Both are really nice cars, but the Cooper S has better seats & seating postition plus it feels more genuine, more dedicated. I almost bought a Polo GTI but ended up buying a 3 door Cooper S with forged 18" wheels & manual gearbox. I'm so happy with the car. Fun to drive and so far totally problem free.
@@onwheels1388 that’s great! Hope it continues being reliable for you! I’ve only had mine a week, 32k miles on it, private sale though so no warranty I’ve come from a mk5 golf diesel, I now find almost every other trip people up my arse wanting to race whilst I’m just trying to drive and chill 😂 mine has red stripes along bonnet,top and back so doesn’t help!
The old R56 Cooper S would walk all over the current generation cars. MINI has gone from being one of the best performance cars on a budget to one of my least favorites. Its ugly, bloated proportions are unbecoming and BMW has let this car sit unchanged for 6 years without as much as adding blind spot monitoring, any additional power, fixing the horrendous brakes, or getting rid of that nasally warble they pipe in through the speakers. The old MINIs were much better cars to drive fast. The 1.6T N18 engine from 2011-2013 was a gem. It had gobs of torque from idle through redline, sounded fantastic, got great fuel economy and had an actual oil dipstick (new minis don't). When I drove the F56 S I was completely mortified. Compared to my R56 S I owned at the time, the F56 S felt substantially slower, heavier and the suspension allowed a lot of roll but wasn't any more supple over harsh impacts. The fake engine noise and horrendous brakes were the final straw. Instead of sticking with MINI, their poorly engineered and designed new cars sent me to other cars. I ended up buying a VW GTI Performance instead of a MINI. I hoped MINI/BMW would go back to basics by this time since MINI sales have plummeted in the US ever since they released the new car, but they've yet to fix a single problem with that car. Mini's new electric car is a flop from the get go. Nobody in the US wants a paltry 115 mi range car at a premium price in a small car. I just hope the G56 MINI (if it ever even happens), will go back to the truly go-kart feel, ditch the dull 2.0T B48 engine for something more rev-friendly and sounds better, drops the Chinese-made brake calipers, pads and rotors and permanently does away with the fish mouth grill and huge front overhang.
Sold my R56 Cooper S to buy a new Polo GTI - we'll see how it goes 😁 The Mini was fun but a bit unreliable and would wear you out on a longer journey. Hoping that a Polo is more of a all rounder.
Both are great cars, really. I am not sure that many folk buying one would be tempted by the other. As an older bloke, I would feel less of a t*t in the Polo but that’s my problem!
I'm choosing between the GTi and Cooper S (3 door). I like both, not sure which to get (I know the video is 3 years old, but I'm looking at 3 year old cars)
@@Triggaaar get a Mini. the driving ability puts a smile on your face whilst the Polo feels like a typical VW im gonna get my 2019 cooper s 5 door on Thursday also the Mini has one of the best soundings 2L engines😊
It's a great video. But....if we're driving on normal roads in the UK..pick which one YOU like best out of these two. Or a Fiest ST.. I have just retired and I'm now in the very, very fortunate position of being able to buy a new Polo GTI. I'm going to part ex my 140 ps Fiesta. For any young uns (It's a great car. Really, really nippy, decent insurance rates).
The current polo is probably bigger inside than the late 80’s and 90’s golf; it’s a cracking little package and unless you’re on the motorway 5 days a week, will adequately satisfy most people.
Completely off topic but it's an idea for a safety test. Cars now days and easily do over 100mph, so what happens if you hit a pothole at say 120mph Will it burst the tyre? Just a thought
They did actually test it. It did more damage hitting an "average sized pothole " at lower speeds. Think it was something like 50mph and under. So be safe and speed! 👍🏻
My problem with the Polo is the rubbish Michelin Primacy 3 tyres they come with stock. They should be coming with Bridgestone S001's or Michelin PS4's.
The Mini looks wicked if the get the spec right British Racing green 3dr JCW Red roof and bonnet stripes 17 inch black wheels Black Leather Lounge seats Every option going The VW Polo GTi looks sad and dull
Wish people would stop saying its a detuned Golf GTI engine it's not. Its the same engine family but its a gen 3b. B meaning Budack. It runs a different cycle under light loads meaning better fuel economy.
This is an astute observation, on a track the DSG is worth quite a lot of time, especially accelerating out of corners. A manual polo would have lost out to the mini on this test.
Thats because you want to be entertained more than you want to be informed. He maybe a little boring in his delivery, but he actually tells you useful facts about the car. Whereas that tit Jeremy Clarkson basically just shouts POWERRR and SPEEEEED and makes silly faces yet everyone seems to think he is a great presenter!
Really want to hear your review on the Dacia duster tci 150 prestige. The polo gti and golf tdi gt estate. Aka all the cars I’m trying to figure out which I want.
Found the Mini just constantly lost front end traction with one wheel spinning up, felt like a normal car with a fast engine. The Polo seems to handle the power better.
Appetit Bon The clue is in the name of the car , Someone has a 2018 clubman Cooper in my Road it’s massive as big as my Focus . So what should it be called the Medium ? The Giant ? Yuck 🤮🤮🤮
Love Fifth Gear, but this would have been SO much better with Tiff or one of the real presenters at the helm. Sorry Harun, you're a great driver, not a great presenter.
Mark 690 because he’s Indian? Cmon mate, he did a really good job. He explained the characteristics of the cars whilst thrashing them on track. Good presentation if i say so myself. That was uncalled for Mark
@@justanotherguy972 Mate it's got nothing to do with him being Indian. I'm an 'ethnic minority' so I'm totally pro when it comes to this kind of diversity on TV. My opinion, not a natural or good presenter especially when he's compared to the rest of the team.
At every track the two cars have been around the MINI Cooper s wins. Ie. Fast#$% lap . For nearly the same money JCW wins everything. Next time sport mode ? 3 door.
@@jacqueclo3026 No it's not though. 192hp vs 200. The Mini weighs 150kg less. Between 100-200km/h the Cooper S is as fast as a Hyundai i30 N (which has 270hp).
Think of it this way. VW has put equipped the polo with the golf gtis performance meaning it can be compared to the golf in a way. Whereas the mini is left behind with stats that should be compared to the previous polo
@@jacqueclo3026 That's also not true. The Mini has BMW's B48 engine. That engine makes 250hp in the 330i and 530i. It has forged internals. I don't know what you're on about, but the Mini is faster than the Polo, it's also much better to drive.
Not with the polos launch control system, it won't engage unless the stability control is all the way off so it cannot put its power down. If the mini was an automatic it probably would've been closer.
VW is German and is simply better....Mini is owned by BMW...makes it German too , well ...they are both good ! The good part is, no more english rubish cars ! :D
The OLD R56 Cooper S/JCW was substantially better than the current model. The current MINIs weigh too much, are underpowered and the 2.0T engine hates to rev and doesn't ever feel like it's putting out much power. There's even been several Dyno tests showing the old 1.6T "Prince" engine was actually more powerful than the newer 2.0T at almost any point. MINI has fallen to the wayside in BMW's book.
BcA - Biciclind cu Axel I mean, they're hungry. The price tariffs and service charges are high but don't get full. very poor. They always say if the fault arises from the driver.
@@jazzhands7771 yep, I voted Out, but my wife has a Thai accent!? 🤔🤣 this dude you commented on obviously never left his town!!! 🤣 there's a big wide world out there... even though I'm from Herefordshire 🤣... not trolling you dude, thought his comment was hilarious
After the video: "Oh, shit. We didn't even have the cooper in sport mode!"
😂
cope
@@robertpetrea23
Cope that the car I wanted to win won?
Are you stupid or something?
Both are really nice cars, but the Cooper S has better seats & seating postition plus it feels more genuine, more dedicated. I almost bought a Polo GTI but ended up buying a 3 door Cooper S with forged 18" wheels & manual gearbox. I'm so happy with the car. Fun to drive and so far totally problem free.
How’s it been reliability wise so far? I’ve bought a 2017 copper s I love it!
@@Doppo69 It has been completely trouble free. No problems at all. I am really happy with the car.
@@onwheels1388 that’s great! Hope it continues being reliable for you!
I’ve only had mine a week, 32k miles on it, private sale though so no warranty
I’ve come from a mk5 golf diesel, I now find almost every other trip people up my arse wanting to race whilst I’m just trying to drive and chill 😂 mine has red stripes along bonnet,top and back so doesn’t help!
Why isn’t the Polo GTI offered with a manual gearbox in the UK?
The old R56 Cooper S would walk all over the current generation cars. MINI has gone from being one of the best performance cars on a budget to one of my least favorites. Its ugly, bloated proportions are unbecoming and BMW has let this car sit unchanged for 6 years without as much as adding blind spot monitoring, any additional power, fixing the horrendous brakes, or getting rid of that nasally warble they pipe in through the speakers. The old MINIs were much better cars to drive fast. The 1.6T N18 engine from 2011-2013 was a gem. It had gobs of torque from idle through redline, sounded fantastic, got great fuel economy and had an actual oil dipstick (new minis don't). When I drove the F56 S I was completely mortified. Compared to my R56 S I owned at the time, the F56 S felt substantially slower, heavier and the suspension allowed a lot of roll but wasn't any more supple over harsh impacts. The fake engine noise and horrendous brakes were the final straw.
Instead of sticking with MINI, their poorly engineered and designed new cars sent me to other cars. I ended up buying a VW GTI Performance instead of a MINI. I hoped MINI/BMW would go back to basics by this time since MINI sales have plummeted in the US ever since they released the new car, but they've yet to fix a single problem with that car. Mini's new electric car is a flop from the get go. Nobody in the US wants a paltry 115 mi range car at a premium price in a small car. I just hope the G56 MINI (if it ever even happens), will go back to the truly go-kart feel, ditch the dull 2.0T B48 engine for something more rev-friendly and sounds better, drops the Chinese-made brake calipers, pads and rotors and permanently does away with the fish mouth grill and huge front overhang.
People are taller and bigger in our days. Companys don't build cars for midgets anymore like they use to do tens of years ago .
BcA - Biciclind cu Axel The new MINI has no more room than the old one. It's just uglier and has more of a chin.
I own a 2011 R56 Cooper S, I'm 6'3 and about 215 lbs, I fit just fine and it drives like a go kart 👍
...and 4/5 door MINI is truly and memorably pig ugly IMHO..
@@SimonNoina completely agree with you, me and my daughter call them "Mingi's" - same goes for the clubman
Sold my R56 Cooper S to buy a new Polo GTI - we'll see how it goes 😁 The Mini was fun but a bit unreliable and would wear you out on a longer journey. Hoping that a Polo is more of a all rounder.
Great comparative , good video , very impressive polo gti 👍 .
The Polo GTI is ace!! I have a video of my friend's Polo GTI if you want to see it?
czcams.com/video/KtTCKY_9SAM/video.html
Both are great cars, really. I am not sure that many folk buying one would be tempted by the other. As an older bloke, I would feel less of a t*t in the Polo but that’s my problem!
Polo GTI is a great choice
I'm choosing between the GTi and Cooper S (3 door). I like both, not sure which to get (I know the video is 3 years old, but I'm looking at 3 year old cars)
@@Triggaaar get a Mini. the driving ability puts a smile on your face whilst the Polo feels like a typical VW
im gonna get my 2019 cooper s 5 door on Thursday
also the Mini has one of the best soundings 2L engines😊
@@austrianbua5378how is it going?
@@Milo-Mike good drives well. but a few weeks ago a 96 year old rammed my complete right side. Bmw made it look like new luckily
What was rim size for both cars ?
Did Mini mount runflat tires ?
Angelo Giovanni Roncetti polo was on 18 inch and the Mini cooper s was on 17 inch aloys
GTi vs WRC! Pleeeeeeeease?
Excelente comparativa 👌 buen video.
It's a great video. But....if we're driving on normal roads in the UK..pick which one YOU like best out of these two. Or a Fiest ST.. I have just retired and I'm now in the very, very fortunate position of being able to buy a new Polo GTI. I'm going to part ex my 140 ps Fiesta. For any young uns (It's a great car. Really, really nippy, decent insurance rates).
I would like to also know and if takes more time want are the major challenges it encounters. I am contemplating of buying a mini cooper base
The current polo is probably bigger inside than the late 80’s and 90’s golf; it’s a cracking little package and unless you’re on the motorway 5 days a week, will adequately satisfy most people.
People are bigger and taller too . Better life with the Globalization, everywhere you go in Europe, etc you see 2 meters tall .
Mine is the same size as a 2006 golf gti in all. Have parked next to one and pretty much identical.
polo gti is perfect! and this color is the best!💥💥💥
which car will spend more time in the garage?
probably the mini??
I would like to also know and if takes more time want are the major challenges it encounters. I am contemplating of buying a mini cooper base.
@@mumbachabwe8881 The base cooper is a good car, I would suggest a chilli pack on it for some spec
@@mumbachabwe8881 I have a base Cooper video on my channel if you want to check that out?
@Just DoIt i think their poor relaibikity is the reason after 3 years they loose more then half their value.
Completely off topic but it's an idea for a safety test.
Cars now days and easily do over 100mph, so what happens if you hit a pothole at say 120mph
Will it burst the tyre?
Just a thought
Wouldn't you just go straight over it as the momentum of the car would carry on, probably depends on the size of the pothole though
Why don't you try and report back to us all?
They did actually test it. It did more damage hitting an "average sized pothole " at lower speeds. Think it was something like 50mph and under.
So be safe and speed! 👍🏻
I love both 🔥🔥
instead put the 3 door i have one and its amazing fun and fast my best time is 6.2 0-60
time for a jcw
Init
Should have used the JCW 3 door
Who signed off the mk3 mini?...its got odd proportions and is pretty ugly, the first 2 minis looked really good and had sharp styling.
I agree, but the mk 3 3 door hatch and convertible JCWs do look good IMO
My problem with the Polo is the rubbish Michelin Primacy 3 tyres they come with stock. They should be coming with Bridgestone S001's or Michelin PS4's.
they come with Bridgestone Turanzas
Or Continental
Why no drag race??
That is for Ru Paul haha
The Mini looks wicked if the get the spec right
British Racing green
3dr JCW
Red roof and bonnet stripes
17 inch black wheels
Black Leather Lounge seats
Every option going
The VW Polo GTi looks sad and dull
The polo will win on build quality and reliability Alone
Will it though?
@@VirusTornado of course it won't lol Just another deluded VAG owner who sticks their head in the sand!
Wish people would stop saying its a detuned Golf GTI engine it's not. Its the same engine family but its a gen 3b. B meaning Budack. It runs a different cycle under light loads meaning better fuel economy.
Give me the mini in a 3door any day more fun funky looks an a icon in everyway
This video demonstrates the progression of vw. The mini was always in the golf territory. Mini getting left behind.
The Mini John Cooper Works is in Golf territory.
vw should bring back scirocco
Both cars are my favourite
if you had to choose??
CarsofGlasgow It’s a hard choice, but if I would be honest I would take the MINI. Which one would you choose?
@@abayamangali good choice
Why does he sound so rehearsed?
Because he’s an awful presenter and a worse F1 driver haha.
Should do a manual Polo vs the Mini, that would make the difference smaller rather than the auto they have.
I don't think it was out at the time... The Polo first came with DSG
No manual option for the new Polo GTi yet in UK (till year model 2020 I believe - namely October 2019 onwards).
This is an astute observation, on a track the DSG is worth quite a lot of time, especially accelerating out of corners. A manual polo would have lost out to the mini on this test.
@@1061shrink1061 I still doubt it. The Polo is really really fast.. Some say it packs more than 200 Bhp
The cars come as they come. At the time the Polo was only automatic. Was there an automatic version of the Mini available?
The polo looks much more sporty and less hair dresser type of car like the mini lol
Is called Cooper Ass for a reason :))
BcA - Biciclind cu Axel lol
BcA - Biciclind cu Axel hahaha 👌👌
Polo....."sporty"....? lol maybe you need new glasses.
This is the most boring presenter I have ever seen
He's actually a former F1 driver.
@@shivraya that doesn't make him any less boring though does it, he sounds too scripted and stiff
Agreed.
Thats because you want to be entertained more than you want to be informed. He maybe a little boring in his delivery, but he actually tells you useful facts about the car. Whereas that tit Jeremy Clarkson basically just shouts POWERRR and SPEEEEED and makes silly faces yet everyone seems to think he is a great presenter!
@@soundseeker63 it's possible to do both.... Chris Harris is a perfect example. This guy sounds uber scripted
Polo gti😍
Really want to hear your review on the Dacia duster tci 150 prestige. The polo gti and golf tdi gt estate. Aka all the cars I’m trying to figure out which I want.
Mini did the same time as the suzuki swift sport.... Hmmmmmm not sure about that
I prefer < MiNi Cooper S > Thanks
That's Thanks
Mini? Try
I drove both and found the polo so boring it was quick but dull, the mini was much more fun.
I found the mini wayyy mushier and softer than my gti
I’ve driven both. And found the polo to be more alive and more chuckable with the corners
Found the Mini just constantly lost front end traction with one wheel spinning up, felt like a normal car with a fast engine. The Polo seems to handle the power better.
I actually prefer the polo I think the Mini looks ugly it’s too big now
true, the mini is not mini anymore
Mini looks ugly. Yes. I love mini but recent generation is sucks
Appetit Bon
The clue is in the name of the car ,
Someone has a 2018 clubman Cooper in my Road it’s massive as big as my Focus . So what should it be called the Medium ? The Giant ? Yuck 🤮🤮🤮
Polo is my preference too! I have a Polo GTI video if you want to see it?
czcams.com/video/KtTCKY_9SAM/video.html
Child cannot compete with mother. Mother is always a Mother. ♥️ VW ✌️
You made it boring. No energy in the review.
Love Fifth Gear, but this would have been SO much better with Tiff or one of the real presenters at the helm. Sorry Harun, you're a great driver, not a great presenter.
Mark 690 because he’s Indian? Cmon mate, he did a really good job. He explained the characteristics of the cars whilst thrashing them on track. Good presentation if i say so myself. That was uncalled for Mark
@@justanotherguy972 Mate it's got nothing to do with him being Indian. I'm an 'ethnic minority' so I'm totally pro when it comes to this kind of diversity on TV.
My opinion, not a natural or good presenter especially when he's compared to the rest of the team.
I thought he did a good job, didn’t miss Tiff or Jason on this one.
Polo GTI....perfect car for grandmas in a hurry!
But with the Polo you dont catch Chicks 😎
What's wrong the that Biffs voice?
What do you mean?
Polo all the way 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
100%
Hitler would've been proud
They got fifth gear in india?
Bad joke
They got curry in India my little Jasmine flower
I drove both of these and picked the mini the polo was quick but so dull
VW in a nutshell, I've never got the appeal
Excellent choice. I had a Cooper S but I miss the quality of the build, the comfort and refinement.
Polo , King
At every track the two cars have been around the MINI Cooper s wins. Ie. Fast#$% lap . For nearly the same money JCW wins everything. Next time sport mode ? 3 door.
Uneven test. The cooper s is meant for the previous polo gti meaning there was no chance of the mini winning because of the polos new improvements
No that's the new Mini. But I think it should have had the new dual clutch transmission not the manual.
It’s still the cooper s though so it’s underpowered compared to the poli
@@jacqueclo3026 No it's not though. 192hp vs 200. The Mini weighs 150kg less. Between 100-200km/h the Cooper S is as fast as a Hyundai i30 N (which has 270hp).
Think of it this way. VW has put equipped the polo with the golf gtis performance meaning it can be compared to the golf in a way. Whereas the mini is left behind with stats that should be compared to the previous polo
@@jacqueclo3026 That's also not true. The Mini has BMW's B48 engine. That engine makes 250hp in the 330i and 530i. It has forged internals. I don't know what you're on about, but the Mini is faster than the Polo, it's also much better to drive.
Anyone noticed just how ugly that mini is? I think it's worse in that colour combo but it looks so 🤮
Such a subjective method of comparison, kind of pointless.
both have serious reliability issues, are over priced and valued. i say pass on both
Derrick Moyer I tried to pass but they have the best cabins in their class and that’s where I spend all my time
Ah, a man of sense!
Get rid of the mini's runflats and the winner will swap.
Mini is the King. BMW Power in a small and light and exquisite body.
never :))
have you seen the rear of that Mini?
I believe minis are for woman, even the Jc edition looks like it needs flower decals and eyelashes on the headlights.
Surely you should of used the John Cooper works🤷🏽♀️
The Polo is just too bland and boring regardless of performance.
Wtf you crazy mannnn and blind
Ford focus or fiesta is the best small car
SMALL?
FOCUS??
He did nog even use Launch Control on his Polo GTI. If used he was 4 seconds faster
Not with the polos launch control system, it won't engage unless the stability control is all the way off so it cannot put its power down. If the mini was an automatic it probably would've been closer.
the mini is too big end of
Finaly found a new bedside youtube video to fall asleep to. Most boring review in a long time.
lol k bye
ты просто ездить не умеешь, мини топ
Karin is a bloody awful presenter, these lines are so forced and badly projected.
The engine is far too big and very underpowered.
You can easily managed over 500hp from a 2.0L lol.
I doubt the engine will last 150.000 or even 200.000 miles with 500 bhp.
@@knowntobehonestTry 20000
Now do that against a Fiesta.....oh wait....we don't want to make VW mad do we now...
The mini isent mini any more its bigi
Learn some English dude
Ethan keenan I think that the Maxi cooper s is a slightly better name for the new generation Minis
@@H.K_R the first gen bmw minis are the best bmw minis
@@Ethankeenan02 Once again..... what?
@@jazzhands7771 you spell you name chris not kris and you last names shit
I take VW polo gti anyday as mini look so old ugly 🤢
Me too, I have a Polo GTI video on my channel if you want to see it Ric?
Just get a golf gti
Adam Keighley this comment does not bother Polo GTI owners 😂😂😂
VW is German and is simply better....Mini is owned by BMW...makes it German too , well ...they are both good ! The good part is, no more english rubish cars ! :D
BcA - Biciclind cu Axel English rubbish cars? We’ve made some of the best cars of all time
"Rubish"?
@@gregmayled when that happend? English cars the best of all time?🤣
Vas Me best suv: Range Rover, best supercar: McLaren F1, best smallcar: mini, best luxury car: Rolls Royce to make a few
Mini is clearly better
nope
The OLD R56 Cooper S/JCW was substantially better than the current model. The current MINIs weigh too much, are underpowered and the 2.0T engine hates to rev and doesn't ever feel like it's putting out much power. There's even been several Dyno tests showing the old 1.6T "Prince" engine was actually more powerful than the newer 2.0T at almost any point. MINI has fallen to the wayside in BMW's book.
Bud bud ding ding..
Golf, Passat, Polo vb car models is good, but vw is very poor brand. insensitive manufacturer.
Are you on muchrooms ?:)) Volkswagen Group sells passenger cars under the name of Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche .
BcA - Biciclind cu Axel I mean, they're hungry. The price tariffs and service charges are high but don't get full. very poor. They always say if the fault arises from the driver.
@@MsSmarty1982 What ''tarrifs'' ?:)) I am European living inside United Europe, there are ZERO tarrifs on German cars lmao.
Why have people with no English accent
what really matters to you? accent or comparison?
Why have morons who care?
You are aware that there are other places in the world apart from ENGERLAND?
I bet you vote UKIP...
My wife is Thai, she doesn't have an English accent?! Problem with this mate?! 🤔
@@jazzhands7771 yep, I voted Out, but my wife has a Thai accent!? 🤔🤣 this dude you commented on obviously never left his town!!! 🤣 there's a big wide world out there... even though I'm from Herefordshire 🤣... not trolling you dude, thought his comment was hilarious
You could hesr his indian accent😂😂 still has one more generation to go before his family perfects the english accent
should of used a real driver instead of one who sharts themselves driving around a test track I could of our driven you you in a piddly Subaru Legacy.