Review: 2016 Mini Cooper S Works 210

Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be any room left to squeeze a new derivative into the Mini range, along comes the Cooper S Works 210

Effectively a three-door Cooper S with new 17in alloy wheels, a bunch of aerodynamic tweaks, variable dampers and a John Cooper Works tuning kit and free-flowing exhaust (the last two being fitted at your dealership after registration), the Works 210 sits between the all-rounder Cooper S and the more extreme John Cooper Works.

The 210 refers to the horsepower, which tops the regular S’s output by 18bhp. There’s been no change to the chassis, which is a welcome non-move as the standard Cooper S works really well as a daily driver.

This is not a stealthy car. The Pro Tuning kit JCW system has a Bluetooth remote function for opening and closing the exhaust system’s valves. Keep them closed and the 210 creates pretty much the same volume of noise as a regular Cooper S, but the character of that noise with its off-throttle pops, cracks and gurgles and vaguely hooliganish blow-off valve makes even urban cruising special, or embarrassing depending on your general outlook.

Opening the valves is something you’re not meant to do outside a track – and you’ll understand why when you do it because the volume goes up to Jaguar F-Type levels.

On normal country roads it’s easy to ignore the added noise and revel in the fact that, underneath the stramash, the 210 ie every bit as refined as the normal Cooper S. The extra power gives it enough real-world pace to entertain and adjust a line mid-corner, but not too much to overcome the bite of the front tyres. We don’t have an official 0-62mph time but it feels like low- to mid 6-second stuff.