What's all this about?
The third-generation MINI has already had one facelift in 2018, when it received the, um, questionable Union Flag rear lights, but despite the fact it is nearing the end of its life now, it would seem another round of revisions is on the cards. So here's the updated version for 2021, these alterations applying to the Hatch, the Electric, the 5-Door and the Convertible models.
It, er... doesn't look particularly happy about this update, does it?
The front-end styling, you mean? No. It is a bit down in the mouth. And it looks like it has grown a lockdown moustache as 'something to do to alleviate the boredom'. Anyway, the hexagonal grille is new and it now has a body-coloured insert, while 'bad-weather lights' are incorporated into the main circular lamp units and mean the deletion of front foglights. In their place, two vertical air inlets in the redesigned front bumper optimise aerodynamics, while along the sides of the car there are new LED side indicators, re-sculpted wheel-arch contours and fresh side scuttles incorporating the model designation. At the back, another new bumper with a black insert to emphasise the car's width comes into play, while the rear foglamp has become an impossibly thin LED item which is centred in the bumper. Beyond these main structural features, 2021MY MINI buyers have access to five updated designs of alloy wheel, in 17- and 18-inch diameters (the jazzy efforts in the pics are known as the 18-inch 'Pulse Spoke' two-tone rims), and also three new exterior paint finishes: Rooftop Grey, Island Blue (previously only available on the Countryman) and, for the Convertible only, Zesty Yellow. There's also an optional Multitone Roof, which grades its way from San Marino Blue through Pearly Acqua [sic] to Jet Black. Neat.
Inside, every model gets the five-inch black-panel digital instrument cluster, that has already been seen on the GP3 and the Electric in various formats, while both the steering wheel (which can be optionally heated) and the surround for the 8.8-inch infotainment screen have been redesigned. Other inclusions are a new upholstery design, reshaped air vents, the possibility of having more driver assist functions, 12-colour ambient interior lighting and an enlarged décor panel running the width of the dashboard. There have also been equipment changes for the Classic, Sport and Exclusive trim packages, as well.
What about mechanicals?
There's a new version of frequency selective damping (FSD) available on the MINI for the first time, under the name of Adaptive Suspension. There's also an electric parking brake available on all models, not just the MINI Electric, while there's a new special model for the zero-emissions Hatch. Alongside the Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 specifications, the Electric Collection is limited to just 300 units and features a choice of either Island Blue or Rooftop Grey paint, the Multitone Roof, black mirror caps, Piano Black exterior detailing, 17-inch Electric Collection Spoke alloy wheels, model-exclusive external graphics, unique door-entry strips and steering-wheel badging, Aluminium interior trim and the zero-cost option to add a panoramic glass roof.
If you decide you want a combustion engine in your MINI, then the same three- and four-cylinder turbocharged motors are offered as before, but - interestingly - diesel power has been quietly dropped; this actually happened in 2020 as demand tailed off, although here is official confirmation as there are no Cooper D or Cooper SD versions to go at. Anyway, the three-cylinder, 1.5-litre petrol units, delivering either 102hp in the One models or 136hp in the Cooper cars, supplement the four-cylinder, 2.0-litre lumps, which give either 178- (Cooper S) or 231hp (John Cooper Works, or JCW). Another intriguing point: both the three-door Hatch and the five-door, er, 5-Door come as One, Cooper and Cooper S cars, but there are no JCW versions for now. The Convertible, meanwhile, has Cooper as its base spec, running up through Cooper S to the hot JCW, so if you want the fastest model of these revised MINIs then you need the rag-top.
Prices start at £16,045 for the Hatch, £16,745 for the 5-Door, £20,705 for the Convertible and £27,920 for the Electric. Add £1,400 onto these values if you fancy an automatic instead of a six-speed manual transmission (on the petrol cars, obvs; the Electric is auto-only) and if you're after one of those limited Electric Collection cars, you'll need to find a chunky £36,420. First deliveries should commence in the spring.
Matt Robinson - 27 Jan 2020
