The 2016 Mini Cooper isn't just a single hatchback etched into the auto world's collective memory. These days, it's a range of vehicles that encompasses as many as 10 different models, not only the classic "Hardtop 2-Door" but also a new “Hardtop 4-Door” introduced last year, as well as a Clubman edition. And for 2016 there’s a new Convertible model, which has itself been refocused to be a bit sportier than its predecessor.

When we're talking Mini Coopers, it helps first to describe the body, as all the Cooper models we review here are spun from the same architecture. The Mini Cooper hardtop models are hatchbacks, with three and five doors; the Clubman has four side doors and a pair of rear barn-style doors, while the Convertible has two doors and a tiny trunk lid instead. Even in its third generation, the Mini remains a very small car, but it's one that's improved over the years, even as it retains the distinctive looks, rollerskate handling, and cheeky character of previous generations.