2013 Mini Paceman

Although BMW purchased the Mini brand in the 1990s and modern examples are much larger than their mid-20th century forebears, Mini retains a lot of its retro cool British sensibility. Some vehicles are still assembled in the UK. The sporty Mini Cooper is one of the smallest vehicles on the market, with a go-kart-like character that makes it exceptionally fun to drive. The larger Countryman competes with small SUVs, and John Cooper Works editions add even more power and more raucous handling. Mini sells both gas and electric versions (branded as “SE”) of every vehicle. Manual transmissions are no longer offered. Until recently, Mini had a checkered reliability history—several older models sat near the bottom of our reliability ratings. However, newer Minis have been among the most reliable on the market. Buyers of used models should pay careful attention to which model and year they choose.

The Mini family expanded with the addition of the Paceman, essentially a two-door version of the Countryman. The Paceman four-seater offers a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with front-wheel drive, but all-wheel-drive versions get the more powerful 181-hp, turbocharged four-cylinder. The Countryman S we tested has a punchy powertrain, and it posted a very good 26 mpg overall in AWD. Downsides included frustrating controls, a stiff ride, and a noisy cabin. The car uses the Countryman's center rail system that facilitates attachments for cupholders and phone holders.