MINI Cooper review

Driving position 

You sit in that classic MINI perched‑but‑planted seating position that gives you a great view out without feeling like you’re towering over traffic.  

The Cooper keeps things snug and sporty, with supportive front seats and a cabin layout that feels deliberately simple rather than stripped back.  

Its steering is nicely weighted via a chunky wheel, and the driving position feels natural, making the Cooper easy to place on the road – perfect for darting around town or having a bit of fun on twisty lanes 

Tech and features 

MINI Cooper trims  

– Classic 

– Exclusive 

–  Sport 

The old model had plenty going for it, but this new one really steps things up. MINI has packed in more standard kit than ever, with every car getting a reversing camera, parking sensors, a heated steering wheel, cruise control and built‑in sat-nav. 

The real showstopper when you climb inside, though, is the 240mm circular OLED display. It looks fantastic, feels futuristic, and proudly claims ‘world‑first’ bragging rights. Take that, Tesla. 

Everything runs through this screen, and the deeper you dig, the more fun touches you uncover.  

There are slick animations and playful graphics to keep you and your passengers amused.  

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, but sadly, they don’t take advantage of the full circular screen, and instead sit in a smaller rectangular window, which feels like a bit of a missed trick.  

This is probably more an Apple and Android issue than a MINI thing. 

Engines and power 

MINI Cooper performance stats  

– Power: 156hp, 204hp or 231hp 

– 0-62mph: 6.6 to 8.0 seconds 

– Top speed: 150mph 

– Driven wheels: Front-wheel drive (FWD) 

There’s the choice of two different engines: a 1.5-litre three-cylinder or a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit.  

With 156hp and 204hp respectively, they’re plenty punchy enough. All versions come fitted with an automatic gearbox – no manual anymore.  

The same goes for front-wheel drive, which is standard across all the models. 

Sitting at the top of the range is the full-fat John Cooper Works (JCW) with 231hp. It’s by far the sportiest, with a 0-62mph time of 6.6 seconds. 

Around town, the petrol Cooper is ideal because the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox handles all the hard work – you won’t even really notice it’s there. 

Handling and ride comfort 

MINIs have always been known for their sporty suspension setups, and even the simple petrol ones are on the firmer side. 

This is great if you want to have fun on a country road, but it can get a little irritating on a rough motorway surface or bumpy town roads. 

But, to make up for this a bit, all MINI seats are relatively comfortable, so they help soak up the bumps. 

If you want the most comfort, go for a Classic or Exclusive trim, but if you’re a fan of a sportier experience, go for a Cooper S or JCW. 

Boot space 

MINI Cooper 3-Door boot space:  

– Boot space: 210 litres 

– Incl. Rear seats folded: 731 litres 

MINI Cooper 5-Door boot space:  

– Boot space: 278 litres 

– Incl. Rear seats folded: 941 litres 

In its standard 3-Door form, the MINI Cooper has a 210-litre boot, growing to 731 litres when the rear seats are folded flat. 

Upgrade to a 5-Door model, and you get 278 litres, growing to 941 litres when the seats are down. 

It’s hardly a spacious boot, but then again, it’s a small car. Compared to its Fiat 500 (180 litres) and Audi A1 (335 litres) rivals, it sits bang in the middle. 

Rear seats 

Rear-seat space is improved over previous models, but there still isn’t a lot of space.  

Smaller children should be absolutely fine on regular journeys, but adults may struggle to fit in the back. More than six foot? Forget it.  

For 99% of the time, we’d recommend a Cooper to be used as a two-seater with those rear seats being used as added storage for bags, coats, etc. 

Storage solutions 

Let’s not forget that the MINI Cooper is a small car. The clue’s in the name, so you can’t expect masses of storage areas. 

The door bins are big enough for regular-sized bottles, and some cars come with an optional central storage compartment that can fit tissues, sweets, wallets, etc.  

But overall, we’d recommend using the rear seats to store anything larger. 

MINI Cooper 3-Door dimensions  

– Height: 1,432mm 

– Width: 1,970mm (incl. mirrors) 

– Length: 3,876mm 

– Kerb weight: From 1,335kg 

MINI Cooper 5-Door dimensions  

– Height: 1,464mm 

– Width: 1,970mm 

– Length: 4,036mm 

– Kerb weight: From 1,395kg 

Safety 

MINI is part of the BMW family, so safety is taken very seriously with a wide range of onboard features.  

This includes lane keep assist, blind spot detection, rear collision prevention, forward collision warning, speed limit assist, parking assist, a rear-view camera and much more. 

Plus, the MINI Cooper was safety tested by Euro NCAP in 2025 and scored a full five stars, adding to its safety credibility. 

Fuel economy 

The most basic 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine has a claimed 47.1mpg, and the more powerful version with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit can get up to 43.5mpg. 

No matter which version you’re choosing, you’re getting impressive MPG figures, but expect these to be a little less in the real world. 

Reliability 

Being so new, it’s hard to comment on the car’s exact reliability, but judging by the previous MINI Cooper models – both petrol and electric – we can say it’ll be a very dependable car.  

From the factory, MINI offers a fairly standard three-year/unlimited mileage warranty. And, if you’re buying a used one from cinch, you can always add an extended warranty to make your cover last longer.