The redesigned Mini Cooper, now in its fifth-generation, has been at the heart of the brand since it was founded 65 years ago. The concept remains the same for the 2025 Cooper two-door and four-door versions, with a familiar silhouette, a minimalist interior, and the promise of uncommon handling agility.
Longtime fans of this small car will instantly recognize the styling, with its short overhangs, flat roof, forward-canted stance, and friendly face made with an octagonal, mouthlike grille and signature round headlights. The rear LED lights integrate a Union Jack design, which is a nice touch, even though true Cooper fans know that Mini is owned by German automaker BMW.
As before, Mini is offering both a base model and the sportier Cooper S. Both get turbocharged four-cylinder engines, ranging from 161- to 201 horsepower, respectively. Performance enthusiasts may lean toward the John Cooper Works model, which gets a zippier 228-hp version of the turbo-four along with sportier suspension settings. You can also get electric and convertible versions of the Mini Cooper.
But, we bow our heads in infinite sadness because a manual transmission is no longer available on any Mini Cooper (even on the high-performance JCW). The lone transmission now is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (DCT). And adding insult to injury is that the no-fun police at BMW didn’t even fit the new Mini Cooper S we tested with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. You’d think that if we lost the stick that we’d at least get the paddles. Boo.
Core to the Mini Cooper experience is combining its charming looks with agile handling and hearty acceleration. But there are compromises to be dealt with, in the form of a rather manic power delivery at low speeds, and a stiff ride. Said one tester, “Between the super-lurchy, hesitation-filled powertrain and the severely-stiff ride, this is one of the worst cars I’ve driven in awhile. I honestly feel sorry for anyone who buys one of these…no one should have to put up with this stuff.”
But to others, the new Mini Cooper S is a hoot to drive. “Other than the seats in our car, I love this Mini...it's the most faithful to the one we originally tested about 20 years ago, and better in almost every way,” said one driver. "It feels light on its feet and ready to party in an instant. But it's disingenuous to argue that it doesn't have major flaws.”
So, buyers have to draw their own conclusions, weighing the over-the-top fun factor that this little car has in spades versus the bone-rattling ride and attention-demanding controls. It’s a tough call, and even one within the confines of CR’s Auto Test Center we can’t come to an agreement on. We also noted that the redesigned Cooper actually scored a few points less than the last model we tested.
We bought a 2025 Mini Cooper S Hardtop 2-Door for $36,995—anonymously from an area dealer, as we do with every vehicle we test—for the purpose of this road test review.
Driving experience
The Cooper S packs a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that generates 201 hp and 221 lb.-ft. of torque, whether in the two-door, four-door, or convertible versions. That’s a healthy 40-hp increase over the base model.
The standard seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) performs quick and decisive shifts, contributing to the spirited nature of the driving experience. But the combination of some turbo lag and transmission quirks brings an uneven power delivery at low speeds that becomes frustrating in everyday driving. It’s not uncommon to experience a noticeable delay when getting going, sometimes followed by an abrupt burst of power. Switching the car to its “Go-Kart” mode helps, as it keeps the powertrain on notice that you will want to drive with some verve, and it conducts itself accordingly.
Once fully underway, the Mini is a much more enjoyable experience, thanks to its frisky power and sporty engine sound. Plus, its performance numbers are strong, with a quick 0-to-60-mph sprint of 6.5 seconds, putting it within earshot of the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Subaru BRZ. Fuel economy is commendable, at 33 mpg overall in our testing.
The perky, playful personality that has long defined the Mini brand centers around handling, and the Cooper again delivers. Quick steering and limited body roll make it entertaining to soar down twisty roads. With oodles of cornering grip, handling is super agile and engaging. Unsurprisingly, it aced our track handling and avoidance maneuver tests. Driving this car on a daily basis will give your smile muscles very thorough workouts.
But the area in which the car is most demanding to all those who enter is unquestionably its startlingly stiff ride. It’s almost tolerable on glass-smooth surfaces—but we realize that this is a rare phenomenon. If you’re considering taking the dive into Mini ownership, it’s best to brace yourself for just how much expansion joints, potholes, and other road aberrations will pound the interior. By today’s standards, the Cooper S’s ride is simply jarring. One engineer wrote that the ride is the “worst aspect of this car by far.” Another noted that “it’s the abrupt, short pitches that can drive one crazy.” We think that even people who love to drive will consider it too stiff for rough city surfaces and long road trips.
The cabin is a bit quieter than past Coopers, but there remain numerous sources of noise: wind, tires, and even the suspension sounds off when you encounter larger bumps. The audible highlights are the engine-related sounds, with a satisfying turbo whistle and feisty exhaust note—the latter of which can be amped up when in Sport mode for more emphasis. Enthusiast drivers will enjoy the aural experience, but it could become tiresome for routine driving.
The brakes work well when driving spiritedly, being linear and controllable, and the Mini exhibited short stops during our panic-braking tests—in part due to our test car’s summer performance tires. But at low, parking-lot speeds, several of our drivers found the brakes too “grabby” or touchy, which makes it difficult to come to a stop without a little stutter that is certain to annoy passengers.
Cabin comfort
The Cooper is fairly easy to enter thanks to the rectangular door opening and significant space between the seat bottom and the roof. Getting into the back seat is a real feat of resolve, and is best left to those endowed with grace and agility or very young kids who like a challenge.
Although the two-door design of our test car is iconic, it is hard to argue against the practical convenience of the four-door version for its greater ability to haul passengers and/or stuff.
Most drivers liked the driving position, as it includes ample headroom—especially for such a small car. There were a few complaints about either the left leg rubbing on the drink holder protrusion on the door or the right shin being pressed against the center console’s hard plastic. The lack of a traditional driver’s instrument screen in front of the driver means you’re free to adjust the steering wheel height without considering how it may impact the view of gauges. But it’s odd that the Mini’s current speed and other pertinent vehicle information are on the center infotainment screen.
This is partially rectified by a pop-up head-up display (HUD) in front of the driver, which can be configured to show information such as speed, the fuel gauge, ADAS settings, media, and phone calls. But it feels like an afterthought; it’s placed in such a way that the dashboard and hood of the car peek through, somewhat obscuring the HUD’s graphics. The HUD can be shut off and the translucent panel retracted, but then the driver is forced to look off to the right at the center screen. The driver’s view to the outside world is mixed overall, with some obstructions straight back courtesy of the second-row headrests, rear pillars, and narrow glass. The forward view is made difficult by the short windshield, which makes it hard to see stoplights at an intersection.
The front seats drew a mixed response. They look nicely shaped, with a wide base and limited thigh bolsters. But the upholstery and underlying foam ultimately feel a bit firm. Opinions spanned from one engineer declaring “Good seats with natural support” to another staffer finding the firmness and lack of adjustments to be a primary reason they wouldn’t buy this car, at least equipped like it is. Key takeaway: Seat comfort is a very personal thing, and Cooper shoppers should try both the manual and power seats before buying.
It's no surprise that the rear seats in this small car are quite constricted. They’re (barely) designed for two passengers, with a bump in the middle that creates a bucket-seat effect for the outboard positions.
As with the Countryman, many of the materials used in the interior look creative, but they don’t feel very good. The door fabric along the window ledge—a natural spot to rest an arm—is so rough and sandpaperlike that one spouse got an abrasion when the brakes were tapped in a parking lot, leaving a visible trail of skin on the door. We like the various color touches, but the details don’t necessarily match, with colors on the seats, dash trim, and steering wheel varying, rather than being unified in a cohesive aesthetic.
It is no surprise that space to store day-to-day stuff is limited. After all, it is right there in the brand name. Door pockets are tiny. The cup holders don’t have drink-retaining features, as has become common on new cars. There is no covered center armrest storage. The rear cargo space is tight. The good news is that no one will ask to borrow your car to move.
Controls and usability
The interior’s minimalist design has a large circular screen at the center of the dashboard that serves triple duty as driver information, climate control, and entertainment hub.
The simplistic looking interior aesthetic may have a distinct appeal for some, but we wonder how Mini loyalists will respond. We certainly were unanimous in our feelings about most of the controls: They’re super frustrating to use. While some functionality becomes easier to manage with experience, there are numerous controls that defy logic for even seasoned testers like us. Among the grievances was that even turning off the engine stop/start system (a feature that’s designed to save fuel and reduce emissions by shutting off the engine at stop lights) is a two-press affair because you have to go through the screen to do it, rather than just hitting a physical button once. This is especially annoying since the stop/start system exacerbates the car’s low-speed delays, so you’re going to want it off every time.
Also, simple tasks such as fiddling with the climate system can be tedious when driving. The climate controls are managed through the screen, accessed by tapping the climate and fan buttons to enter the climate mode. Then you press tiny icons to make changes to temperature, fan speed, or airflow; this task, which requires exquisite precision, is made complicated by the stiff, bouncy ride that can cause an extended finger to wave like it is casting a spell.
Beneath the display are a few small physical controls, with the most notable ones being the twist-to-start “key” and the toggle-switch gear selector. Both are easy to use, if nonconventional, and they do save space that has been allocated for a wireless phone charge mat. Hence, we’re thankful for small things, such as the rotary volume knob—even if it’s off to the right below the screen, which makes it a stretch for the driver to reach.
Active safety & driver assistance
Standard active safety and driver assistance features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking that operates at highway speeds, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. The optional Active Driving Assistant package includes blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, reverse automatic emergency braking, lane change assistance, and an exit warning to alert when a cyclist or vehicle is approaching from behind while parked.
The Mini Cooper comes standard with a rear belt minder, which alerts the driver if a rear passenger unbuckles their seat belt during the trip. But the Cooper isn’t equipped with a rear occupant alert system, which can help prevent children and pets from being unintentionally left behind in a hot or cold vehicle.