2021 John Cooper Works Hardtop Interior

Like its happy exterior, our review of the Mini JCW Hardtop showed the cabin to be just as cheerful. The circular theme is evident with the housing for the gear shift lever and the surround for the central display screen. It's got substance to it too, as materials are generally upscale and the build quality is strong. Although the Mini hatch has grown since BMW reintroduced it in the early 2000s, you'll still not find much space for people or luggage behind the rear seats. In the JCW, special sport seats add to the racy feel. Moving up to the mid-range trim introduces amenities like heated seats, keyless entry, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

2021 John Cooper Works Hardtop Interior Photos

Seating and Interior Space

The Mini John Cooper Works hardtop is strictly a four-seater and those in the back should preferably be on good terms with each other. That being said, the Mini's rear seats aren't necessarily the horror show they're often described to be. Yes, adults who are quite a bit over six-feet tall simply won't fit, but if you are around five-foot-nine - and many humans are - you can legitimately sit back there. The headroom and legroom are far from generous, but the two biggest issues are tight shin/foot space and tricky access since the front seats don't slide very far forward. Naturally, things are a lot rosier in front, where head- and legroom are tangibly more adult-friendly and the Dinamica/cloth upholstery feels great. For the driver, visibility is outstanding and the mirrors and windows provide a clear view out.

2021 Mini John Cooper Works Hardtop Interior Dimensions:

Interior Colors and Materials

Starting with the Classic sub-trim gets you Carbon Black seats in a mix of Dinamica and cloth upholstery. A JCW-specific leather steering wheel, an anthracite headliner, and black checkered dashboard inlays are standard, too. On the mid-range Signature, a number of upholstery options become available under the $2,000 Signature Upholstery Package. The options are Black Pearl leatherette, Black Pearl Light Grey leatherette/cloth, Carbon Black cross punch leather, Malt Brown chesterfield leather, Satellite Grey chesterfield leather, and Carbon Black Dinamica/leather. Finally, MINI Yours Lounge leather in Carbon Black goes for $500 but requires the Signature Upholstery Package to be added first. On the Iconic sub-trim, the Signature Upholstery Package is already standard. Available interior surface inlays include fiber alloy, Piano Black, Dark Silver, and MINI Yours Int. Style with a Piano Black illuminated finish which is standard on the top sub-trim.

2021 John Cooper Works Hardtop Trunk and Cargo Space

With 8.7 cubic feet of trunk space, the John Cooper Works hardtop hardly qualifies as a load-lugger and even one larger suitcase will be a struggle. On the plus side, because the trunk isn't long at all, it's child's play to reach forward and drop the rear seats, expanding total cargo space to a more useful 34 cubes.

In-cabin storage comprises the usual glove box, two cupholders, and door pockets, but the few storage options that do exist are all on the small side.

2021 Mini John Cooper Works Hardtop Trunk and Cargo Space Photos

2021 Mini John Cooper Works Hardtop Cargo Dimensions:

2021 John Cooper Works Hardtop Infotainment and Features

Features

The base Mini JCW hardtop comes with LED cornering headlights, manual air conditioning, automatic emergency braking, a multi-function leather-wrapped steering wheel, and cruise control. As if the compact dimensions don't make parking easy enough, there's also a rearview camera and parking sensors at the back. The more expensive models gradually pack on features like dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, keyless entry, a panorama roof, power-folding exterior mirrors, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Available equipment includes front park distance control, active cruise control, a parking assistant, and dynamic dampers. A digital instrument cluster is standard on the top sub-trim and available on the Signature derivative.

Infotainment

One of the advantages of Mini's ownership by BMW is the fitment of a quick, user-friendly infotainment system. The 6.5-inch display isn't the biggest, so some menu icons are on the small side, but the system otherwise operates well. It's linked to a standard six-speaker audio system with Bluetooth audio streaming, but disappointingly, Apple CarPlay is not standard and Android Auto isn't available at all. On the Classic, expect to add another $300 to the base price to get SiriusXM satellite radio. On the Signature, the Touchscreen Navigation Package goes for $1,000 more and adds navigation, Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, and a digital instrument cluster. A 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay are standard on the top Iconic trim, along with a larger 8.8-inch touchscreen display.