Contemplating the MINI Cooper

A friend of mine from YouTube just asked me whether or not he should replace his totaled car with a MINI Cooper. This is actually something I think about quite a lot. Would it be better for me to just drive a very small car than to get a hybrid?

In general, small cars can get great gas mileage without requiring much in the way of advanced technology. I am certainly in favor of advanced technology, and providing incentives for car companies to develop it. But in the near-term, it might be better just to get a more fuel-efficient car that doesn't require all the extra nickel that has to be mined for a Prius.

BMW's MINI brand has always seemed exceptionally inefficient for how small they are. Mazda's Hybrid Tribute SUV actually gets better city mileage than the 37/28 Cooper Clubman. But that's because they're attempting to strike a peculiar balance. While other small cars (like the Yaris) get slightly better city mileage, the Cooper offers a far superior driving experience, front-seat comfort level, and even a convertible option.

Other small cars focus on thrift, as if the only people who want small cars are the ones who can't afford large ones. So while the Cooper's $19k base price buys you slightly lower city MPG than a $14K Yaris, it's actually a really fine car, with good acceleration, good handling, and superior style. Though I will say that the Yaris has a much better (and cheaper) repair record.

So, for me, the MINI Cooper is green for two reasons. First, because it brings luxury to the small car, something no other company thought was even necessary ... because rich people want big cars. But, second, because the Clubman has the highest non-hybrid highway mileage (37 mpg) of any U.S. four-seater.

But, in my opinion, it won't be truly green until the 60 mpg Cooper D (currently only available in Europe) gets to America OR we just go ahead and electrify the thing.