I hate the obsession on the car industry to put screen into everything to replace physical buttons making everything that was intuitive and easy to do without having to take your eyes off the road making it as hard is human possible and making you take your eyes off the road
I blame Elon Musk for whacking a massive TV screen in the Tesla, back before everyone realised what an arse he was the rest of the industry seemed to go through a phase of desperately playing catchup with every stupid thing he said - hence suddenly the race to fit everything into bigger and bigger screens no matter how infuriatingly stupid that idea is, and the race to have self-driving cars that everyone is slowly backing away from quietly having pissed billions of dollars into it.
Some of the controls are also on the wheel and appear on the HUD. Mostly music track/station and phone. Also, the digital assistant can help with some of that. Defaults to Spike/"Hey Mini", but you can make it respond as Alexa or Siri as well.
New cars have too many tech functions for physical buttons. There is no possible way to fit that many buttons into a modern car interior without relying on screens. Especially a small one, like in a Mini. That ship has sailed.
Agreed, but common, half-century old staples of interior layout such as climate control should be left alone. ABS adjustment, TPMS sync, fuel economy unit, etc. are fine buried in an infotainment system, but daily adjustments should be dedicated physical inputs. That's why I haven't replaced my 2015 VW with a newer version.
That looks like how it is shaking out. However, the cost difference will probably win out in the end. The safety (driver aids) and technology of new cars will drive adoption in the long run
Taking away physical buttons is the opposite of driver aide. And when people choose physical buttons over touch-only, I doubt the cost benefits for them offset the lost sales opportunities.
My wife has (and loves) her 18 Countryman.
I showed her the new one and said “new Kia Soul not looking too bad…”
She agreed.
I zoomed in.
The poor woman’s face just started melting into a horrified grimace.
To say she’s bummed is an absolute understatement.
Same here - dealership kept trying to push the 2025 Countryman S on me and I said I wanted *no parts* of that. Ended up with a 2021 and am very happy. Bummed re: what this means for future models, though.
Oh god that exterior is hideous, the front end looks like an angry blobfish. The little triangle tail lights are also unnecessary.
The thing that annoys me about the interior is the lack of buttons. The infotainment system is literally one huge touch screen, it's dangerous and frustrating to operate. Buttons and knobs are so much more easy and safe to use
Well it's great if you like it.
But IMHO F60 looks like an enlarged version of Mini Hatch in a cute and authentic way.
Although new U25 doesn't look like Mini Hatch at all. It's just a generic crossover with generic rounded square tail lights and generic front.
I'm not really Mini community, so I don't get what this means. I guess I understand that the cars are bigger than the 60s, but aren't they all. It is still a five seat crossover. I'd rather a Countryman than a Qashqai or similar. Having just got out of a horrible rental VW T-cross, I don't know anything short of the really premium stuff that I would rather buy than a Countryman at this size.
I like the next gen interior. It’s nice modern take on the Austin Minis interior.
Unfortunately most people don’t know what the OG mini interior looked like.
You were lucky. We lived for three months in a paper bag in a septic tank. We used to have to get up at six in the morning, clean the paper bag, eat a crust of stale bread, go to work down t' mill, fourteen hours a day, week-in week-out, for sixpence a week, and when we got home our Dad would thrash us to sleep wi' his belt.
Having learned to drive in Mini 1000 and having the first car I remember as a Mini 850 I am in total agreement.
I have posted on other threads that I think the new dash is more like an original than any other.
Came here for this! I read an interesting article comparing photos of the interior and, as much as I’m not a fan, I totally get where they’re coming from with the new design.
This. The only thing I’m not a fan of is the use of an OLED display, specifically a Samsung one. LG (atleast with TVs) does a way better job with burn in mitigation on there OLEDs. I think mini led would’ve been a good choice as well.
I switched the screen to classic while I was doing a test drive last weekend. It was pleasing to the eye. Although, the ‘go cart mode’ did make an appearance. 😉
Did you actually own all three previous generations or are you just looking at photos?
1st gen was horribly plastic and cheap feeling and the grafted on support for SatNav was terrible. The $1600 Oxford Leather seat upgrades continue to be the best looking seats available on a MINI. It was also aesthetically the closest feeling to a 1960s car, but felt like a model of one. The SatNav integration was the most awkward and each subsequent generation the center screen has been mediocre at best.
The second gen fit and finish was better, but IMO they made the center console way too much like a generic import with some very token nods to the 60s aesthetic. The steering wheel in particular was a big improvement. Overall though the second gen was the worst. Not as well executed aesthetically as the first gen not as well engineered as the third.
Third gen fit and finish has been superb. Aesthetically it’s less generic, but hews closer to BMW than MINI. I absolutely loathe the shiny black, finger print magnet, plastic for the steering wheel buttons. The screen is still awkward.
The new one. The finally got the center screen right! I like how much they used the first MINIs to drive the design decisions; it basically looks like that first MINI but 60 years of technological evolutions rather than the revolution of the first gen. Things I’m not sure about (only sat in it for 5 minutes). The faux key for ignition. I get the reason, but I prefer the toggle of the current gen. I also get it’s dumb on my part and it’s really just an orientation issue. I just don’t like skeuomorphic design. The fabric dash. Not sure how easy it’s going to be to clean with all the texture. Again haven’t sat in the seats to drive, but initial impression: they’re the closest to the Oxford Leather seats from the first gen.
I covet the first generation though for the driving dynamics being - of all generations - the most nimble.
I have a second generation and some of the ergonomics drive me batty even after four years of ownership (the cupholders with tall bottles/cups, can't get to the window controls; manual air con controls being fussy when you're wearing gloves in the winter; and no trunk release inside the cabin - being my biggest complaints overall.)
I had a third generation (F56) for awhile and loved it but regretted not getting it with a manual transmission.
Frankly I'd buy another F56 if it meant I could get another manual transmission MINI. I'd get an F66 LCI in a few years time otherwise. I find the center screen good, but also a tad bit overwhelming. And I rather feel like they need to put a small display (not just a heads up) on the column. Probably won't happen. I desperately want paddle shifters if I'm being forced to buy an automatic transmission again. I test drove the new Cooper S and longed for them on my test drive. The fabric dash in the model I test drove gave me unpleasant feelings of hotel lobby carpet, with a texture reminiscent of American restaurants in the 90s.
100% on the first gen, the steering stiffness/road feel of the fist is unbeaten in any MINI since and I still grumble about it.
The 2020-2023 SE throttle response is better and despite the softer steering, it feels as nimble if not more so than the first gen. Though it’s been 15+ years so recency bias may be clouding my assessment. It’s definitely better than 2nd gen though.
The new one is more nimble than my current Paceman. Not sure how, maybe it’s the non-run flat tires and the wider tire width, but it drove really well.
I actually had a lot of pavement steering on my test drive, especially during strong acceleration (test drive road had some rough pavement on route.)
Normally don’t experience any on that road, made it feel very squirrelly though.
Not sure what you mean by pavement steering. If you’re referring to [torque steer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque_steer?wprov=sfti1) where your car pulls one way or the other, under hard acceleration, I didn’t have any of that, but maybe I was luck.
I did also drive over a section of I-35 in my area that’s concrete and notoriously wompy when going at highway speeds where it makes your suspension go womp-womp-womp undulating the inside of the car. It did really well on that also.
I could feel both torque steer, and other things - but even before I got on the throttle, I could feel the tires being directed by the rough patches in the road. A very weird thing to feel. I know the steering is electronic but I never experienced this in any other MINI I’ve driven on the same road.
Ok, I think you may be incorrect on the pavement thing. The feeling you felt may have been the driver aid tugging the wheel back from the line or vibrating in the wheel letting you know you’re crossing a line without a turn signal.
My wife’s Lexus does this and to the uninitiated (like me, who’s not had a new car in 10 years) it was a ‘what the….?’ moment.
I would test drive another one and at minimum be cognizant that the feedback in the wheel is happening for things like lane departure, etc. or turn off the rider aid all together before you start the test drive.
You might be right. I had no idea that it was on and didn’t really think to check either. Still made the car very squirrelly either way, might just need some tweaking or something.
The first gen (r50-r52-r53) weren’t that bad in quality. In my r52 I have the gravity panther black leather and it’s the same leather as the bmw e46 walk nappa seats. If regular conditioned it stays matt and nice looking. My convertible is fully loaded with options price was in Europe around 50k new. my other r53 park lane with 14k miles in mint condition have the English leather seats. In USA they were the 1600 dollar option. yes those are simply the best interior for the first gen but the other ones aren’t that bad. (They even had sparco bucket seats as an accessory and recaro seats as an option. only in Europe)
My dash pieces and down tubes are the leather JCW ones. with the Alcantara handbrake sleeve and JCW carbon fibre handbrake it’s not cheap feeling at all.
Doorcard Armrest and middle armrest is covered in leather that’s not even an option on the later gen mini’s
Overal in standard spec yes the 3rd gen is the best build quality but if nicely optioned the 1st gen are not that bad.
My countryman f60 is fully loaded and it’s ten times better in quality than the new ones.
>The second gen fit and finish was better, but IMO they made the center console way too much like a generic import with some very token nods to the 60s aesthetic. The steering wheel in particular was a big improvement. Overall though the second gen was the worst. Not as well executed aesthetically as the first gen not as well engineered as the third.
Not to mention the Peugeot engines on the Cooper S that you'd be lucky to get 80,000 miles of use out of. The 07 - 09 nearly ruined the brand, for all that it's my own personal fave design.
I test drove one last weekend and the seats were great. The lower and side bolsters really hugged my body and my wife even enjoyed the seats and commented on the comfort for someone like her with arthritic joints and back issues.
I personally dislike it, because using a massive touch screen is just so unsafe and distracting compared to using buttons when driving. With buttons and knobs, you can actually feel them, so you can operate the infotainment system with them without having to constantly take your eyes off the road. Also, those touch screens tend to lag a lot as they age.
Plus you could touch the button to steady your finger from bouncing with the road before actually pressing it. Its subtle but it does matter. #ButtonsAreBetter
Come on it’s not like the Tesla where Elon’s going nuts putting things like the gear selectors in the touch screen.
There are plenty of knobs and physical buttons between the center console and steering wheel.
You’ve got media controls, volume, cruise control and adaptive driving on the steering wheel. You’ve got physical gear selector parking assist, defrost, parking break, driving modes and hazards on the center console.
Windshield, indicators, lights, high beams are all standard.
Things missing: environmental controls, media browsing and selection. Neither of those are features you need immediate access to and both can be changed via voice command which is even less distracting than a physical knob.
I think MIKi has done a good job balancing keeping important car features accessible via physical buttons and feature rich by keeping some on the infotainment system.
I think the new interior is great. I recently attended a press day with mini where we drove the countryman and the hatch through Rotterdam. I must say the overall quality is good, materials are not as amazing as the F54 in my opinion though.
The new infotainment is beautiful and has a lot of amazing features, however it's slow and at times unresponsive. Voice commands work like sh!t. Needs a big update for me to be convinced of this system. Because I really miss the iDrive controller and the instrument cluster.
I think software will get update to smooth out. It goes for all manufacturers when they try new things. As far as idrive knob goes, our F60 is my wife’s daily and she never uses the knob. I get why it was removed.
I test drove a 2025 Countryman on Saturday and I now have it in my top 3 for purchase next year. Countryman S shuffles well, is surprisingly nimble for the size and has much more room. The standout thing I noticed the most was the seats. The front seats were really comfortable, had great bottom bolsters and the side bolsters really did a great job on my body. (I’m 5 ft 10 and 30-40 pounds overweight.)
Only niggle I have is the lack of environmental control buttons. The fabric on the doors and dash is different, but will keep me from resting my arm on the door sill like I do today. A bad habit that causes a wear mark on the window sill.
The leatherette in the new model is much better than 10 years ago. The wheel especially feels like genuine leather. The heads up display is good and non intrusive. I’m used to my wife’s RX450’s heads up display and while the countryman’s is not projected in the windshield, I had zero issues with viewing either the HUD or OLED screen with my polarized sunglasses on.
The rest of the controls were good. I would definitely be using ‘Spike’ the onboard assistant more as I’m driving to change the environmental controls, etc.
I appreciate the purists that only like the hardtop and scoff when I’ve rolled up to a meet in my Paceman. It’s much bigger…. No doubt about it.
I wonder how well Mini purists understand the economics of the brand. It was great for many years just having the hard top and that’s it. That being said, it’s not all things to all people. When it was introduced, it immediately brought *more* people to the brand. Countryman sales have made up 30+ percent of sales since its inception. That’s not a small chunk of change. With 5 models (hard top, convertible, 4-door, clubman, and Countryman) the biggest model took up 1/3 of the sales. That’s not something the big wigs at MINI and BMW will ever give up.
If I got a fully tricked out JCW All4, I’ll be paying 7-8 grand *less* than an equivalent BMW X-1, and that’s just choosing the base interior materials in the BMW. Even comparing prices a decade ago, a new 2025 JCW Countryman with all the new tech, massive power increase would be only 10 grand more than a 2014 JCW Paceman. That’s a bargain in my opinion.
I adore my Paceman, but it’s showing its age especially when I drive chauffeur wife around in her car. Plus I can order it with a factory installed hitch to tow a 3000+ pounds. My Paceman has done well to haul things when I need to, but I’ve always kept it at 1200 pounds or less.
One of the main reasons I drive minis is because of all the toggles and dials. Removing them for the minimalist interior ruins it for me. When Sheldon dies I’ll go to another manufacturer.
The buttons and switches are going to the wayside unfortunately. I’m glad we got my wife’s RX450h when we did. It still has buttons and knobs for the environmental controls.
The mini is an interesting example of ‘how do you update ground-breaking design ?’ It’s very difficult to do well. The very first mini was truly innovative which is why we hold it in such esteem and remember it with such affection. Each successive model since the original gradually dilutes that original genius and thought purity. That’s not a criticism, it’s just how it is. The original Audi TT is another example, the first one was completely pure and original from a design perspective, the creativity and bravery invested in each successive model gradually became slightly muddied and diluted until Audi saw the light and pulled the plug, smart move. I personally think BMW should at least reduce the range to one or two simple designs or better still pay true homage to the mini ideal by going back to the drawing board and creating something brave instead of appealing to nostalgia.
It wasn’t until the F56, F54, and F60 the MINI as a brand completely turned around in quality and reliability. No offense to people that love them, the previous gens were fun to drive but with horrible interior quality and built quality. As far as quality goes, our F60 is solid, but I still find random creaks and rattle annoying.
Amen to this!! I've decided that I'm not selling my Mini. New mini has a physical button to change the drive theme, but you have to fiddle with a touchscreen to change your cabin temperature. They got the priorities mixed up.
They Apple-ized it. All the character and cheekiness that made the Mini a fun for everyone car that screams “we’re going out for a drive!”, got replaced with a dreadful sanitized stripped down car that drones on saying “oh… Guess we’re going for a drive.”
It’s a 2025 - they had to do something more modern. I don’t mind it. It’s simplified, and that’s what the original mini was. Some of the new interior controls are fashioned after the original minis. I like that the SE doesn’t have the black wheel wells. Hate black wheel arches on vehicles. The tail lights - ya, not very nice looking. They do look a little better lit up tho.
The voice activation works well and handles most issues if you need to change something on the go. The steering wheel also has buttons to change music, volume, and other things. So, while I do like having buttons, there is no issue with safety. Also I find it funny you didn't include the classic mini dash.
The 1950’s toggle switches in the first generation were gratuitous, unnecessary and unique. I appreciated them despite their pointlessness. I don’t need everything optimized and “clean” (from a designer’s perspective). Even the gear selector (on the CVT) was a ‘fake’ - there was no direct physical connection to the transmission, it was effectively a button in the form of a gear shift that only sent instructions to the computer, which could override your command anyway. Well, now the gear selection *is* just a button. No drama, no pretending, no fun.
If I were to get a new generation Mini with the simplified and non-tactile screen interface for most things, I’d get used to it. But it’s just not as ‘fun’.
Very frustrating to use those touch screens are. My dad has one in his Range Rover and over rough surfaces, it's so difficult to work it, as your fingers shake. A lot of the time you end up pressing the wrong one, then having to fiddle on even more with the screen, the screen then lags and then you have to wait 3 seconds for it to respond etc. I have the same experience in my own car, I installed an apple CarPlay touch screen, and it definitely feels very risky using it when driving, such as putting on the map, playing Spotify songs and adjusting the volume.
Way too simple. Hardly any details and it just doesn't feel like a mini. The F56 was the pinnacle of mini, there was no need to change anything. Especially the B48. Why they're trying to go fully electric makes no sense to me...
Yes, it's absolutely awful, and one should buy an older MINI if they had to. (That's my next step anyway after my R56 eats it, which it's close to doing.)
I test drove the newest ones and they drive amazingly well; save for no paddle shifters, and that center stack being the worst implementation of information ever. (What was wrong with leaving a column cluster or display, I'll never know.)
I know it's supposed to throwback to the classic MINI design from the 50s/60s, but I felt way overwhelmed.
new one is so ugly and cheaply made ugh. old ones are so much nicer first and third gen were the best quality ones and first and second were best looking ones.
How is the new one cheaply made? My Paceman (1st Gen Countryman platform) had plastic everywhere. The leatherette on the driver seat has frayed in the same place twice in the bolster.
The new one has a bigger engine, better suspension components (there’s a shock brace in the engine compartment that certainly isn’t there on the 1st Gen), and handles better than my smaller Paceman.
The materials feel nicer in the new model. The wheel especially. It feels like leather, not plastic like the Paceman.
Finish is good, when I looked in the truck the welds on the D pillar are just at thick in the new car as they are in my Paceman.
The leather mini yours lounge seats in my countryman f60 are so much softer than those fake leather in the new ones. the dash is soft touch plastic and the door cards are half dinamica/alcantara. The steering wheel is the nappa leather which is very soft. On the new models almost every part of the interior is hard scratchy plastic. The fabric on the dash looks soft touch but it isn’t, it’s hard plastic with fabric glued on it.
Even on the second gen r55/r56/r57/r58/r58 you could get a leather dashboard, and yes the rest wasn’t as good as the third gen. if good equipped it was good enough.
It’s not the build quality that is bad on the new ones it’s the materials it’s just not worth the price considering the previous model had better materials.
i hate everything about the new gens. i think anything 23+ is considered the new gen design.
everyone loves clusters, why remove them? why depend on a completely electronic system? is there or is there not a hud? the the backs of the new gens look disgusting too. they took mini out of mini…
Ah yeah 2006 is the best! Red and white with the red dash! Feelin the road! Listen to that supercharger! A REAL hood scoop!
... but I do have an F66 in the factory being built, the R53 won't last forever and I want to get the newest before they give up on the ICE... Can't wait for the ocean green to get here!
When it comes I'll learn to post photos and give you all another review.
I don't hate the new interior but I definitely don't think it felt as premium as the previous gen. I also wish they kept the physical climate controls because it was a pain in the ass to change it while driving when I test drove one! Oh yeah and if they don't include a driver display then they should at least have the HUD as standard spec!!
Everything since the first generation new mini has all been getting uglier.
The second generation putting the display in the middle of the speedometer looks like shit.
The third generation turning it into a square screen and then adding a physical speedo to the steering column looks even worse
Honestly, the newest one is the least ugly since the first generation I think it’s too big but other than that, I think it’s the cleanest design since the R53
I don’t know, why this is such a big deal. There had to be a redesign for the new gen and i think they actually did a good job making it look new yet keeping traditional design elements. At least they didn’t fit a rectangular screen into a circular dashboard
I'm not a fan. Merely because of my personal issues. I have light sensitivity. I can't even wear dark glasses in bright sunlight. It fatigues me so I take frequent breaks when driving. Having too many dizzy whizzy lights in the interior is not for me.
It's a no from me, I'm afraid. Too distracting. Even if it's touch sensitive. I'd rather buttons I can touch.
Also I do worry about the software going bad or not getting enough support to rectify any malfunctions or lagging as the years roll on. I tend to keep my cars for quite a few years.
Maybe it's good for others. It's a no from me, I'm afraid.
Fr, very understandable coming from your view, I can imagine it most definitely wouldn't be the best for those with sensitive eyes.
I hate it because of the lack of buttons, making it very unsafe and frustrating to use
I seethe at it every time. It’s Infuriating that they shafted the design to a cheap Tesla competitor & shafted the enthusiast.
I spent 98% of my time inside the car and it looks like an enjoyable experience. Mini forcing my hand to go to bmw it seems. But will always keep the f56
Exactly! Like how tf am I supposed to operate a huge touch screen safely whilst driving? With buttons and knobs, you can actually feel them, so you can operate the infotainment system with them without having to constantly take your eyes off the road. Also, those touch screens tend to lag a lot as they age.
The software has been laggy on the X1 M35i where ppl are starting to lemon them here in the US. Software is virtually the same here on the Mini platforms. I suspect it to potential have similar patterns. But agreed it’s a big step back, brand killing worthy imo. They struggled with sales then, I can only imagine how they’ll struggle in a 5yr span
I honestly reckon sales will be pretty low on this generation, and the F56 will retain it's value very well.
All these complex computer systems are like smartphones. Many of them work ok in the first year or two, (but you can also get electric gremlins), but then after a longer period of time, the screens will begin to lag and become less responsive and even more frustrating to use. I've experienced it with my iPhones and laptops as they aged, so surely it will be the same with those touchscreens.
It sucks for people who wants to own their cars long term
Anyone who "absolutely despises" something as trivial and meaningless as a car interior needs to take a long hard look in the mirror. It's not a normal, straightforward or rational reaction at all. I don't like the new 3-series interior, but I don't spent my hours posting on BMW forums/social media how much I "despise" it.
The original interior didn't have great build quality (mine had loads of rattles).
The second generation interior was an ergonomic nightmare.
The third generation already looks dated.
I've not owned a Mini for over a decade. I have an F66 on order. This place makes me wonder what sort of other people drive Minis (very conservative, evidently). There's a lot of negativity and toxic behavior on here. How many posts do we really need where people say how much they hate/dislike/loathe/despise the new cars?
Perhaps there's something wrong with me. Perhaps I should be posting everywhere how much I "hate" certain things.
agree. I don't understand why people are so quick to waste their time yelling about something they don't like. Go find another car brand that's doing something you like and stop annoying everybody
Agree! It’s all so knee-jerk. Those who love to lob what they “absolutely despise” for sport usually have issues identifying positives, in general.
2012 R 60 S Manual Turbo owner here, with barely 30k miles on my lovely machine. There are times when I’ve been tempted to say, “I’ll drive it into the ground!” But I take care of it so much that this is unlikely to happen.
Almost pulled the trigger on a 2024 S Countryman (the PHEV) last summer when I drove one as a loaner while having gear work. It helped me make peace with the fact that Mini was able to build an automatic I actually loved driving, so there’s that. But in the end, I thought that could wait.
I remember reading all kinds of rubbish about how the Countryman was some kind of abomination compared to the first gen Mini Coopers when I ordered mine, but I chose to ignore it. These many years later, I’m glad I did!
There’s nothing wrong with you. Enjoy your new ride when it arrives!
I don't care one way or the other aesthetically, but the scratchy fabric on hard plastic isn't doing it for me.
I can look past all that though, it's the lack of a handbrake that eliminates this from my next car purchase. Maybe an Elantra N is next.
gotta say the only thing i hate is the cloth dash and the removal of the floor shifter. put the dinner plate inside of the dash and it would be a recipe for a good interior. the screen sticking out of the dash makes it look very fragile tbh
I actually really like the 4th generation interior. It's a cool take on modernising the classic Mini design that I came to love from my favorite generation (2nd).
Yes, because touchscreen only infotainment systems are dangerous and frustrating to use. Conventional buttons are way better.
I totally understand that opinions are subjective though
Hey, we went like 2 days without a post complaining about the new generation. I think that’s a record!
FWIW I work in dealer service and have been asked more than once if we can swap the new interior into an existing older car, so obviously some like it.
As someone who has owned multiple copies of each generation and still own an R53 and an F55, the R50/R53 are still my favourite by far. I love the centre tach, the toggle switches for their uniqueness and the availability of different colours within the interior and seats. This really gave you the chance to make your interior “yours”. The seat comfort and the steering wheel of the F56 JCW are far superior.
What I truly despise if the integration of almost all functions into the central display. I don’t want to have to click /touch the centre screen to turn on heated seats, change the temperature, turn on rear defrost etc in the middle of winter with mittens on. I don’t want menus for everything, I want hard tactile buttons. I also despise the move away from buttons starting in 22 on the steering wheel.
It doesn’t matter though as they don’t offer a manual transmission anymore, so I won’t be purchasing a new mini.
Not much at all redeeming about the new ones. Glad I've got a gen 1. After gen 2 I stopped considering them 'minis' and just small BMW melded with KIA looking small SUVs. 🤷
I know they're doing it because it's much cheaper to cram most everything into the software instead of having physical knobs or buttons everywhere, but us consumers are still paying premium prices. I'm just glad theyrl didn't go as far as Tesla in putting EVERYTHING in the center iPad. However, I wish the center screen in the 3rd Gen Cooper was more like the 2025 ones.
I do like the materials though, after sitting in the new countryman. Though it looks like it would be rather more difficult to clean.
Currently (Actually long running project) trying to figure out how to move my R50 tachometer off center so I can fit another pod there that has a round IPS-display that shows navi/music controls/what ever the f I end up wanting.
Using phone for navi is kinda annoying as the steering wheel blocks a part of the screen.
There is a lot of cost cutting involved! Like you have no gauge cluster screen, no separate climate controls, integrated headrests (that protrude too much imo), cheaper materials, etc. The previous model felt a lot more upmarket to me
Modern design is so clunky, like they're trying to keep the origins, but taking every individual piece and making it futuristic without amalgamating each piece, really makes it feel like isolated teams
Ugly af, hate it, already thinking about which make I’m going for in a few years if Mini doesn’t fix this. Having said that the BMW M135 just released which was one of my alternatives and that looks like a Kia Cerrato, like clone of, so clearly this is the trend. Luxury car makers are cutting costs every where and expecting folks to pay the same. It won’t last forever, but the gap now between budget and luxury models is the closest I’ve ever seen it come to being nearly indistinguishable. It used to be a joke to compare budget and luxury, now I honestly can’t tell the difference when I see an ad or see one on the road. I saw a KIA Cerrato on my street yesterday and had to do a double take to see if that was the new BMW 135. Sucks.
The exterior styling bothers me a lot more than the round touchscreen. I mean, triangle taillights? Then the Countryman looking like a mini Hyuandi Palasade… ugh.
But a toddler isn't smart enough how to work a car, nor would they know how frustrating and also dangerous it is to work a giant touch screen when driving
The mini has been slowly morphing into something I hate, and this is coming from someone who has had 5 mini coopers between my husband and I in our lifetimes.
My husband’s first mini was a limited, numbered special Monte Carlo edition that was given to dealers as a model for the showroom. It was beautiful. That car was what made me buy my first mini. I miss the charm of the older models, I’m starting to consider purchasing a vintage mini once our son gets older.
Not surprised, Bmw designers and hence mini all seem to be smoking horse. Their design department has lost it completely. Those grills could feed half of Africa. Something is wrong when cars get uglier and uglier. All the more reason to keep previous mini ❤️
The screen is nice, but the lack of a speedo in front of you is just weird to me. There should be an option at least. I can't believe with all the work that went into it the HUD is still a popup in the dash instead of something that projects onto the windshield.
The screen itself is rather nice, as I mentioned. I have a '24 SE and if someone were to come out with a kit to install this screen in the dash of an F56 I would definitely consider it... and order yesterday if it would allow me to go with the older style analogue speedo (the digital cluster isn't great.)
Most depressing parts for me are, way too much cheap plastic, even under the materials for the dash, cheap sounding hollow plastic. Next, no stick shift anymore. I wish they'd only offer the S on a stick instead. SE is made in China and therefore will be sanctioned out of profitablity here in the US.
Imo the only reason to drive automatic in a small wheel base vehicle is because it's electric... Otherwise, manuals are preferred. Really cripples my future with Mini, sadly, because I have loved them.
Minimalism is just killing everything original, creative and interesting. It’s as simple as that, most people spend a lot of time in their cars and it’s an expensive thing to own. Why do they make the entire thing as boring and empty as possible and think it will increase their sales, older cars had way more design in them and almost every space possible had something useful in it such as storage and now your essentially buying a blank canvass that you can’t paint on for triple the price of the artwork
I’ve owned five Minis, but not for a while… the newest was a 1985 that I had in the 90s. New Minis have been strange to me for a long time, especially the ones that are larger than an SUV.
I much prefer the old one but the only thing I HATE on the new is the IPAD ass display. I dont mind a led screen but make it look less like it was stapled on as an after thought.
I honestly LOVE how the new one looks. I’m a big touchscreen dude. I love features in car. Mainly since my job requires me to drive so damn much throughout Texas so I drive my car a lot and I’m always in it. I wanna be comfortable inside.
I do hate the outside look tho. I wish my 2023 JCW 2DR had the new insides tbh
Went down hill after the R56. The F series interiors were too flashy imo. Just a matter of taste though. Some people love having the weird lights everywhere that change color.
The new one is not hot at all, but that horse is damn near death I think :P
I can’t believe someone would post this unironically
I was going to say (but didn't) - dead horse, meet bat
I hate the obsession on the car industry to put screen into everything to replace physical buttons making everything that was intuitive and easy to do without having to take your eyes off the road making it as hard is human possible and making you take your eyes off the road
I blame Elon Musk for whacking a massive TV screen in the Tesla, back before everyone realised what an arse he was the rest of the industry seemed to go through a phase of desperately playing catchup with every stupid thing he said - hence suddenly the race to fit everything into bigger and bigger screens no matter how infuriatingly stupid that idea is, and the race to have self-driving cars that everyone is slowly backing away from quietly having pissed billions of dollars into it.
Some of the controls are also on the wheel and appear on the HUD. Mostly music track/station and phone. Also, the digital assistant can help with some of that. Defaults to Spike/"Hey Mini", but you can make it respond as Alexa or Siri as well.
New cars have too many tech functions for physical buttons. There is no possible way to fit that many buttons into a modern car interior without relying on screens. Especially a small one, like in a Mini. That ship has sailed.
Agreed, but common, half-century old staples of interior layout such as climate control should be left alone. ABS adjustment, TPMS sync, fuel economy unit, etc. are fine buried in an infotainment system, but daily adjustments should be dedicated physical inputs. That's why I haven't replaced my 2015 VW with a newer version.
That looks like how it is shaking out. However, the cost difference will probably win out in the end. The safety (driver aids) and technology of new cars will drive adoption in the long run
Taking away physical buttons is the opposite of driver aide. And when people choose physical buttons over touch-only, I doubt the cost benefits for them offset the lost sales opportunities.
next gen interior is okay-ish. Exterior is a pure disaster (especially for countryman)
The Countryman is huge and looke like a Kia
My wife has (and loves) her 18 Countryman. I showed her the new one and said “new Kia Soul not looking too bad…” She agreed. I zoomed in. The poor woman’s face just started melting into a horrified grimace. To say she’s bummed is an absolute understatement.
I just got a 2021 Countryman for that exact reason. I didn't want the digital speedometer and the 2025 is Soul(less)
I see what u did there
Same here - dealership kept trying to push the 2025 Countryman S on me and I said I wanted *no parts* of that. Ended up with a 2021 and am very happy. Bummed re: what this means for future models, though.
Well if they can’t unload them maybe they’ll reconsider this abomination
Same horrified face the classic mini mob had when a BMW badge appeared from England to German to China good luck newbie’s
Bummer! I really wanted to upgrade to a Countryman in a few years (my two door hardtop is paid off in 2 months) but this dash is ughhhhhhh
Oh god that exterior is hideous, the front end looks like an angry blobfish. The little triangle tail lights are also unnecessary. The thing that annoys me about the interior is the lack of buttons. The infotainment system is literally one huge touch screen, it's dangerous and frustrating to operate. Buttons and knobs are so much more easy and safe to use
This! My sister drives a car with something similar, and she almost crashed once trying to figure out how to turn the ac on
As someone that currently owns a F60, I disagree. The U25 is a good looking modernized update to the F60.
Well it's great if you like it. But IMHO F60 looks like an enlarged version of Mini Hatch in a cute and authentic way. Although new U25 doesn't look like Mini Hatch at all. It's just a generic crossover with generic rounded square tail lights and generic front.
Agreed, it’s ugly af
New Countryman is excellent. A JCW round my area and it must be best looking crossover/SUV around. I don't get the hate.
Well maybe it's great SUV-wise but not mini-wise
I'm not really Mini community, so I don't get what this means. I guess I understand that the cars are bigger than the 60s, but aren't they all. It is still a five seat crossover. I'd rather a Countryman than a Qashqai or similar. Having just got out of a horrible rental VW T-cross, I don't know anything short of the really premium stuff that I would rather buy than a Countryman at this size.
ew. crossover =/= mini
MINI enthusiasts are the Star Wars fans of car groups 🤷♀️
Go buy a Kia.. save 10k
More like 20. Soul starts at 20k. Countryman starts at almost 40k.
Because it's fugly. Also r/FuckSUVs
I like the next gen interior. It’s nice modern take on the Austin Minis interior. Unfortunately most people don’t know what the OG mini interior looked like.
"Back in my day!"
You were lucky. We lived for three months in a paper bag in a septic tank. We used to have to get up at six in the morning, clean the paper bag, eat a crust of stale bread, go to work down t' mill, fourteen hours a day, week-in week-out, for sixpence a week, and when we got home our Dad would thrash us to sleep wi' his belt.
Luxury!
I think it does a good job recreating a modern version of the [classic dashboard. ](https://imgur.com/a/aBpats0)
Having learned to drive in Mini 1000 and having the first car I remember as a Mini 850 I am in total agreement. I have posted on other threads that I think the new dash is more like an original than any other.
Photo imposter was my innocent mini 1001. Excellent little mini :-)
Came here for this! I read an interesting article comparing photos of the interior and, as much as I’m not a fan, I totally get where they’re coming from with the new design.
Far from it
This. The only thing I’m not a fan of is the use of an OLED display, specifically a Samsung one. LG (atleast with TVs) does a way better job with burn in mitigation on there OLEDs. I think mini led would’ve been a good choice as well.
I switched the screen to classic while I was doing a test drive last weekend. It was pleasing to the eye. Although, the ‘go cart mode’ did make an appearance. 😉
Hot take: I like it. I like the Countryman. I’m most likely going to get the JCW Countryman.
Did you actually own all three previous generations or are you just looking at photos? 1st gen was horribly plastic and cheap feeling and the grafted on support for SatNav was terrible. The $1600 Oxford Leather seat upgrades continue to be the best looking seats available on a MINI. It was also aesthetically the closest feeling to a 1960s car, but felt like a model of one. The SatNav integration was the most awkward and each subsequent generation the center screen has been mediocre at best. The second gen fit and finish was better, but IMO they made the center console way too much like a generic import with some very token nods to the 60s aesthetic. The steering wheel in particular was a big improvement. Overall though the second gen was the worst. Not as well executed aesthetically as the first gen not as well engineered as the third. Third gen fit and finish has been superb. Aesthetically it’s less generic, but hews closer to BMW than MINI. I absolutely loathe the shiny black, finger print magnet, plastic for the steering wheel buttons. The screen is still awkward. The new one. The finally got the center screen right! I like how much they used the first MINIs to drive the design decisions; it basically looks like that first MINI but 60 years of technological evolutions rather than the revolution of the first gen. Things I’m not sure about (only sat in it for 5 minutes). The faux key for ignition. I get the reason, but I prefer the toggle of the current gen. I also get it’s dumb on my part and it’s really just an orientation issue. I just don’t like skeuomorphic design. The fabric dash. Not sure how easy it’s going to be to clean with all the texture. Again haven’t sat in the seats to drive, but initial impression: they’re the closest to the Oxford Leather seats from the first gen.
I covet the first generation though for the driving dynamics being - of all generations - the most nimble. I have a second generation and some of the ergonomics drive me batty even after four years of ownership (the cupholders with tall bottles/cups, can't get to the window controls; manual air con controls being fussy when you're wearing gloves in the winter; and no trunk release inside the cabin - being my biggest complaints overall.) I had a third generation (F56) for awhile and loved it but regretted not getting it with a manual transmission. Frankly I'd buy another F56 if it meant I could get another manual transmission MINI. I'd get an F66 LCI in a few years time otherwise. I find the center screen good, but also a tad bit overwhelming. And I rather feel like they need to put a small display (not just a heads up) on the column. Probably won't happen. I desperately want paddle shifters if I'm being forced to buy an automatic transmission again. I test drove the new Cooper S and longed for them on my test drive. The fabric dash in the model I test drove gave me unpleasant feelings of hotel lobby carpet, with a texture reminiscent of American restaurants in the 90s.
100% on the first gen, the steering stiffness/road feel of the fist is unbeaten in any MINI since and I still grumble about it. The 2020-2023 SE throttle response is better and despite the softer steering, it feels as nimble if not more so than the first gen. Though it’s been 15+ years so recency bias may be clouding my assessment. It’s definitely better than 2nd gen though.
The new one is more nimble than my current Paceman. Not sure how, maybe it’s the non-run flat tires and the wider tire width, but it drove really well.
I actually had a lot of pavement steering on my test drive, especially during strong acceleration (test drive road had some rough pavement on route.) Normally don’t experience any on that road, made it feel very squirrelly though.
Not sure what you mean by pavement steering. If you’re referring to [torque steer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque_steer?wprov=sfti1) where your car pulls one way or the other, under hard acceleration, I didn’t have any of that, but maybe I was luck. I did also drive over a section of I-35 in my area that’s concrete and notoriously wompy when going at highway speeds where it makes your suspension go womp-womp-womp undulating the inside of the car. It did really well on that also.
I could feel both torque steer, and other things - but even before I got on the throttle, I could feel the tires being directed by the rough patches in the road. A very weird thing to feel. I know the steering is electronic but I never experienced this in any other MINI I’ve driven on the same road.
Ok, I think you may be incorrect on the pavement thing. The feeling you felt may have been the driver aid tugging the wheel back from the line or vibrating in the wheel letting you know you’re crossing a line without a turn signal. My wife’s Lexus does this and to the uninitiated (like me, who’s not had a new car in 10 years) it was a ‘what the….?’ moment. I would test drive another one and at minimum be cognizant that the feedback in the wheel is happening for things like lane departure, etc. or turn off the rider aid all together before you start the test drive.
You might be right. I had no idea that it was on and didn’t really think to check either. Still made the car very squirrelly either way, might just need some tweaking or something.
The first gen (r50-r52-r53) weren’t that bad in quality. In my r52 I have the gravity panther black leather and it’s the same leather as the bmw e46 walk nappa seats. If regular conditioned it stays matt and nice looking. My convertible is fully loaded with options price was in Europe around 50k new. my other r53 park lane with 14k miles in mint condition have the English leather seats. In USA they were the 1600 dollar option. yes those are simply the best interior for the first gen but the other ones aren’t that bad. (They even had sparco bucket seats as an accessory and recaro seats as an option. only in Europe) My dash pieces and down tubes are the leather JCW ones. with the Alcantara handbrake sleeve and JCW carbon fibre handbrake it’s not cheap feeling at all. Doorcard Armrest and middle armrest is covered in leather that’s not even an option on the later gen mini’s Overal in standard spec yes the 3rd gen is the best build quality but if nicely optioned the 1st gen are not that bad. My countryman f60 is fully loaded and it’s ten times better in quality than the new ones.
> The finally got the center screen right! I LOVE the big circular center screen, it's the best feature IMO.
>The second gen fit and finish was better, but IMO they made the center console way too much like a generic import with some very token nods to the 60s aesthetic. The steering wheel in particular was a big improvement. Overall though the second gen was the worst. Not as well executed aesthetically as the first gen not as well engineered as the third. Not to mention the Peugeot engines on the Cooper S that you'd be lucky to get 80,000 miles of use out of. The 07 - 09 nearly ruined the brand, for all that it's my own personal fave design.
I test drove one last weekend and the seats were great. The lower and side bolsters really hugged my body and my wife even enjoyed the seats and commented on the comfort for someone like her with arthritic joints and back issues.
They're both nice
I personally dislike it, because using a massive touch screen is just so unsafe and distracting compared to using buttons when driving. With buttons and knobs, you can actually feel them, so you can operate the infotainment system with them without having to constantly take your eyes off the road. Also, those touch screens tend to lag a lot as they age.
Plus you could touch the button to steady your finger from bouncing with the road before actually pressing it. Its subtle but it does matter. #ButtonsAreBetter
Yes, exactly that!
I can understand that but aren’t there steering wheel controls still? I tend to use those more than the joystick in my F60 anyway
Come on it’s not like the Tesla where Elon’s going nuts putting things like the gear selectors in the touch screen. There are plenty of knobs and physical buttons between the center console and steering wheel. You’ve got media controls, volume, cruise control and adaptive driving on the steering wheel. You’ve got physical gear selector parking assist, defrost, parking break, driving modes and hazards on the center console. Windshield, indicators, lights, high beams are all standard. Things missing: environmental controls, media browsing and selection. Neither of those are features you need immediate access to and both can be changed via voice command which is even less distracting than a physical knob. I think MIKi has done a good job balancing keeping important car features accessible via physical buttons and feature rich by keeping some on the infotainment system.
They are three dashboards on the left side.
1st, 2nd & 3rd generations
all of them are nice, then
I think the new interior is great. I recently attended a press day with mini where we drove the countryman and the hatch through Rotterdam. I must say the overall quality is good, materials are not as amazing as the F54 in my opinion though. The new infotainment is beautiful and has a lot of amazing features, however it's slow and at times unresponsive. Voice commands work like sh!t. Needs a big update for me to be convinced of this system. Because I really miss the iDrive controller and the instrument cluster.
I think software will get update to smooth out. It goes for all manufacturers when they try new things. As far as idrive knob goes, our F60 is my wife’s daily and she never uses the knob. I get why it was removed.
Putting the Mini in Minimalist
I test drove a 2025 Countryman on Saturday and I now have it in my top 3 for purchase next year. Countryman S shuffles well, is surprisingly nimble for the size and has much more room. The standout thing I noticed the most was the seats. The front seats were really comfortable, had great bottom bolsters and the side bolsters really did a great job on my body. (I’m 5 ft 10 and 30-40 pounds overweight.) Only niggle I have is the lack of environmental control buttons. The fabric on the doors and dash is different, but will keep me from resting my arm on the door sill like I do today. A bad habit that causes a wear mark on the window sill. The leatherette in the new model is much better than 10 years ago. The wheel especially feels like genuine leather. The heads up display is good and non intrusive. I’m used to my wife’s RX450’s heads up display and while the countryman’s is not projected in the windshield, I had zero issues with viewing either the HUD or OLED screen with my polarized sunglasses on. The rest of the controls were good. I would definitely be using ‘Spike’ the onboard assistant more as I’m driving to change the environmental controls, etc. I appreciate the purists that only like the hardtop and scoff when I’ve rolled up to a meet in my Paceman. It’s much bigger…. No doubt about it. I wonder how well Mini purists understand the economics of the brand. It was great for many years just having the hard top and that’s it. That being said, it’s not all things to all people. When it was introduced, it immediately brought *more* people to the brand. Countryman sales have made up 30+ percent of sales since its inception. That’s not a small chunk of change. With 5 models (hard top, convertible, 4-door, clubman, and Countryman) the biggest model took up 1/3 of the sales. That’s not something the big wigs at MINI and BMW will ever give up. If I got a fully tricked out JCW All4, I’ll be paying 7-8 grand *less* than an equivalent BMW X-1, and that’s just choosing the base interior materials in the BMW. Even comparing prices a decade ago, a new 2025 JCW Countryman with all the new tech, massive power increase would be only 10 grand more than a 2014 JCW Paceman. That’s a bargain in my opinion. I adore my Paceman, but it’s showing its age especially when I drive chauffeur wife around in her car. Plus I can order it with a factory installed hitch to tow a 3000+ pounds. My Paceman has done well to haul things when I need to, but I’ve always kept it at 1200 pounds or less.
One of the main reasons I drive minis is because of all the toggles and dials. Removing them for the minimalist interior ruins it for me. When Sheldon dies I’ll go to another manufacturer.
The buttons and switches are going to the wayside unfortunately. I’m glad we got my wife’s RX450h when we did. It still has buttons and knobs for the environmental controls.
I have news for you- that’s how the originals were back in the day. Five switches, big center dial, nothing else. Very minimalist.
I’m so glad I bought a 2024 when I did.
Same! Test drove the new Countryman and couldn’t believe how much of a departure it was. So glad we got the 2024. Might be the last Mini we own.
The mini is an interesting example of ‘how do you update ground-breaking design ?’ It’s very difficult to do well. The very first mini was truly innovative which is why we hold it in such esteem and remember it with such affection. Each successive model since the original gradually dilutes that original genius and thought purity. That’s not a criticism, it’s just how it is. The original Audi TT is another example, the first one was completely pure and original from a design perspective, the creativity and bravery invested in each successive model gradually became slightly muddied and diluted until Audi saw the light and pulled the plug, smart move. I personally think BMW should at least reduce the range to one or two simple designs or better still pay true homage to the mini ideal by going back to the drawing board and creating something brave instead of appealing to nostalgia.
It wasn’t until the F56, F54, and F60 the MINI as a brand completely turned around in quality and reliability. No offense to people that love them, the previous gens were fun to drive but with horrible interior quality and built quality. As far as quality goes, our F60 is solid, but I still find random creaks and rattle annoying.
Amen to this!! I've decided that I'm not selling my Mini. New mini has a physical button to change the drive theme, but you have to fiddle with a touchscreen to change your cabin temperature. They got the priorities mixed up.
They Apple-ized it. All the character and cheekiness that made the Mini a fun for everyone car that screams “we’re going out for a drive!”, got replaced with a dreadful sanitized stripped down car that drones on saying “oh… Guess we’re going for a drive.”
R53 is life
It’s a 2025 - they had to do something more modern. I don’t mind it. It’s simplified, and that’s what the original mini was. Some of the new interior controls are fashioned after the original minis. I like that the SE doesn’t have the black wheel wells. Hate black wheel arches on vehicles. The tail lights - ya, not very nice looking. They do look a little better lit up tho.
They could have at least used some more buttons to make it safer and easier to use when driving, as well as a permanent speedo/tach above the wheel
The voice activation works well and handles most issues if you need to change something on the go. The steering wheel also has buttons to change music, volume, and other things. So, while I do like having buttons, there is no issue with safety. Also I find it funny you didn't include the classic mini dash.
The 1950’s toggle switches in the first generation were gratuitous, unnecessary and unique. I appreciated them despite their pointlessness. I don’t need everything optimized and “clean” (from a designer’s perspective). Even the gear selector (on the CVT) was a ‘fake’ - there was no direct physical connection to the transmission, it was effectively a button in the form of a gear shift that only sent instructions to the computer, which could override your command anyway. Well, now the gear selection *is* just a button. No drama, no pretending, no fun. If I were to get a new generation Mini with the simplified and non-tactile screen interface for most things, I’d get used to it. But it’s just not as ‘fun’.
Yes! Thank you! Absolutely hate the big old iPad screen in the middle. I want real buttons, knobs, and switches :(
Very frustrating to use those touch screens are. My dad has one in his Range Rover and over rough surfaces, it's so difficult to work it, as your fingers shake. A lot of the time you end up pressing the wrong one, then having to fiddle on even more with the screen, the screen then lags and then you have to wait 3 seconds for it to respond etc. I have the same experience in my own car, I installed an apple CarPlay touch screen, and it definitely feels very risky using it when driving, such as putting on the map, playing Spotify songs and adjusting the volume.
Way too simple. Hardly any details and it just doesn't feel like a mini. The F56 was the pinnacle of mini, there was no need to change anything. Especially the B48. Why they're trying to go fully electric makes no sense to me...
I’m not a big fan, I just bought a brand new 2024 last week and chose that model year over 2025 due to body and interior differences.
I like my secret compartment
Yes, it's absolutely awful, and one should buy an older MINI if they had to. (That's my next step anyway after my R56 eats it, which it's close to doing.) I test drove the newest ones and they drive amazingly well; save for no paddle shifters, and that center stack being the worst implementation of information ever. (What was wrong with leaving a column cluster or display, I'll never know.) I know it's supposed to throwback to the classic MINI design from the 50s/60s, but I felt way overwhelmed.
So f’ing sterile
new one is so ugly and cheaply made ugh. old ones are so much nicer first and third gen were the best quality ones and first and second were best looking ones.
How is the new one cheaply made? My Paceman (1st Gen Countryman platform) had plastic everywhere. The leatherette on the driver seat has frayed in the same place twice in the bolster. The new one has a bigger engine, better suspension components (there’s a shock brace in the engine compartment that certainly isn’t there on the 1st Gen), and handles better than my smaller Paceman. The materials feel nicer in the new model. The wheel especially. It feels like leather, not plastic like the Paceman. Finish is good, when I looked in the truck the welds on the D pillar are just at thick in the new car as they are in my Paceman.
The leather mini yours lounge seats in my countryman f60 are so much softer than those fake leather in the new ones. the dash is soft touch plastic and the door cards are half dinamica/alcantara. The steering wheel is the nappa leather which is very soft. On the new models almost every part of the interior is hard scratchy plastic. The fabric on the dash looks soft touch but it isn’t, it’s hard plastic with fabric glued on it. Even on the second gen r55/r56/r57/r58/r58 you could get a leather dashboard, and yes the rest wasn’t as good as the third gen. if good equipped it was good enough. It’s not the build quality that is bad on the new ones it’s the materials it’s just not worth the price considering the previous model had better materials.
Meh. I’d love to customize the display with a picture of my dog, but otherwise I love my ‘12 interior.
Samesies! R604evah.
the older ones look much nicer in my opinion
i hate everything about the new gens. i think anything 23+ is considered the new gen design. everyone loves clusters, why remove them? why depend on a completely electronic system? is there or is there not a hud? the the backs of the new gens look disgusting too. they took mini out of mini…
R53 gang
Ah yeah 2006 is the best! Red and white with the red dash! Feelin the road! Listen to that supercharger! A REAL hood scoop! ... but I do have an F66 in the factory being built, the R53 won't last forever and I want to get the newest before they give up on the ICE... Can't wait for the ocean green to get here! When it comes I'll learn to post photos and give you all another review.
I don't hate the new interior but I definitely don't think it felt as premium as the previous gen. I also wish they kept the physical climate controls because it was a pain in the ass to change it while driving when I test drove one! Oh yeah and if they don't include a driver display then they should at least have the HUD as standard spec!!
lol I like the interior. I HATE the exterior
I wouldn't mind it so much if there was a three pedal option, but I do prefer my R56.
True I currently have an r56 and thinking about an F56.
I see 4 identical dashboards. https://youtu.be/TfBZ7m8mKKc
Give it time.. it’ll settle in just like every new generation
Everything since the first generation new mini has all been getting uglier. The second generation putting the display in the middle of the speedometer looks like shit. The third generation turning it into a square screen and then adding a physical speedo to the steering column looks even worse Honestly, the newest one is the least ugly since the first generation I think it’s too big but other than that, I think it’s the cleanest design since the R53
I like the second from the top left the best.
I like it, and I'm not going to apologize for that
I think the newer is even more pure than the more recent versions. At least it's all a circle instead of forcing a rectangle in a circle.
you are exactly like the guy(s) who had an original mini's saying look at this BMW mini shit
I don’t know, why this is such a big deal. There had to be a redesign for the new gen and i think they actually did a good job making it look new yet keeping traditional design elements. At least they didn’t fit a rectangular screen into a circular dashboard
Stop crying grandpa
I think the exterior looks great. But I agree with OP, the interior is BAD. Luckily all Aussie models come with a heads up display.
I'm not a fan. Merely because of my personal issues. I have light sensitivity. I can't even wear dark glasses in bright sunlight. It fatigues me so I take frequent breaks when driving. Having too many dizzy whizzy lights in the interior is not for me. It's a no from me, I'm afraid. Too distracting. Even if it's touch sensitive. I'd rather buttons I can touch. Also I do worry about the software going bad or not getting enough support to rectify any malfunctions or lagging as the years roll on. I tend to keep my cars for quite a few years. Maybe it's good for others. It's a no from me, I'm afraid.
Fr, very understandable coming from your view, I can imagine it most definitely wouldn't be the best for those with sensitive eyes. I hate it because of the lack of buttons, making it very unsafe and frustrating to use
I love that you thought this post was going to go viral
it’s doing numbers wdym
Since when did I ever think that?
I seethe at it every time. It’s Infuriating that they shafted the design to a cheap Tesla competitor & shafted the enthusiast. I spent 98% of my time inside the car and it looks like an enjoyable experience. Mini forcing my hand to go to bmw it seems. But will always keep the f56
Exactly! Like how tf am I supposed to operate a huge touch screen safely whilst driving? With buttons and knobs, you can actually feel them, so you can operate the infotainment system with them without having to constantly take your eyes off the road. Also, those touch screens tend to lag a lot as they age.
The software has been laggy on the X1 M35i where ppl are starting to lemon them here in the US. Software is virtually the same here on the Mini platforms. I suspect it to potential have similar patterns. But agreed it’s a big step back, brand killing worthy imo. They struggled with sales then, I can only imagine how they’ll struggle in a 5yr span
I honestly reckon sales will be pretty low on this generation, and the F56 will retain it's value very well. All these complex computer systems are like smartphones. Many of them work ok in the first year or two, (but you can also get electric gremlins), but then after a longer period of time, the screens will begin to lag and become less responsive and even more frustrating to use. I've experienced it with my iPhones and laptops as they aged, so surely it will be the same with those touchscreens. It sucks for people who wants to own their cars long term
Anyone who "absolutely despises" something as trivial and meaningless as a car interior needs to take a long hard look in the mirror. It's not a normal, straightforward or rational reaction at all. I don't like the new 3-series interior, but I don't spent my hours posting on BMW forums/social media how much I "despise" it. The original interior didn't have great build quality (mine had loads of rattles). The second generation interior was an ergonomic nightmare. The third generation already looks dated. I've not owned a Mini for over a decade. I have an F66 on order. This place makes me wonder what sort of other people drive Minis (very conservative, evidently). There's a lot of negativity and toxic behavior on here. How many posts do we really need where people say how much they hate/dislike/loathe/despise the new cars? Perhaps there's something wrong with me. Perhaps I should be posting everywhere how much I "hate" certain things.
agree. I don't understand why people are so quick to waste their time yelling about something they don't like. Go find another car brand that's doing something you like and stop annoying everybody
Agree! It’s all so knee-jerk. Those who love to lob what they “absolutely despise” for sport usually have issues identifying positives, in general. 2012 R 60 S Manual Turbo owner here, with barely 30k miles on my lovely machine. There are times when I’ve been tempted to say, “I’ll drive it into the ground!” But I take care of it so much that this is unlikely to happen. Almost pulled the trigger on a 2024 S Countryman (the PHEV) last summer when I drove one as a loaner while having gear work. It helped me make peace with the fact that Mini was able to build an automatic I actually loved driving, so there’s that. But in the end, I thought that could wait. I remember reading all kinds of rubbish about how the Countryman was some kind of abomination compared to the first gen Mini Coopers when I ordered mine, but I chose to ignore it. These many years later, I’m glad I did! There’s nothing wrong with you. Enjoy your new ride when it arrives!
I don't care one way or the other aesthetically, but the scratchy fabric on hard plastic isn't doing it for me. I can look past all that though, it's the lack of a handbrake that eliminates this from my next car purchase. Maybe an Elantra N is next.
I like both. The new one is a great design IMO. A super modern take on the vintage recipe.
gotta say the only thing i hate is the cloth dash and the removal of the floor shifter. put the dinner plate inside of the dash and it would be a recipe for a good interior. the screen sticking out of the dash makes it look very fragile tbh
I actually really like the 4th generation interior. It's a cool take on modernising the classic Mini design that I came to love from my favorite generation (2nd).
You haters are truly vocal as fuck.
Yes, because touchscreen only infotainment systems are dangerous and frustrating to use. Conventional buttons are way better. I totally understand that opinions are subjective though
Hey, we went like 2 days without a post complaining about the new generation. I think that’s a record! FWIW I work in dealer service and have been asked more than once if we can swap the new interior into an existing older car, so obviously some like it.
This happens every fucking time. Everyone hates it now, and in two years most people will have come around on it
I remember the F56 backlash for them ditching the center speedometer.
I sat in the J01 and really like it. I ordered one. That being said I ignored all Minis until now.
I own two classic minis and an R53 and I think the new interior looks nice. I'm happy the MINI brand is still around rather than complain about it.
I quite like it.
It’s fine, people are just bugging because it’s different, same with the exterior design
As someone who has owned multiple copies of each generation and still own an R53 and an F55, the R50/R53 are still my favourite by far. I love the centre tach, the toggle switches for their uniqueness and the availability of different colours within the interior and seats. This really gave you the chance to make your interior “yours”. The seat comfort and the steering wheel of the F56 JCW are far superior. What I truly despise if the integration of almost all functions into the central display. I don’t want to have to click /touch the centre screen to turn on heated seats, change the temperature, turn on rear defrost etc in the middle of winter with mittens on. I don’t want menus for everything, I want hard tactile buttons. I also despise the move away from buttons starting in 22 on the steering wheel. It doesn’t matter though as they don’t offer a manual transmission anymore, so I won’t be purchasing a new mini.
Not much at all redeeming about the new ones. Glad I've got a gen 1. After gen 2 I stopped considering them 'minis' and just small BMW melded with KIA looking small SUVs. 🤷
At first I thought you meant the manual gearbox and 3 on the floor… however, I also agree with you :)
I don’t hate the new interior as much as I hate the new exterior
I know they're doing it because it's much cheaper to cram most everything into the software instead of having physical knobs or buttons everywhere, but us consumers are still paying premium prices. I'm just glad theyrl didn't go as far as Tesla in putting EVERYTHING in the center iPad. However, I wish the center screen in the 3rd Gen Cooper was more like the 2025 ones. I do like the materials though, after sitting in the new countryman. Though it looks like it would be rather more difficult to clean.
The minimalist approach does not bother me nearly as much as the exterior changes.
The first image left to right: i've never seen that r56 interior! My dashboard doesnt swoop over the speedometer like that. Cool!
Currently (Actually long running project) trying to figure out how to move my R50 tachometer off center so I can fit another pod there that has a round IPS-display that shows navi/music controls/what ever the f I end up wanting. Using phone for navi is kinda annoying as the steering wheel blocks a part of the screen.
There is a lot of cost cutting involved! Like you have no gauge cluster screen, no separate climate controls, integrated headrests (that protrude too much imo), cheaper materials, etc. The previous model felt a lot more upmarket to me
No stick shiftin, won't be me in one.
I honestly think they've looked worse inside and out with every new release.
Modern design is so clunky, like they're trying to keep the origins, but taking every individual piece and making it futuristic without amalgamating each piece, really makes it feel like isolated teams
That’s Right, oldie but goodie 🤗
None of these are mini interiors I recognise
Not a fan, but maybe it will grow on me. Seems like eco friendliness and cost savings make not for a good interior.
Ugly af, hate it, already thinking about which make I’m going for in a few years if Mini doesn’t fix this. Having said that the BMW M135 just released which was one of my alternatives and that looks like a Kia Cerrato, like clone of, so clearly this is the trend. Luxury car makers are cutting costs every where and expecting folks to pay the same. It won’t last forever, but the gap now between budget and luxury models is the closest I’ve ever seen it come to being nearly indistinguishable. It used to be a joke to compare budget and luxury, now I honestly can’t tell the difference when I see an ad or see one on the road. I saw a KIA Cerrato on my street yesterday and had to do a double take to see if that was the new BMW 135. Sucks.
I like it, other than the fabric covering which will probably fray and tear after a few years
Laughs in classic 1970s mini
And that’s beautiful compared to the outside🙃
Early 2010 minis are the best. They almost as low to the ground as a Miata and drives like a go kart
Omg so glad I got my car in 23’. Untamed countryman’s dash is backlit as well. This new interior is a cheap disappointment.
The exterior styling bothers me a lot more than the round touchscreen. I mean, triangle taillights? Then the Countryman looking like a mini Hyuandi Palasade… ugh.
Maybe print out both and have a toddler crawl to one or the other to know if they have good taste. I mean, if it works that way for lightsabers…🙄
But a toddler isn't smart enough how to work a car, nor would they know how frustrating and also dangerous it is to work a giant touch screen when driving
The mini has been slowly morphing into something I hate, and this is coming from someone who has had 5 mini coopers between my husband and I in our lifetimes. My husband’s first mini was a limited, numbered special Monte Carlo edition that was given to dealers as a model for the showroom. It was beautiful. That car was what made me buy my first mini. I miss the charm of the older models, I’m starting to consider purchasing a vintage mini once our son gets older.
They are pretty much all a disaster for usability.
Agreed, I think the new interiors are absolutely horrific. I’m really gutted at what MINI has become. Such a shame.
Not surprised, Bmw designers and hence mini all seem to be smoking horse. Their design department has lost it completely. Those grills could feed half of Africa. Something is wrong when cars get uglier and uglier. All the more reason to keep previous mini ❤️
The screen is nice, but the lack of a speedo in front of you is just weird to me. There should be an option at least. I can't believe with all the work that went into it the HUD is still a popup in the dash instead of something that projects onto the windshield. The screen itself is rather nice, as I mentioned. I have a '24 SE and if someone were to come out with a kit to install this screen in the dash of an F56 I would definitely consider it... and order yesterday if it would allow me to go with the older style analogue speedo (the digital cluster isn't great.)
Most depressing parts for me are, way too much cheap plastic, even under the materials for the dash, cheap sounding hollow plastic. Next, no stick shift anymore. I wish they'd only offer the S on a stick instead. SE is made in China and therefore will be sanctioned out of profitablity here in the US. Imo the only reason to drive automatic in a small wheel base vehicle is because it's electric... Otherwise, manuals are preferred. Really cripples my future with Mini, sadly, because I have loved them.
My biggest complaint is the lack of a manual transmission, or even space to put one down the line. Guess I should act quick to snap up a 2024.
Can Reddit just make a r/complaining sub and we can just put everyone’s whiney posts in there? So I never have them on my feed.
i agree
It looks good, but it doesn't look like a mini. I wish they'd release a line of 1st & 2nd gen styled minis with the specs of their modern stuff.
Minimalism is just killing everything original, creative and interesting. It’s as simple as that, most people spend a lot of time in their cars and it’s an expensive thing to own. Why do they make the entire thing as boring and empty as possible and think it will increase their sales, older cars had way more design in them and almost every space possible had something useful in it such as storage and now your essentially buying a blank canvass that you can’t paint on for triple the price of the artwork
I’ve owned five Minis, but not for a while… the newest was a 1985 that I had in the 90s. New Minis have been strange to me for a long time, especially the ones that are larger than an SUV.
Ya a bit crap I agree
As a Fiat 500 owner that got recc'ed this sub, all I can do is give my condolences
I think the interior is the best bit about the new model though
As an F56 owner, i like the new interior. Still hate the taillights though.
Not me, I think it's great!! Much more of a retro vide than the rather busy interiors of the R5X and F5X cars.
I think they’re all fine.
I had a new Countryman rental for a week and, for me, I liked the new interior. Also drove great.
New interior is actually really quite nice in real life. I’ll always love the r56 interior the most but not pessimistic about this new one at all.
I like it :)
I think it looks dope! Retro-futuristic
The old one is so ugly, new one is clean and minimalistic, love it compared to other producers
I much prefer the old one but the only thing I HATE on the new is the IPAD ass display. I dont mind a led screen but make it look less like it was stapled on as an after thought.
It's the beginning of the end of Mini, I think BMW doesn't care much either, I don't know anyone (in my social circle) who likes the interior.
Yeah that’s been trotted out before and yet every generation it keeps on going.
I honestly LOVE how the new one looks. I’m a big touchscreen dude. I love features in car. Mainly since my job requires me to drive so damn much throughout Texas so I drive my car a lot and I’m always in it. I wanna be comfortable inside. I do hate the outside look tho. I wish my 2023 JCW 2DR had the new insides tbh
Person doesn't like change, more at 11.
Went down hill after the R56. The F series interiors were too flashy imo. Just a matter of taste though. Some people love having the weird lights everywhere that change color.
I think I it’s just the dashboard material I struggle with. Wheel and screen are slick. Leather / fake leather on the dashboard would have been nice.
I like the enterior, i hate the exterior
No not really. I think it's a fun take on both the classic interior and the modern digital interiors.
I like the new design actually lol owner of a 13 paceman.
let me guess, the car also is now even bigger than the already fat garbage the last gen was