NAVIGATION SYSTEM Archives — Auto Trends Magazine

Small car…big fun!

A Mini Cooper S will all the trimmings.

Ah, Mini! You stole my heart and in more than one way. Your iconic, good looks are what caught my eyes and, yes, I managed to put up with the decaling found on the side mirrors, along the doors and on top of the roof just fine. What I liked best about you is that you’re so full of personality as you bring a rare, premium feel to the small car segment.

I don’t usually write love letters to my weekly drivers and my thoughts about a recent Mini Cooper S model shouldn’t be considered such. Rather, Mini served up a model that was just a lot of fun and for the following nine reasons.

1. British at its best. Sure, Mini is now owned by German automaker BMW. Its distinct Britishness may be gone, but what you have left is a very good model. The current Mini is larger than the original, but the styling cues remain the same. Whatever made the original a worthy model in its own right has only been enhanced by BMW’s influence. Yes, it is still assembled in Oxford, England with its engine from Germany and the transmission from Japan courtesy of Aisin.

Unique decaling marked this special edition model.

2. Kissed by BMW. Speaking about BMW, the German make’s influence on the model is undeniable. As tested, the Cooper S is powered by a 2.0-liter twin turbo four-cylinder engine — it is the same engine that powers the BMW 2 Series. In the Mini it is tuned tamer, but the four banger still cranks out 189 horsepower and 207 foot-pounds of torque. With just 2,700 pounds of weight to push around, it lives up to its “S” or sport appellation with distinction.

2014 Mini Cooper S

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3. A manual transmission, but not this time. Alas, the test model did not come with a six-speed manual transmission. Instead, a six-speed automatic was served. Nevertheless, much driving fun was realized by putting the transmission in sport mode and using the paddle shifters. My personal preference is nearly always a manual (when one is available), but the fast shifting automatic gets the job done and does so with fun. Take each curve and twist of the road with full confidence with this smart handling Mini.

A dual paneled sunroof with more decaling.

4. Upscale seating for the driver. There is no small car that I’ve driven over the past few years that offers the seating comfort of the Cooper S. Mini outfits the Cooper S with highly supportive and comfortable sport buck seats, covered in cloth and with leather sides. It wasn’t just the support it provided that made the difference: a seat extender aced it for this diminutive people mover. That’s a feature typically found in luxury cars.

5. Not too bad for the front passenger. Uh, forget the back seat. The Mini Cooper seats four, but the back seat is, well, a token addition. Two children in booster seats can fit, but getting a car seat in and out would be a big challenge. Don’t punish adults by sitting in the leg-squishing rear seat even for a short drive. The front passenger seat is quite comfortable and also offers a seat extender. Push the seat all the way to the back and you have copious amounts of legroom. At the expense of anyone in the rear, of course.

The well-rounded Mini Cooper S interior.

6. Round is in. Very in. If you like personality in your small cars, the Mini Cooper S does not disappoint. The well-rounded interior makes use of a circular theme nearly everywhere. Behind the steering wheel is a circular speedometer with a half moon tachometer on its left side. The center screen, however, is the heart and soul of the car with its own circular design trimmed by glowing mood lighting. Circular knobs, rounded-tip switches, a circular shifter seat and a BMW-like iDrive control dial along with round speakers and near round headrests are also included. Rounded headlamps with circular LED lights are another feature of this model.

7. Limited storage, but then. Small cars have very little storage room, right? Well, Mini tries really hard to provide room, by making space where you might otherwise not find it. The glove box is small, but there is a secondary box above it in the instrument panel. The folding driver’s arm rest has space large enough to hold your smartphone. Two cup holders are up front and one is in the back. Importantly, there is a hidden, sectioned storage compartment underneath the rear storage area. Fold down the rear seats and you’ll get 38 cubic feet of storage space.

8. Enjoy the intersection of fuel economy and performance. Perhaps the best feature of the Mini Cooper S is that it combines excellent performance with superior fuel economy. Instead of the standard turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, you get a twin-turbo four-cylinder engine. You enjoy excellent off the mark acceleration and can pass anything on the highway with certainty. Moreover, this model delivers 27 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway — impressive numbers that won’t have you regretting the extra power.

Small hatchback with a hidden storage compartment.

9. The power to surprise. Sure, it is an option, but having head-up display is a nice feature. Especially when it appears on a small screen that emerges from the dashboard to project the speed limit. Personally, I would have designed a more comprehensive system to show navigational directional arrows and the local speed limit. Still, the optional navigation system was a welcome surprise. Other nice features included the dual panel sun roof — the decals on top of the roof provided a visual statement. Not my taste, but maybe yours?

Maxi Fun

Boil it down and the Mini Cooper S delivers a lot of fun in a small package. But it does come at a premium price: from $23,600. As tested, my model costs an eyebrow raising $36,895, reflecting several upgrades to include: a $4,500 “fully loaded” package with navigation, $1,500 for the automatic transmission, $500 for the automatic dimming mirrors which, by the way, fold in. Other upgrades included: cloth and leatherette seats ($750), special metallic paint ($500), a cold weather package ($600), park assist (($1,000) and the head-up display ($500). That price rivals the BMW 1 Series, a model that BMW no longer sells in the US.

TwinPower Turbo courtesy of BMW powers the Cooper S.

2014 Mini Cooper S

Sticker price from $23,600
Price as tested: from $36,895
Seats 4 occupants
2.0-liter 16-valve four-cylinder gasoline engine
189 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
207 foot-pounds of torque @ 1,250 rpm
3.2 inches bore by 3.27 inches stroke
Engine compression ratio: 11.0-to-1
6-speed automatic transmission
Wheelbase: 98.2 inches
Length: 151.9 inches
Width: 59.1 inches
Height: 55.7 inches
Passenger volume: NR
Storage volume: 8.7/38.0 cubic feet
Towing capacity: N/A
EPA: 27 mpg city, 38 mpg highway
Premium grade gasoline
Fuel tank: 11.6 gallons
Curb weight: From 2,760 pounds
IIHS safety rating: Good for moderate overlap front
Limited vehicle warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
Powertrain warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
Corrosion warranty: 12 years
Vehicle assembly: Oxford, UK

Just weeks after testing the 2014 Toyota Tundra at a media event in Georgia and, lo and behold, a 2013 Tundra arrived as my weekly test drive vehicle. The 2013 model year was the final one for the second generation Tundra, while the 2014 model year begins its third generation.

No, our media wires had not crossed, rather what I got was a chance to examine the older edition and compare it with the new model. And the model that arrived in my drive was a Toyota Tundra Limited 4WD CrewMax edition, outfitted with a 5.7-liter V-8 engine, the most powerful motor in Toyotas entire line up.

Toyota Tundra Limited: The Second Generation

And just so you know, the differences between second and third generation Tundras are slight. Toyota gave its big pickup truck an evolutionary update, keeping the same platform, engines and transmissions as the earlier model while giving the new truck a facelift and a fresh interior.

What the 2013 delivers is a model that balances its muscular slab side body with chrome embellishments across the grille, on the door handles and on the back of the side mirrors, and across the front and rear bumpers. The 2014 ups the chrome factor with a thicker layer on its fascia to provide a more menacing look. If I had to choose between the two models I would say that the 2013 provides a more balanced look while the 2014 has a bit too much chrome for my tastes.

2013 Toyota Tundra Limited

Beastly V-8 Performance

Toyota’s 5.7-liter V-8 is a beast. This engine roars to life and is designed to get the job done. It is paired with a sequential shift automatic transmission and makes 381 horsepower.

In this segment performance is king. The big V-8 tows up to 10,400 pounds in some models, reaching 9,800 pounds with the Limited 4WD. Add in its big payload numbers and the 2013 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 4WD moves 16,000 pounds 8 tons of people, all your gear and a trailer. The CrewMax is a full four-door model with a 5.5-foot bed.

2013 Toyota Tundra Limited

Cabin Seating

As outfitted, the CrewMax seated five people with two bucket seats up front and a split folding and reclining rear seat for three. An optional front bench seat is available, but you give up a lot of storage and comfort to squeeze in another person. Thats a sacrifice Tundra drivers may wish to avoid as the drivers seat is thick, supportive and as comfortable as an easy chair.

Moreover, Toyota sticks a highly useful storage compartment between the seats designed to hold hanging files, business cards and other office goodies. Big work trucks are often used as offices on wheels and with a two-tier glove box, in-door storage pockets, in-door flip down compartments, and overhead storage there is no lack of places to stash your electronic devices, supplies and valuables.

The rear seat is as roomy as you will get in this class. Put three big guys in the back and they’ll each have enough hip room to keep them apart with generous amounts of head, shoulder and leg room too. Indeed, I was able to take my 6-foot frame, sit in the middle rear position, cross my legs and avoid touching the rear facing center console. At this trim level, leather seating is standard throughout the cabin; the driver is treated to a 10-way power adjusted seat 4-way for the front passenger.

2nd Gen. Toyota Tundra Ends on a High Note

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Interior and Exterior Amenities

Only the Platinum edition comes better equipped than the Limited. The equipment differences essentially come down to perforated leather trim, a center console gated shift lever, and an audio package upgrade. A voice activated navigation system is standard with the Platinum and optional with the Limited. As equipped, that option was included with the Limiteds available TRD Off-Road package.

2013 Toyota Tundra Limited

The Toyota Tundra Limited is outfitted with a tilt and telescoping steering wheel column, steering wheel mounted driver controls, cruise control, dual zone climate control, heated front seats, an Optitron instrument panel with analog and digital displays, and power accessories. This model also came equipped with a power sliding rear window, front map lights, three 120-volt outlets, five cup holders and eight drink holders. A six-speaker JBL audio system is standard; as part of the TRD package a 12-speaker audio system was included. Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, XM satellite radio, a rear view camera, a power tilt and slide moonroof with a sliding sunshade were also found.

On the outside the Tundra was outfitted with chrome tubular step rails, a bed step, a bed extender, a bedliner, a front skid plate and alloy wheel locks. The TRD package bumped the standard 17-inch wheels up to 18 inches and added five-spoke alloy wheels.

On the Road

The Toyota Tundra Limited 4WD is a stout pickup truck. Put the key in the ignition, fire up the engine, engage the transmission and you are ready to take on the world. Or at least your small part of it.

Its high profile, oversized side mirrors and rolling presence are enhanced by the sweet note emitting from its exhaust. Floor the accelerator and this trucks growl gives way to a roar, moving down the road with confidence and authority. Not once do you feel that you are fighting the steering nor do you experience the sensation that the suspension will disappoint you as you move off road. Its on road ride may not match a Lexus, but it is as good as you will find in an Avalon.

2013 Toyota Tundra Limited

With the model year changeover in progress as this report goes to press, the biggest decision you may have is deciding whether to go with a 2013 or a 2014 Toyota Tundra. Among manufacturers, Toyota is usually conservative with its incentives, but when it comes to big pickup trucks all players (i.e, Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Ram 1500 and Nissan Titan) join in the fight for consumers, including the Tundra. Auto Trends has found that discounts on previous generation models are usually even higher as manufacturers seek to help clear dealer lots.

2013 Toyota Tundra Limited 4WD

CrewMax 5.7L V8 LTD

Sticker price from $43,895
Price as tested: $49,335
Seats 5 occupants
5.7-liter 32-valve V-8 engine
381 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
401 foot-pounds of torque @ 3,600 rpm
3.70 inches bore by 4.02 inches stroke
Engine compression ratio: 10.2-to-1
Six-speed automatic transmission
Wheelbase: 145.7 inches
Length: 228.7 inches
Width: 79.9 inches
Height: 76.0 inches
Payload capacity: 1,450 to 1,575 pounds
Towing capacity: 9,800 pounds (16,000 pounds w/ tow package)
EPA: 13 mpg city, 18 mpg hwy.
Regular grade gasoline
Fuel tank: 26.4 gallons
Curb weight: 5,625 pounds
Vehicle assembly: San Antonio, Texas

See Also — The 5 Flavors of the 2014 Toyota Tundra

NAVIGATION SYSTEM

Mini Cooper S: Oh, Yes!

2014 Mini Cooper S

Maxi Fun

2014 Mini Cooper S

On the Road With the 2013 Toyota Tundra Limited 4WD

Toyota Tundra Limited: The Second Generation

Beastly V-8 Performance

Cabin Seating

2nd Gen. Toyota Tundra Ends on a High Note

Interior and Exterior Amenities

On the Road

2013 Toyota Tundra Limited 4WD

CrewMax 5.7L V8 LTD