If a car could have a happy personality, it would be the Mini Cooper. Whether in its original form from the 1950s or the modern rendition that returned to the United States about 20 years ago, the Mini's compact shape with its iconic "bulldog" style is a car that can always bring a smile, especially when you're lucky enough to be behind the wheel.
Mini is introducing an all-new Cooper Hardtop for the 2025 model year. I'm pleased to report that it's still just as recognizable as its predecessors and hasn't lost any of its fun-to-drive characteristics.
Photo: Perry Stern
It can be challenging to redesign a car partly defined by its looks, but the new Mini's updated styling doesn't stray far from the recognizable styling cues of the outgoing version. Slightly larger than the 2024 model it replaces, the 2025 Cooper Hardtop gets refreshed front and rear styling, an updated interior, an all-new infotainment system with a unique, round touchscreen display, and more space for passengers and cargo. Both the Cooper and Cooper S variants also get more power for the 2025 model year.
The 2025 Mini Cooper Hardtop is available in 2-Door, 2-Door S, and 4-Door S trim levels. Prices range from around $30,000 to just over $34,000.
For this review of the 2025 Cooper Hardtop, Mini provided a test vehicle equipped with 2-Door S trim and the Iconic trim package, which includes:
The test vehicle's price was $37,295, including the $995 destination charge to ship the car from the Mini assembly plant in Oxford, England, to your local dealership.
Photo: Perry Stern
Given its small size, you'd expect the Mini Cooper 2-Door Hardtop to be cramped inside, but that is not the case at all. The Mini feels roomy—at least in the front seat—and getting in and out is easy with the (relatively) large doors.
While the 2025 Mini is slightly wider than its predecessor, the updated design gives the cabin an open feeling. The dashboard features a clean design, interrupted only by the four air vents and the unique 9.4-inch round OLED touchscreen display.
The only other physical controls are in a small panel below the screen, and this space includes a tiny gear selector, the start switch (it looks and turns like a key), a drive-mode selector, and a volume/tuning knob. Moving the gear shift frees up space in the center console, which is now a large, open tray that is great for storing small items and adds to the car's roominess. I like the vertical wireless phone charger at the front of the console, which features a strap to hold the phone in place so the screen remains visible.
My Cooper S came with sporty seats trimmed in Vescin (Mini's vegan-friendly synthetic leather) and cloth for a stylish look. Seats are comfortable with good support, even after many hours behind the wheel.
While front-seat passengers have plenty of space to move about, the rear seat of the Cooper 2-Door is what I expected of such a small vehicle. Climbing into the rear seat requires some flexibility. However, once in, the seats are quite comfortable, thanks to the fact that seating is for just two people. Headroom is decent, as is the space side to side, but legroom is almost nonexistent unless the front passengers slide forward to an almost uncomfortable position.
The Cooper 4-Door adds a few inches of legroom and enables easier access with the rear doors.
Cargo space is also relatively small in the 2-Door. With only 8.9 cubic feet, it can be challenging to fit much more than a few small bags or a batch of groceries. Folding the 60/40 split rear seats dramatically increases the Mini's utility.
Photo: Perry Stern
As part of the updates for the 2025 model year, the Mini Cooper gets the brand's latest infotainment system. Features include:
With practically no physical controls, access to almost all features of the Mini infotainment system is via the touchscreen or voice interface. Luckily, Mini makes good use of the real estate created by having a round display that provides a clear and intuitive flow through the system.
As there is no gauge display directly in front of the driver, the top section of the center display screen always shows pertinent information like speed, gear indicator (PDR), fuel level, and driver-assist feature status. Also static are climate control temperature settings in the screen's lower right and left portions. The bottom of the screen houses shortcuts to climate, audio, navigation, and communication functions.
My Galaxy S23+ smartphone connected to the Mini’s infotainment system via Bluetooth with no issues, and I immediately had the option to launch Android Auto. The phone integration was seamless, and the Android Auto screen fills the middle section of the round screen.
Navigating through the infotainment system is intuitive, but Mini's voice interface also works well. When you say "Hey, Mini," you get to meet Spike, Mini's adorable digital personal assistant. Spike is a dog that appears on the display screen, asking how he can help—in a British accent, of course. Not only can Spike change the audio selection, adjust the climate control, or find the closest ice cream shop, but he can even tell jokes (not good ones) and stories when asked. I found Spike to be a perfect addition to the Mini persona.
Photo: Perry Stern
My 2025 Mini Cooper S 2-Door Hardtop featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 201 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. That represents a bump of 12 hp and almost 60 pound-feet of torque compared to the outgoing model. Sadly, Mini no longer offers a manual transmission in the Cooper; all versions get a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT).
I've driven many Mini Cooper variants over the years, always enjoying the agile handling and go-kart-like driving characteristics. The 2025 Mini Cooper S hasn't lost any of its sporty feel, which was apparent from the moment I set off. The turbocharged engine delivers spritely acceleration accompanied by a satisfying growl from the exhaust. According to Mini, the Cooper S will sprint to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds—plenty quick enough to have a good time.
I miss the manual gearbox that fits so well with the Mini's performance profile, but the DCT rattles off quick shifts up or down for excellent performance, shifting much quicker than a human ever could.
Driving the Cooper S on the winding back roads in eastern Washington, the little car is just great fun. The Mini feels agile with responsive steering and a tight suspension that lets the car change direction quickly with excellent stability. I wouldn't go so far as to call the Mini a sports car, but it certainly delivers an enjoyable ride for the driving enthusiast. The Mini's small size makes it easy to maneuver in tight spaces, making it an ideal car for cruising around town.
At the same time, the ride remains comfortable and relatively quiet when cruising on the freeway at 70 mph. However, its small size—especially driving near semi-trucks—might be stressful for some.
Not only does the Mini deliver excellent driving dynamics, but it does so quite efficiently. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the 2025 Mini Cooper S Hardtop 2-Door gets an estimated 32 mpg in combined driving. While I drove the Mini, the trip computer showed an impressive 38.6 mpg.
Photo: Perry Stern
The Mini Cooper S is available with a range of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), but surprisingly, none of these features are standard. Available features include:
While these features are optional on the base model, most come in the Signature Plus and Iconic trim packages. My Iconic test vehicle had these features, plus the optional adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane centering.
I tested the system while cruising on I-90 through central Washington from Spokane to Seattle. Quickly accelerating to the 70-mph speed limit, I set the adaptive cruise control. The indicator at the top of the display screen showed that the system was active, providing steering input to help keep the Mini in its lane while maintaining speed and distance from any vehicle ahead. The system functioned well, and the operation was smooth, but it is important to note that it is not hands-free.
Photo: Perry Stern
The 2025 Mini Cooper 2-Door doesn't dedicate much space to hauling cargo, as the space behind the rear seats is only 8.9 cubic feet. However, the space is usable with a wide-opening rear hatch and a hard cargo cover. With some good Tetris skills, I could fit two carry-on bags and a backpack in that space. Folding the back seats expands the space to 34.4 cubic feet. The 4-Door offers a bit more usable space, with 13.1 cubic feet and 40 cubic feet, respectively.
According to the EPA, the 2025 Mini Cooper Hardtop gets 32 mpg combined. Surprisingly, these figures are valid for the 2-Door and 4-Door, as well as for both engine options. During my Cooper S 2-Door drive, the trip computer indicated 38.6 mpg in mostly highway driving—very close to the EPA estimates.
At the time of writing, the 2025 Mini Cooper Hardtop does not have an overall crashworthiness rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The 2025 Mini Cooper Hardtop comes in three trim levels, with the base-level 2-Door priced at $28,950. With a more powerful engine, the Cooper S bumps up to $32,200, while the four-door version has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $33,200. The prices listed don't include the $995 destination charge.
As a Euro-flavored, near-luxury small hatchback, the 2025 Mini Cooper Hardtop has no direct competitors. Still, some buyers may cross-shop the Acura Integra, Audi A3, BMW 2 Series, or the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, though all those have higher MSRPs than the Mini.
Photo: Perry Stern
It may not be as mini as it once was, but the Mini Cooper is still one of the smallest new cars you can buy today. But small is not a bad thing. The Cooper Hardtop boasts a surprisingly spacious cabin, and its iconic styling and fun-to-drive characteristics never fail to bring a smile.
While I missed shifting a manual gearbox, the 2025 Cooper S delivers excellent performance, whether negotiating a tight mountain road or motoring through town. Cars like the Honda Civic Si or Volkswagen GTI deliver similar performance—and are available with three pedals—but can't match the Mini Cooper’s unique character.
Perry Stern has worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years and has always been a car enthusiast. Driving almost every new car on the market, Perry has written for multiple publications in addition to his work for JDPower.com. Recently relocated to southeast Michigan, Perry is still crazy about cars, especially his 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
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