires to 16-inch alloys and tires, as well as adding dynamic stability control, a rear spoiler, sport seats, and front fog lamps. Add it all up, and the final price on our tested unit was just under $26,000. All in all, with dynamic fuel economy of 32 MPG/city and 40 MPG/highway, this little beast is a fun car to drive and it will go for a long distance on a single tank of fuel.
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While the SUV and CUV markets have plenty of offerings these days, there are several standbys that have proven themselves in recent years to be solid, usable, and enjoyable vehicles to drive. One of those is the Honda CR-V, a well-priced, comfortable, and user-friendly SUV. Our recently tested 2008 four-wheel-drive EX model proved that the CR-V is alive and well in compact market.
First and foremost, the CR-V we tested was loaded with standard equipment for a base price of $24,150. There were no options, and we did not seem to miss anything. So it gets good marks right off the start line, but there are also other attributes that make this unit a competitor, including decent EPA fuel ratings of 20 MPG/city and 26 MPG/highway (and these are the new, vastly more reliable EPA estimates that have been instigated for 2008 models).
Powered by a 166-HP DOHC engine, the CR-V offers plenty of power and performance and offers a drive-by-wire throttle system. The 2.4-liter, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine is an i-VTEC from Honda that mates well with a five-speed automatic transmission with grade-logic control.
The standard features include more than three dozen items from the real-time four-wheel-drive system to Electronic Brake Distribution, front and rear stabilizer bars to an anti-lock braking system.
In the safety arena, there is Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control; active front head restraints; front dual-stage and side airbags, as well as side-curtain airbags; three-point seat belts; front and rear crumple zones; plus side-impact door beams. The CR-V is rated with 5-Star front and side government crash ratings; rollover is rated with a 4-Star designation. This is a safe vehicle.
With 60-40 rear fold-and-tumble seats, the CR-V creates up to 79.2 cubic feet of usable cargo space. There are plenty of 12-volt power outlets, and the SUV is equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels that mount P225/65R17 102T all-season tires.
Overall, we rate the CR-V very high for performance, handling, usability, and fuel economy. It's a true competitor in its segment and is available in three trim levels (the EX is the middle model).
