In celebration of the manual transmission and commemorating its fading presence in the face of the electric age, MINI has introduced a special edition of its hottest hatch, called the 1to6 Edition. Limited to 999 units worldwide, the MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition adds a touch of aesthetic flair with Midnight Black paint, complemented by all exterior elements in Piano Black. A decal stripe runs down the front hood, it wears 18-inch Circuit Spoke rims, and there are 1to6 badges plastered on the C-pillar, side fenders, dashboard, steering wheel, sunroof, and door sill, while a 6-speed shift pattern symbol is perched on the trunk lid. The interior also receives a ‘One of 999’ symbol on the left side of the dash.

And that’s about it. There are no performance upgrades for the 1to6 Edition, nor anything that you couldn’t spec with the standard JCW, other than the badges. That’s not a bad thing considering how engaging and complete a hot hatch the JCW is, but we wouldn’t be running to the dealership anytime soon to put our name on the waiting list.

That said, the MINI JCW 3-Door has always been one of our most highly recommended hot hatches, even in the face of stunning newcomers like the Toyota GR Corolla and Subaru BRZ. With its retro-modern styling, chic interior, and a plethora of customizable options, the JCW wins not only through performance but also through emotion. 

It begins the moment you step into the MINI. Sink into the sculpted seats and appreciate the excellent driving position. A deep footwell and a telescoping steering wheel that travels a considerable distance to the driver is key. This makes a titanic difference for taller drivers like us who enjoy sitting far back yet desire a wheel closer to our chest, so we don’t have to hunch forward awkwardly. We can almost sit in the MINI like a GT car (not quite Formula 1). It also helps that the driver gauges follow the steering wheel position, so it’s always in the perfect viewing position under the rim.

The pedals and gear shifter are also at the perfect distance. The pedals have more travel than we would like, and the clutch bite point is not the easiest to palpate with your left foot – we got a better sense of it through the engine snarl and slight creep forward. It’s a manual that’s not as forgiving as a Honda or Subaru, and you have to be at the correct RPM for the gear transitions to be smooth. Nailing down a clean first-to-second shift without lurching takes some serious practice.

However, the manual does provide automatic rev-matching when Sport Mode is engaged, which might irk the purists who prefer to heel and toe themselves. We found it advantageous in heavy traffic, where we could let our feet take a much-needed break from the three-pedal dance. And while there is no setting to defeat the auto rev-matching in Sport, selecting the Normal or Eco driving modes disables it.

The tall gear lever sticks out and appears almost aftermarket. The shifter travel is long, considerably longer than the ones you find in the Toyota GR86 or Honda Civic Si – almost like you’re paddling a boat by comparison. There is ambiguity in the gates due to their long travel but it still feels purposeful when you’re wrangling it through the H-pattern.

Your left hand will then be on the sizable steering wheel. It’s a simple design with few buttons or distractions – it’s not a button extravaganza like in the Mercedes. Although the leather wrap and grips are thick, the overall feel is thinner than that of previous models. It still might be a challenge for those with smaller hands to wrestle. But we wish they had gotten rid of that center armrest or repositioned it away from the handbrake. When the armrest is up, it gets in the way of our elbows when shifting, and we can’t retract it far back enough either. It’s a minor but still noteworthy ergonomic nuisance.

But once you let loose and give the JCW the full beans, it’s a tremendously enjoyable experience. The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine is capable of 228 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-100 km/h time of 6.1 seconds, yet it feels considerably faster. Of note, the JCW 3-Door doesn’t get the same output as the Countryman JCW, which uses AWD and gets 301 hp and 331 lb-ft instead. We’re not even sure if this petite FWD platform could handle those raucous numbers without stickier tires and a more aggressive damper setup.

The way MINI has tuned the dampers, traction control, and differential makes the JCW feel neutral and balanced in corners. Lateral grip is stupendous and hustling through long, sweeping, 60 km/h turns is where the JCW shines and comes alive, delivering an initial hint of understeer before finally settling into a surprisingly stable mid-corner dance that’s easily controlled via the throttle and steering. It’s more settled under power than the Honda Civic Si, is edgier and more hardcore than a Volkswagen Golf R, but not as engaging as its RWD rivals, such as the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ, which offer a much purer drive with unfiltered steering and a more spirited rear end.

The JCW rides well despite its stiffer springs than the MINI Cooper S, and is tolerable and usable on a daily basis. It’s not as comfortable as a Golf R or as compliant as a Civic Si, but the MINI absorbs bumps and pockmarked roads better than the GR86 or BRZ. The exhaust in the JCW has been toned down over the years, and is not the boisterous and immature soundtrack we have grown accustomed to, with few pops and bangs on throttle overrun – less of an angry beehive now and more of a refined, mature, almost BMW inline-four noise. The engine revs smoothly and without any of those rough edges that used to be characteristic of MINI’s raucous engine notes, but roll down the windows and you can still hear the whistling of the turbochargers and wastegates.

Seeing a manual shifter already sparks joy in our hearts, but this new 1to6 Edition celebrates it in style with an all-black spec and three pedals. Faced with extinction, we’ve begun to appreciate the JCW even more for what it is and will continue to relish in its engaging drive until the light has fully dimmed.

Specifications:

Model: 2024 MINI John Cooper Works 3-Door 1to6 Edition
Paint Type: Midnight Black
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Horsepower: 228 hp @ 5,200 rpm
Torque: 236 lb-ft @ 1,250 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Engine & Drive Configuration: Front engine, FWD
Observed Fuel Consumption (L/100km): 9.2