2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Hatchback

The Mini Cooper JCW comes in only one trim level with two body styles, namely hatchback and convertible. However, this review is all about the hatchback version. Furthermore, being the top trim, the JCW comes with all the creature comforts and hi-tech features, and other sporty interior and exterior parts that make it stand out from its competition. As standard, you get features like Dinamica/Cloth Upholstery, MINI Connected, leatherette gear shifter material, simulated carbon-fiber instrument panel insert, cornering lights, and speed-sensitive rain detecting variable intermittent wipers with heated jets. Some other salient features are listed in the table below.

We Recommend:

Since there is only one option to choose from, we recommend the JCW trim for its unparalleled driving dynamics, agile handling, and stunning exterior looks. If you want more fun in your Mini, you can also have it as a convertible version which will be reviewed separately. It also has some features that are only exclusive for the JCW such as the 17-inch JCW Track Spoke alloy wheels, JCW Leather Steering Wheel, and John Cooper Works Sport Seats. For $32,400, the Mini Cooper is a real deal that you can’t miss.

Release Date:

While the official date is not out yet, we can expect to see the vehicle in the dealerships across the country by the end of this year.

Speaking of the engine, it still packs the same 2.0-liter turbocharged motor which puts out 228 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque. The engine works in synchrony with a 6-speed manual transmission which works perfectly fine and never feels sluggish at any speed. It is hands-down the best transmission in its class. All the power is channeled to the front wheels which come as standard across all the trims.

Talking about performance, this Mini rocket rushes to 60 mph in just 6 seconds. Albeit being the car with less power output on paper, it easily keeps pace with the other hot hatchbacks in the segment in terms of acceleration due to its lightweight nature. Also, Mini Cooper is the car with the best driving dynamics, owing to its low center of gravity and compact size and wheelbase. When it comes to corners, you are on a knife-edge. Moreover, the Mini Cooper maxes out at 153 mph, which is really unbelievable for a car of this size. However, the quarter-time is not available. 

As far as the handling is concerned, the MIni comes alive in corners. With a sport tuned suspension and compact size, the car becomes a beast when it comes to handling. No other car in its segment handles like the Mini. With 228 hp at your disposal, the Mini just attacks every corner that comes at it in the racetrack. Ever thought that a car used by Mr. Bean would become an angry little monster? Well, here it is.

Comparing the competition, the Subaru Impreza WRX STI is the quickest in the bunch, and by a long margin, it is a whole 2 seconds faster with a 2.5-liter flat engine. Both Mini Cooper and Volkswagen Golf GTI produce similar power output with minute differences in the torque. The car with the puny engine performance is the Hyundai Veloster. Perhaps, it has been tuned for laid-back driving and fuel efficiency rather than focussing totally on performance. 

Hot Hatches are tuned to bring the best performance out of their engines, and you cannot expect much from this lineup of cars when it comes to being a fuel-efficient car. The Mini Cooper with the base engine offers impressive fuel economy and does better than most of its rivals. This 2.0L forced induction inline-4 engine returns 23 MPG in the city, 33 MPG on the highway, and a combined 27 MPG with a conventional manual transmission. As for the range, the small 11.6-gallon tank is certainly not the most ideal. Furthermore, the Mini Cooper JCW can do a combined 267 miles in a full tank inside the city and 383 miles on the highway, which is lower than some of the rivals. But they can give you the fun that a Mini can offer. 

Among the competition, the Mini Cooper performs the best in terms of fuel economy. Even though the fuel tank capacity is lacking, it manages to keep up with the strong contenders in its way. On the other hand, the car with the least fuel economy is the Subaru Impreza WRX STI which offers 16 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway, and a combined 18 mpg. Both Hyundai Veloster and Subaru Impreza WRX STI can’t manage to stay above the 25 MPG combined economy figure, though Subaru is compensating it with a bigger fuel tank. The Volkswagen Golf GTI with its 13.2 gallons of fuel tank capacity manages to offer the best in class range of 304 miles in the city and 396 miles on the highway.

Although the interior is cramped and the rear legroom is restricted, it looks and feels good to be inside the cabin. To start with, the coolest thing about the interior is the center infotainment screen that adorns the overall look of the interior. Another interesting thing about this interior is the ambient lighting that totally takes the interior to the next level. The interior is entirely driver-focused, and the quality of the materials used inside deserves praise.

The JCW gets exclusive JCW sports seats that are power-adjustable and all covered in Dinamica cloth upholstery. It also offers a JCW leather steering wheel with cruise control and all the audio controls mounted on it. The decor panel has been enlarged with new geometry and a wide range of designs including simulated carbon fiber panels and metal-look interior accents. Also, you get a leatherette gear knob which looks really good. On the flip side, the cargo space on offer is very dismal, offering a space of 8.7 cubic feet.

Among the competition, the 2022 Subaru Impreza WRX STI is plentifully spacious and offers a good amount of room for 5 passengers. Coming to the rear row, the Volkswagen Golf GTI does offer the best-in-class rear legroom of 35.6 inches. However, the Hyundai Veloster offers a top-notch cargo space of 19.9 cubic feet. On the other hand, the 2021 Mini Cooper JCW gets the least cargo space at 8.7 cubic feet. Some of the interior standout features include:

• John Cooper Works Sport Seats 
• Dinamica/Cloth Upholstery
• Cruise Control w/Steering Wheel Controls
• JCW Leather Steering Wheel
• Day-Night Rearview Mirror

How intuitive is the car’s infotainment unit?

The 2022 Mini Cooper JCW’s infotainment system gets a newly designed 8.8-inch touchscreen with the black panel as standard. Also, the instrument cluster has been revamped with a black panel design, which makes it a highly intuitive interface. The system is paired with a 6-speaker audio system. Smartphone connectivity features include Bluetooth External Memory Control and USB connectivity. Standard features such as smartphone navigation and HD Radio are included. The system also comes equipped with Apple CarPlay as standard. Some other significant infotainment features include:

• 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system
• Streaming Audio
• Compatible Remote CD
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio -inc: 1 year All Access subscription
• Bluetooth connectivity

The exterior design is another paramount factor of the car. The Mini has managed to follow the traits of its predecessor. For 2022, it gets a restyled bumper in the front and rear as well. The JCW now looks more aggressive. What makes it even more of a looker is the racing stripes on the bonnet which reminds you that it is not your regular Mini Cooper. You can also have the roof painted in your favorite color. The color options on offer are extensive. The John Cooper Works Rebel Green is the best-looking color. Despite being a small car, it boasts 17-inch alloy wheels.

You get a plethora of options when it comes to customizing the exterior. As for the rear, the taillights get LED lights that have the shape of the United kingdom flag, which is a really cool feature to brag about. Moreover, the rear diffuser looks spectacular, and the same applies to the rear spoiler as well. Both these parts are not only for looks but also functional. In terms of curb weight, the Mini turns out to be the lightest car, weighing only 2,855 lbs.

Among the competition, the Subaru Impreza WRX STI is the longest, while the Hyundai Veloster is the widest. Moreover, both Hyundai and Subaru come with the longest wheelbase of 104.3 inches. However, the Veloster is lighter than the Subaru and weighs around 3106 lbs and also has a great design language. On the other hand, the Mini Cooper is small and sleek which would help to potter through city traffic with ease and it weighs only 2,855 lbs which makes it an absolute weapon in the track. Some of the Standout exterior features are as follows:

• LED headlights
• Sport suspension
• 17-inch wheels
• Upgraded sport seats
• Rear diffuser
• Wing Spoiler
• Metallic Paint

Since the Mini Cooper JCW is a hatchback that drives and performs like a sports car, safety is a paramount factor in ensuring passengers' safety. Fortunately, Mini leaves no stone unturned to ensure the maximum safety of its hot hatchback. However, the NHTSA and IIHS have not tested the 2022 Mini Cooper yet. Considering the fact that the Mini scored an overall Good rating from the IIHS in 2021, the 2022 model is expected to be a pretty solid and robust car. 

On top of that, there are also a wide array of modern safety features. It gets some standard features such as ABS and driveline traction control, Airbag occupancy sensor, Side impact beams, Dual stage driver and passenger seat mounted airbags, and Driver and passenger knee airbag. Some other stellar safety features available with the hatchback are:

• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Forward Collision Warning
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Front & Rear Parking Sensors
• Parallel parking Assist
• Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Back-Up Camera

2022 Mini Cooper JCW vs 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI:

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is the direct German rival to the Mini Cooper JCW. Both these cars have a lot in common. For instance, these cars have an equally-sized engine and manual transmission with similar power outputs and performance numbers. The place where the Mini Cooper surpasses the Volkswagen Golf GTI is on the fuel economy front. Priced at $32,665, it is more expensive than the Mini Cooper. On the whole, the Mini Cooper is a better car in many aspects such as handling, interior quality, and driving dynamics owing to its lightweight.

You cannot expect the quality of the Mini Cooper inside the Volkswagen Golf GTI, but instead, what it offers is a spacious cabin which makes it a more comfortable car with the capacity to fit 5 passengers inside. Moreover, it is heavier than the Mini which further affects the handling. Also, the 2022 MINI Cooper JCW would definitely smash the Golf GTI in corners.

2022 Mini Cooper JCW vs 2021 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Ultimate:

The Hyundai Veloster is one of the best cars to emerge out of the gates of Hyundai. There is no doubt that it is a handsome-looking hatchback, and it has got every character that makes it a decent hot hatchback. It has decent power output and performance and incorporates the same manual transmission as the Mini Cooper. Although the Mini is faster in acceleration and quarter-mile times, the 2022 Hyundai Veloster is expected to outperform the MINI in terms of top speed.

The Hyundai Veloster Turbo Ultimate is not up to the mark when it comes to fuel economy as it offers less mileage than the MINI Cooper. Despite being a bigger car, it offers less headroom than the Mini Cooper in the front and rear as well. On the upside, it offers the largest cargo volume of 19.9 cubic feet and is also the most affordable car of the bunch. After taking into consideration everything, the 2022 MINI Cooper JCW is the better option between the two.

2022 Mini Cooper JCW vs 2021 Subaru Impreza WRX STI:

The Subaru Impreza is one of the most revered Japanese hatchbacks of all time due to its long history in the Rally Championship. The Subaru Impreza WRX STI is renowned for its off-roading capability and performance, and the 2021 WRX STI is no different. It has more power than the Mini Cooper which reflects in its performance. It is nearly 2 seconds faster than the Mini Cooper to 60 mph. The colossal engine power directly affects the fuel efficiency of the car as it turns out to be the least fuel-efficient car.

Like every other car in the segment, the Subaru is also more spacious than the Mini Cooper, but the Mini offers a better interior with premium and expensive materials. Moreover, the Subaru is heavier and larger than the Mini Cooper, which makes the Mini a better car to handle in corners. However, the Subaru is the only car with an AWD system that still offers decent handling. For more practical, more powerful, and better off-road capabilities, the Subaru is the one. But for a compact, agile, and spirited driving experience, the MINI Cooper takes the cake.

The Mini Cooper John Cooper Works is a pure driver’s car that keeps you focussed and engaged behind the wheel. For a starting price of $32,400, this is what we call the perfect deal for the money. Being one of the greatest companies for the hatchback connoisseurs, Mini has delivered yet another great package. It also has sport suspension which gives great handling but it slightly affects the ride quality on rough terrains. Its unique personality has been appreciated for generations, and the new Mini Cooper JCW still retains it. For people who appreciate the sheer driving pleasure, agile handling, and opulence, the Mini Cooper JCW is a great deal.