Lego Creator MINI Cooper (10242) Review

Since getting some of the other Creator Expert sets, I have had high expectations for the theme.  The 10242 MINI Cooper does not disappoint. If anything, it raises expectations even higher.

The Creator Expert MINI Cooper costs $99.99 and includes 1077 pieces. The finished model is over 4" tall, 9" long, and 5" wide.

I found the build very enjoyable. The set includes several parts and connections that I was not previously familiar with.  One such connection was used in the gearshift. A small ball joint was inserted between two clips.

I was not aware that this connection was possible, much less that Lego would use it in a set.  However, I'm glad they did. It gives the gearshift much more range of motion than would be possible otherwise. The set includes lots of nice chrome pieces in the front and rear bumpers.  These chrome pieces add a nice splash of shininess to the already detailed front and back of the car.

I thought the side view mirrors were nicely done. The same goes for the fenders. Both use pieces I would not have expected, but look better for it.

Like the exterior, the interior of the car is extremely detailed. The dashboard houses several gauges in front of the driver as well as a radio and a glove compartment in front of the passenger's seat. Both seats fold forwards to allow access to the rear seat. I like the way the seats were built and the patterned material is a nice touch.

As all of the cars in the Creator Expert series, the doors on the MINI Cooper can open. The hood can also open, revealing a nice, if not large, engine.

Opening the trunk reveals a similar level of detail in a picnic set with a bottle of water, a picnic blanket, and a basket of bread and cheese.

If the picnic set is removed, the bottom of the trunk can be lifted up to uncover a spare tire.

Overall, the 10242 MINI Cooper is an incredibly detailed build and an excellent set. I hope to see more like it in the future.

Build: 10/10

Playability: 7/10 - Since it isn't Minifigure scale, the set feels somewhat more like a display piece than a toy to be played with, but the functionality is a plus.

Minifigures: 5/10 - On one hand, there are no minifigures in this set. On the other hand, no minifigures included in the set merits a rating less than 10/10. I decided to go with 5/10 as a nice, even compromise.

Value: 9/10

I would definitely recommend this set to all Lego collectors. Tell us what you think of the MINI Cooper in the comments below!