Rover Mini 1990–1996 car dimensions: 3050 mm long, 1440 mm wide and 1350 mm high. Unladen weight is 620 kg. Braked towing is 410 kg.
The cabin has a simple full-width dashboard with basic instruments, heater controls and a radio/cassette player on most trims. Higher grades add wood veneer, better seats and cloth or leather trim. A heater is standard. air conditioning appears on some export or special models. No advanced driver aids are fitted.
Boot space is small at around 120 litres with seats in place, enough for a couple of bags. Rear seats fold but no expanded volume figures are published.
Braked towing limit is 410 kg and unbraked 200 kg. Payload sits between 295 and 350 kg depending on model. The car is light and compact so best suited to light loads rather than heavy work.
The cabin has new seats with better support and thicker carpets than earlier Minis. Headlining is updated and soundproofing keeps noise manageable on longer trips. Space is tight especially in the rear with limited headroom. Steering feels offset but the overall trim makes it more inviting than basic predecessors. Optional fabric or glass sunroofs add light on some cars.
1275cc petrol engine with carburettor or single-point injection
Fuel tank holds 34 litres
Service every 6000 miles or 6 months
Front discs and rear drums with servo assistance
Inertia-reel seat belts standard
Driver airbag and pre-tensioners from late 1996
The 1275cc engine delivers lively response in a light car. Official combined figures sit around the mid-30s to low-40s mpg depending on carb or injection setup. Unleaded fuel is used on later examples. Real-world returns stay close if the engine is kept in tune.
Regular oil and filter changes matter because the gearbox shares the sump. The schedule calls for checks at 6000-mile or six-month intervals with fuller services at 12 000 miles. Parts remain widely available and the mechanical layout stays simple for home work.
Side-impact beams arrived early in the period. Seat belts are inertia-reel type. From the 1996 update a driver airbag plus belt pre-tensioners became standard. No official crash-star rating appears in period records.
Rust is the main enemy so check sills floors and subframes often. Keep seals fresh to stop water ingress. With basic care the car stays reliable and cheap to run as a fun daily or weekend classic.
Length 3050 mm, Width 1440 mm, Height 1350 mm, Wheelbase 2035 mm (Mini 1990–1996)
Sources: manufacturer data, 1996 Rover Mini British Open Edition brochure, figures from auto-data.net and engineindetail.com.