Top Down in Winter | 2019 Mini Cooper S Starlight Blue Edition Review

The weather outside is weather, so it's time to drop the top on our convertible and take the 2019 Mini Cooper S Starlight Blue Edition on a winter road test.
While it wasn't necessarily our decision to book a 2019 Mini Cooper S Cabrio for the winter, we ended up having this Starlight Blue Edition convertible during the first week of snowfall here in Québec. Rather than just do a normal review and full tour of this car though, we wanted to have a little fun while finding out how a car like this Mini can handle itself in the snow.
Our full tour & review of the 2019 Mini Cooper S Convertible Starlight Blue Edition covers the exterior changes for 2019, including the $2,900 Starlight Blue package. Features like LED headlights and fog lights, piano black exterior trim, union jack tail lights, and the changes from the regular Cooper. We jump inside with the roof off to talk about the interior features and design, including wireless Apple CarPlay, iDrive, heated front seats, dual zone climate control, and a backup camera.
We then take the 2019 Mini Cooper S on two different road tests to talk about how the car performs as a typical enthusiast car, and what we found during our week in the winter and snow. We drive around town with the top down all week to see what people think about the Mini and how crazy we ultimately are.
Finally we wrap up and talk about our overall fuel economy, what we disliked and liked, and some improvements we'd like to see from BMW for future updates on this Mini Cooper S.
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TestDrive is proudly produced in Acton, Québec, Canada.

[@growlrcarebear7939]

You Have Big Balls For Driving That In The Snow❄️

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thank you! Modern cars today are pretty good with snow control, compared to vehicles from about 20 years ago. I'd much rather drive something like this in the snow than almost anything pre-2010.

[@prestonwilliams710]

This is one of the better Mini convertible reviews.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it, we wanted to do something a little different considering when we had this car booked.

[@billybonehead7598]

A great review, very interesting! Love the hat, and yeah, drop the roof. In the UK I always had the 10 degree rule, but loved the fun of the roof down in snow....you only live once!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Definitely true, thanks for watching and commenting!

[@bobbipearcey2059]

LOVE your “mini” REVIEW❣️ I want one SOOOOO bad .... from NL 🇨🇦

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thank you! We had a lot of fun filming this one, got a lot of looks from people. The Mini convertible is a really fun car, the facelift for 2019 makes it even better too!

[@doglix69]

I’m totally with you!!! I will be driving mine in the snow as well , just for the experience ! I have a 2nd gen JCW convertible .

[@PRNTestDrive]

Enjoy it! Can't go wrong with a convertible in the winter, it's why they made heaters and heated seats!

[@LizzyC-nf1sv]

Love that color!

[@PRNTestDrive]

So do we! Looks really nice when clean.

[@thesingingshade7984]

Interesting time of the year to have a review of a convertible

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's what BMW Canada offered us 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Sc0rpy]

great episode surely a fun car to drive it looks tight to me even for thin people with all due respect mate

[@PRNTestDrive]

Definitely! It's a snug car, but still fun to boot around in. We hear a lot of complaints about newer cars feeling smaller inside than models from a couple generations earlier, seems to be a trend in the industry.

[@mokacat1595]

nice review, i like this mini color convination

[@PRNTestDrive]

So do I! Worked really well for it.

[@andresfresa123]

I got a loaner in that blue and everyone love it

[@PRNTestDrive]

Can't go wrong with that!

[@sonyhk3824]

Nice view great job. Cheers

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad you think so, thanks! Wanted to do something a little different this time around.

[@GENTILJEN]

Very cute car 😍

[@PRNTestDrive]

Cute factor: 100%!

[@johnplant3178]

Driving a convertible with the roof down through the snow it's just the best , just wrap up warm

[@PRNTestDrive]

Agreed! There’s something enjoyable about feeling the cold being fought off by the heat.

[@claudecyrellcruz3147]

I live in Melbourne and bought a Mini Convertible Classic Starlight Blue! It'll arrive in March next year (hopefully much earlier). Couldn't agree more that you can drive the Mini Convertible 365 days a year with the roof down!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very nice! Must be exciting, I don’t think I could wait that long to get one, you’ve got better patience than I!

[@claudecyrellcruz3147]

@@PRNTestDrive yeah!! all i am doing right now is watching all these MINI convertible videos! i'm so excited! :)

[@wendyspangler4824]

I have the 2017 model. I did drive it in the winter with the top down. I live in Wisconsin. I have a love affair my car. Seats are so comfortable. So fun to drive. I can a lot of compliments on my car. Handles well in the winter. Wide wheel base helps.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear it, enjoy it!

[@gary_michael_flanagan_wildlife]

Do you have the S or the base? I’m looking at both to replace my Jeep wrangler. Is the base still pretty peppy? Thanks!

[@wendyspangler4824]

I also have a base 2004. It is peppy and fantastic on gas.

[@ltviktor]

the hat is awesome!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad you like it!

[@zuti071]

Great badge on the hat.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Best hat to keep you warm!

[@gary_michael_flanagan_wildlife]

Thanks for the video. I’m comparing these now. I have a corvette Z06 so I figured the base Cooper would be enough power for cruising. Have you driven the base also?

[@PRNTestDrive]

We did do a video on the entry-level Mini, I believe it was a 2018 in red. Nice little car for cruising around, I wouldn't necessarily get it loaded up with 4 people though.

[@amyelinski]

I'm very strongly considering the Mini convertible as my next car. I currently drive a Chevy Spark, and while I primarily use it for commuting, I do occasionally tote a few friends on day trips and such. Would you say the car is suitable for that (my friends are largely pretty short, say 5'4" and under). I'm torn between the convertible and the four door for practicality purposes, but I loved driving the convertible so much more.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I think you should be ok if the roof is down, I found it was much easier for anyone to get into the back with the roof down, but it's still possible even when it's up. I'd suggest bringing a friend or two with you if you can to the dealer when you go to look at it and have them sit in the back while you're on your road test, perhaps it'll give you and them a good idea of what space everyone will have.

[@doglix69]

I have a Cooper convertible , you will love Amy!!

[@Moist_Handshakes]

Down in the Southwest US, a convertible sort of sucks. The sun blazes too much and we are always seeking shade.

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's certainly a good point! During the summers in Ontario we had a lot of hot weather, but since moving further east our summers have been a lot cooler.

[@himanshusaklani7207]

I hope the top really protects from the cold in winters??? Great review

[@PRNTestDrive]

It did a good enough job for a cloth roof. It's not ideal but that's the trade-off.

[@andresfresa123]

My mini does great in the snow

[@PRNTestDrive]

Put a good set of winter tires on any car and it'll do well!

[@georgealexender]

How’s the insulation when it comes to winter time? Does it retain heat well?

[@PRNTestDrive]

It wasn't bad for a convertible, I didn't notice myself any colder than I would be in other vehicles. If you turn the vehicle off it'll cool down much faster though.

[@shinichisan6789]

I don’t understand why there in Canada and USA doesn’t come with the new dct 7 speed here in Mexico mine come with this new transmission and it’s amazing

[@PRNTestDrive]

I'd love to know too honestly. Mini seems to have a bunch of different transmissions depending on the market. I'd like to see how this, or any of the JCW vehicles we've tested feels with a DCT over the Steptronic.

[@shinichisan6789]

PRN_TestDrive id tell you something the 7 speed dct I just stupidly quick my mine do the 0-100 in 6.2 seconds with a. Good launch

[@PRNTestDrive]

I can believe it! The BMW M2 we had last year came with the 7DCT and was insanely fast, I was thoroughly impressed with it.

[@shinichisan6789]

I’m why 189hp is not 192hp?

[@PRNTestDrive]

BMW likes to tune the engines slightly for different markets, they did the same with the 430i Gran Coupé we had, where the European model had 4 hp more. The good thing about any of the Mini, BMW, and eventually Rolls Royce models we feature is 100% factual data sent to us from BMW. Sometimes we have to go online to get specs, but they always send us the specifications based on the VIN we have.

[@fresnel8279]

good review... but you mentioning driving with the top down in the snow sooooooooooooo many times it became really annoying to me.

[@PRNTestDrive]

🤷🏻‍♂️

[@danielngho]

No complain driving my F55s everyday

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear it! We enjoyed our time with this one.

[@roberthallen8833]

What do you say? California Freeway or the WORKS? Robert Allen

[@robertlangham2356]

Hmm. 5 minute review packed into 20 minutes. Wifes about to get a Cooper S convertible so, please, more about the car, less about the weather, peoples reactions and the fact you wore a hat and gloves; my eyes told me that. However, some useful detail at the end of the review. 👍

[@PRNTestDrive]

Sorry to hear that you feel that way. There are a couple channels that specialize in short, highly focused reviews like AutoTrader.ca’s channel.

[@christopherguzzi1316]

"It is a small car you're not really going to be injured too much I guess if you get into a small accident you're not going to go anywhere that's for sure"???????? What does that even mean? Is your theory that because it is a small car it's safer because you're closer to the dash, doors, etc. Utterly ridiculous. I'm so glad you don't work in the auto safety sector.

[@PRNTestDrive]

K

[@vince7349]

Cute however not reliable .

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's the way it goes for any German luxury car, even though Mini isn't technically considered a luxury brand, it's still a BMW at it's core.

[@andresfresa123]

PRN_TestDrive lol mini it is a luxury brand, do your research

[@PRNTestDrive]

I consider Mini to be part of the Premium segment based on price and overall features. Relax.

[@andresfresa123]

PRN_TestDrive it’s not about the price, production it’s a big factor, history and quality make mini a luxury brand

[@PRNTestDrive]

History? Under British ownership I doubt Mini was considered luxury, the same way Volvo wasn’t until Ford decided to push it up-market. Why waste your energy arguing about this anyway? Live your life believing what you want and don’t worry about how others categorize something as insignificant as a car brand.

[@davidmason1511]

I'm not sure he has any reason to do this review in winter on a soft top... we've had 6 minis in the UK this is a totally stupid review ...,

[@PRNTestDrive]

I’ll keep that in mind if I decide to care :)