The inside is a intelligent and well-realised combine of contemporary minimalism and simply sufficient retro touches to maintain the Mini devoted glad. It’s vibrant and open and feels premium whereas nonetheless quirky and enjoyable.

As you’ll count on, there’s loads of area, too. It’s roomy up entrance and adults shouldn’t have any downside within the rear, significantly because the rear seats will be shifted forwards and backwards by as a lot as 13cm. 

The boot is a good form and has a capability of 460 litres, which is more room than within the Nissan Qashqai. Fold the rear seats down and the storage will increase to a definitely-not-mini 1450 litres. There’s plentiful storage cubbies in the primary cabin too. 

You sit in that traditional raised SUV place, so visibility is sweet and it’s straightforward to get snug. The dashboard makes use of a two-tone textile that’s made with recycled polyester, with completely different designs for the assorted specs and trims. In the John Cooper Works, it’s sporty JCW black and crimson (a color scheme that additionally extends to the sports activities seats).

It’s definitely minimalist, being dominated by a 9.4in infotainment display, proudly trumpeted by Mini as the primary spherical OLED touchscreen in a manufacturing automobile – though, effectively, you identify one other automobile with any sort of spherical display. Go on, I’ll wait.

It’s a pleasant change from a Tesla-aping large slab, although, and naturally it echoes the massive central speedo of the unique Mini. In truth, on first expertise, you’re so taken by it that it takes you a second to note that the instrument cluster and many of the different dash-sited controls have been eliminated.

As in a Tesla or the Volvo EX30, the speedo is displayed on the prime of the touchscreen. It really works fairly effectively, with the spherical form making it straightforward to search out at a look. And if that’s to not your style, your velocity can be proven on a pointy head-up show (customary on the JCW however optionally available on some decrease trims).

Beneath the display is a small variety of bodily controls that additionally echo the unique Mini, with a twist ignition, an audio quantity dial and toggles for the gear selector and the Experience modes (which we’ll come to in a second). Below these is a wi-fi smartphone charger, two cupholders and a small storage cubby.

The infotainment relies on the most recent BMW system however customised to suit the spherical display, and it really works effectively, with the native apps making full use of the weird area. The prime of the display is reserved for the small print you’ll normally discover within the instrument cluster, whereas key techniques such because the heating are nestled across the edge.

In our check automobile, the software program was a bit laggy. There was a notable loading time after I switched between apps, and if I modified the look, it will generally revert to the outdated show briefly.

Hopefully these had been simply early-days foibles. The usability might definitely be improved in locations, although. The temperature seems as a curved bar that appears like a slider, however tapping it launches a pop-up field.

Ultimately, I would like just a few additional bodily buttons, partially as a result of the minimal switchgear that’s there’s pleasingly tactile. There’s additionally voice management, which summons Spike, Mini’s dog-shaped private assistant. Your youngsters will love him.

Those Experience modes, then: there are eight in whole, which you scroll by way of utilizing a toggle swap. Each has its personal graphic set – so, for instance, Go Kart is all JCW black and crimson and tacho show, whereas Timeless is a sepia-tinged imitation of a traditional Mini speedo.

Each has its personal audio jingle when chosen, too, most of which sound like they had been sampled from a Super Nintendo.

Three of the experiences, Go Kart, Core and Green, additionally regulate the driving settings – assume Sport, Normal and Eco. So Go Kart alters the engine response, engine sound and suspension tuning to supply a sharper drive.