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[Paul]

OK.

I prefer and think are improved.

• The ENTIRE dash area above the centre stack.
• Materials feel at least as good and look better.
• Elimination of hard plastic to hard plastic joins, removing many "joins" or mating surfaces in general.
• The feel and quality of the air vents.
• The direction of air flow from said vents.
• The indicator/steering column stalks look and feel more solid, more in keeping with non-silver dash finishes.
• The dial surrounds I feel are more in keeping with the overall design, although "less MINI". The tacho display, the information, and the on board computer system in general (basically nicked from the BMWs).
• Steering column in terms of being reach and rake adjustable.
• The way the tacho is attached to the steering column.
• I know it's optional, but the new Sat Nav looks SO much better than the previous. Sadly though at the expense of the non-Sat Nav systems. This car was clearly designed with Sat Nav, like a lot of cars are clearly designed with the colour coded bumpers/body kit which they then offer as extras, making the standard vehicles appear compromised.
• Other areas I think are improved are the grab handles on the door, but the door ellipse and door pockets are poorer (the door elipse is better as long as it's NOT the standard bobbly black/grey finish on the lower end models, which is terrible).
• I think the glovebox operation, although a bit of gimmick is very cool, and feels nicer, but the storage in there is dreadful, and it's rattly in terms of the hard plastic inside of the door.
• The front seats grab/push handle being high up, so you pull the handle up and seat forward all in one go for rear access is VERY good and makes a lot more sense than the original system.
• Seats in general feel more supportive and comfortable (although, as said before, loss of leather in the 1/2 leather is very poor).
• Strange one maybe, but the rear seats being wider and less sculpted make child seat fitment much easier.
• Interior noise levels are dramatically improved, so that's a plus. Cant be put down to an individual "thing" being improved, but the real world difference is brilliant.
• The sides of the centre stack (soft as opposed to easy scratch, exposed screws hard finish on 1st gen).
• The passenger side grab handle (roof mounted) not folds out of the way, I used to hit my head on that almost every time I was a passenger, that's a big plus from me.
• For me it's a strange one, pros and cons either way. The "old" model had many nice, delicate touches that impress and make it very "mini" like. The new one has many nice, clever touches that make it a more sophisticated /modern/advanced vehicle.

Sure I could find more if mine hadn't been rejected!