Initial Quality – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality Study, the Mini Cooper received an Initial Quality Power Circle Rating of 2 out of 5.

Performance and Design – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Automotive Performance, Execution And Layout Study, the Mini Cooper was the highest-ranked compact car and received a Performance and Design Power Circle Rating of 5 out of 5.

Predicted Reliability – This generation of the Mini Cooper is too new to have been included in our J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Vehicle Dependability Study. However, based on the performance of Mini models during the past 3 years in both our Initial Quality and Vehicle Dependability Studies, the Cooper’s Predicted Reliability Power Circle Rating is 2 out of 5.

Fuel Economy – EPA fuel economy estimates for the 2009 Mini Cooper Hardtop are 28 city/37 highway with the standard manual transmission. With the optional automatic, the ratings are 25 city/34 highway. The Mini Cooper S is rated at 26 mpg city/34 mpg highway with the manual, and 23 mpg city/32 mpg highway with the automatic. The Cooper S JCW comes only with a manual transmission, and is also rated 26 mpg city/34 mpg highway. During our test driving, this model averaged 25.5 mpg, and we spent plenty of time exercising the turbocharged powerplant.

Safety – The 2009 Mini Cooper gets 4-star crash-test ratings for the driver and front passenger in the frontal impact test, a 4-star rating for rear seat passengers in the side-impact test, and a 5-star rating for front seat passengers in the side-impact test. The Cooper also receives a 5-star rollover rating, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the Cooper a “Good” rating in the frontal offset test, a “Marginal” rating in the side impact test, and a “Good” rating in the rear impact tests.

Environment – According to the EPA, the 2009 Mini Cooper Hardtop consumes between 10.7 and 11.8 barrels of petroleum annually, depending on the powertrain configuration. The resulting carbon footprint ratings range from 5.7 to 6.3 tons of air pollution per year. The Cooper and Cooper S have national air pollution scores of 6 out of 10, with California and New England scores of 7 out of 10. The Cooper S JCW also gets a 6 out of 10 on the national scoreboard, duplicating that number in California and New England.