Having read the various reviews and comparisons with other cars in the same class and price range, the performance figures for the Cooper are better than the equivalent competition. It seems that where reviewers are unhappy with perfromance (Autocar and Car, but not Auto Express), they must be thinking more of the performance cars in the sector (GTI or Sport models). As only the Sport version of the Renault Clio has a higher power to weight ratio than the S version of the Cooper in this class, it is likely that performance will be similarly entertaining.
In other words, the reviewers are right in that the Cooper does not have GTI/Sport levels of performance - this was already known - but are being a touch harsh as it will only be in S form that the car will be as zippy as its performance competition. |