Exclusive! MINI Cooper Car Special Review

MINI Cooper reincarnated Mini Cooper debuted in North America twenty years ago and is still as stylish and fun to drive as ever. Its retro-modern styling remains eye-catching and its sporty chassis setup gives drivers something to look forward to every time they get behind the wheel.

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Offered as a two-door hatchback, four-door hatchback, or convertible, the Cooper isn’t particularly practical, but for singles or couples, the smallest Mini models still have some appeal.

The standard model is powered by a 134-hp turbocharged three-cylinder, but the S model swaps it for a dashing 189-hp turbo four, which offers much better acceleration.

Unfortunately, it also raised the price of the Cooper significantly, approaching the price of luxury brand cars such as the BMW 2-series Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz A-class.

Need more performance than a regular Cooper can provide? Check out the Cooper JCW (reviewed separately), which boasts a fiery 302-hp turbo engine.

Big personality
Tiny dimensions
So much fun to drive
Turbo power

MINI Cooper Review

The MINI Cooper new Resolute Edition of the MINI Cooper will be available for the 2023 model year. It sports Rebel Green paint, frosted bronze exterior trim, yellow and beige wool seat covers, and special Resolute Edition door sill guards.

This package is also available on the convertible model but replaces the white hardtop roof and rearview mirror cap with a black soft top and black rearview mirror cap.

The MINI Cooper name applies to many models: the two- and four-door hatchback, the long-roof model with spilled rear doors called the Clubman, and the convertible. Buy this fun car against the Kia Soul and BMW X1, among many others.

The esteemed MINI Cooper lineup saw some minor changes this year including wider availability of adaptive cruise control and a faded roof finish.

The bigger news is less exciting: hefty price hikes across the range and a trimmed lineup without a cheap base model last year as automakers continue to struggle with chip shortages.

MINI Cooper Design

It has stood the test of time. The MINI Cooper scores 8 out of 10 on the TCC scale thanks to its pleasing interior and exterior styling.

The two-door hardtop, four-door hardtop, four-door quasi-wagon, and two-door convertible versions share most of the design elements. The two-door hardtop most definitely channels the original Mini from the 1950s, albeit with a bloated look when parked side by side.

But the rounded headlights, massive grille, and stances that squat like bulldogs are just as much fun in 2023 as it was when your great-grandfather frolicked on vacation in Europe in 1960.

Inside, the retro design is based less on reality than imagination, but it worked for us. Sure, the control layout requires some tweaking, but all the rounded and curved cues are a lot of fun.

And even with the product line being scaled back this year, the Mini offers a variety of bits of personalization—many of which may require a trip to the dealer’s accessory department.

MINI Cooper Report

Mini often releases Special Edition models, and the same is true for the 2023 model year. In fact, this marks the first time Mini has announced special edition trims for its entire lineup simultaneously, and each one is unique to a particular model.

The classic MINI Cooper gets the Resolute edition, while the larger Clubman gets the Untold Edition. Then the Untamed edition belongs to the adventurous Mini Countryman. Focusing the special edition on aesthetics, Mini toyed with various lines, finishes, wheels, and trim for the three models.

Mini wants to show that each special edition has an “authentic product personality” that reflects each model, as well as the buyers who choose that genre. For your information, all of them will hit the market at the end of this year as 2023 models. Here’s a quick look at what each one has to offer.

Green and bronze take center stage for the Resolute edition, available on MINI Cooper, Cooper SE, and convertible models. Specifically, this color is called Rebel Green which was previously only available on JCW models.

Bronze trim is found throughout the car. Includes headlights and grille, door handles, front air inlet, and fuel filler cap. A gold stripe also appears on the exterior of the Resolute edition, with more gold trim and Resolute branding waiting for the driver and passengers inside.

2023 MINI Cooper Clubman Edition

There’s more green and gold for the family-friendly Mini Clubman Untold Edition, available in trim levels S to JCW. This time the exterior color is called Sage Green, which is also the first color on the Mini Clubman.

There is even more green on the lower body which is usually black. And, similar to the Resolute Edition, some exterior components (such as the surrounding grille) get brass trim.

There’s also plenty of black trim on the outside, along with Untold-exclusive exterior striping and custom 18-inch alloy wheels. Sage Green trim in a lighter contrast color and brass trim are also found inside.

2023 MINI Cooper Countryman Untamed Edition

As a formidable MINI Cooper, the Countryman special edition is named Untamed. Available in standard and PHEV trims, being Untamed means going grey, as the exterior is clad in the exclusive Momentum Gray metallic finish.

There is more gray for the body trim, creating a monochromatic look except for the black color on the roof and mirror caps. Unless you opt for the Piano Black exterior option which adds all sorts of black trim around the Countryman.

However, the exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels and bold sidelines make the Untamed Edition stand out. Inside is a mix of green and blue with contrast stitching, custom graphics, and Untamed branding.

2023 MINI Cooper JCW

In 1961, British racer and Formula One car constructor John Cooper modified the original Mini, creating a high-performance version that became the first MINI Cooper. The Mini Coopers raced and raced with great success—the Minis won the Monte Carlo Rally three times—and the version built for road use was a hit with car enthusiasts.

BMW owns the Mini now, and the John Cooper Works division continues to produce performance models such as the MINI Cooper JCW 2023. The 2023 Cooper JCW combines a 228-hp turbocharged inline-four and front-wheel drive in a unique and unique brand style and is available in Hardtop and Convertible body styles.

While Hardtop buyers can choose between a standard six-speed manual and an eight-speed automatic, the Convertible is only available with the automatic. Both models have specially tuned suspension and upgraded brakes that make the MINI Cooper JCW an enjoyable ride, though its track-friendliness makes for a tough ride on the road.

However, the Mini Cooper JCW’s signature silhouette, highly customizable details, and edgy personality make it an alluring machine.

The MINI Cooper JCW 2023 remains largely unchanged after the 2022 refresh, but buyers now have a few more customization options. The hardtop model can now be painted in Mini Zesty Yellow, and the Multi-tone White and Multi-tone Red roofs are also debuting in Signature and Iconic trims.

The Driver Assistance Package has been slightly modified to include parking assistance features and a heads-up display; adaptive cruise control (available with automatic only) is now a separate standalone option.

2023 MINI Cooper SE

The 2023 Mini Cooper Electric, the MINI Cooper SE is no longer one of the most affordable EVs in the United States as its initial MSRP has gone through a massive $4,325 hike. The MINI Cooper SE used to cost $30,750 (including an $850 destination fee), but now the automaker’s US customer website doesn’t list the base model anymore.

The next most affordable class, Signature Trim 2.0, starts at $35,075 (including destinations).

Green Car Reports, which was the first to spot a price increase, asked MINI USA for clarification. The US brand’s head of corporate communications Andrew Cutler told them the MINI Cooper SE base had been “temporarily unavailable due to supply chain-related issues.”

MINI does not provide further details on supply chain constraints but suggests that the base model does not work forever. However, the company could not give a time limit on when it would return.

To be honest, the MINI Cooper SE 2023 has gotten more of the standard features, such as a new steering wheel design, an 8.8-inch center screen compatible with Apple CarPlay, a heated steering wheel, a lane departure warning, and a SiriusXM satellite radio. In addition, Signature Trim 2.0 adds knick-knacks such as a panoramic sunroof and a choice of several exterior colors, roofs, and seats.

Even so, the $4,325 price hike seems pretty tough to swallow. That said if you can claim a $7,500 federal tax credit, the MINI Cooper SE Signature Trim 2.0 will cost you $27,575 compared to $23,250 for the now-unavailable base model.

Looking at the MINI Cooper SE configurator, we’ve noticed that the base model has been dropped, but even the more expensive models, the Signature Trim 2.0 and Iconic Trim 2.0 don’t seem safe from tampering.

The current generation MINI Cooper SE is on loan as the next generation model jointly developed by the BMW Group and Great Wall Motor will be launched in the second half of next year.

Iconic MINI Setup Delivered
Updated Interior Technology
As fast as Gas powered models
Model: MINI Cooper SE Electric
Engine:: Electric Motor
Power Output: 181 HP
Torque: 199 LB-FT
Driveline: Front wheel drive
Transmission: 1-speed direct drive

2023 MINI Cooper 4 Door

MINI Cooper’s several new hardtop color options and the addition of the standard Apple CarPlay give the 2023 Mini Hardtop 4 Door some new strength among a bunch of new hatchback rivals. A new yellow hardtop option, plus a new white and red Multitone roof color featuring a color blending gradient, joins the blue/black Multitone roof introduced last year.

The mini-changes are mostly cosmetic, however. There’s no additional power or performance boost, and Android Auto smartphone integration for the center display, which would be nice to have, is still MIA.

Mini missed an opportunity here to pull away from four-door hatchback rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Honda Civic, cars that blend sportiness with practicality and incorporate now-common technology as standard.

Compounding the problem was supply chain shortages which forced MINI Cooper to discontinue production of standard manual transmissions. For now, the Hardtop 4 Door will only offer a seven-speed automatic.

The base trim level, Classic, has also been suspended, making Signature trim a new base level. Mini said the changes were temporary but did not offer a time limit for their returns.

The MINI Cooper ace, however, has always been his pride, thanks to the various ways that it can be personalized. From roof and mirror colors to dozens of line, wheel, and color combinations, it’s easy to build a Mini that stands out in a sea of silver, white and black cars.

The four-door layout provides functionality and rear seat space
The agile and responsive handling makes it fun on twists and turns
Classy and classy interior
Dozens of ways to personalize for a unique look
Apple CarPlay is now standard
New hardtop color choice
Adaptive cruise control is now a standalone option
Part of the third generation of Hardtops introduced in 2014

2023 MINI Cooper Convertible

An open version of the iconic two-door Mini hardtop, the Mini Convertible 2023 gets several upgrades that make it a solid choice for sunny-season automotive. Last year’s thorough update infused the front and rear ends with a more fluid style, while new technologies include a larger touchscreen and digital driver display.

This year, adaptive cruise control emerged as a standalone option (previously only available in packages) and Apple CarPlay has finally become a standard feature (sorry, Android users, there’s still no Android Auto support). The new Resolute Edition combines stylish bronze accents on the dark green exterior, with a checkered upholstery design.

Like last year’s update, there are no changes to the 2023 model that make the Mini more competitive with its peers. It remains one of the more expensive options in a class that includes the agile Mazda Miata and the drop-top Ford Mustang and the bigger, more powerful Chevrolet Camaro.

The Miata is consistently fun on winding roads but only offers two seats, whereas the Ford and Mustang, well, they’re so common that the Mini might look “special” by comparison. Part of the appeal of the Mini Convertible lies in the various ways you can personalize it with your choice of colors, trims, and wheels, even at the expense of some performance.

Mini Convertible in John Cooper Works (JCW) trim. The JCW should be top-of-the-line, but it doesn’t feel any more special than the S trim. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph took 6 seconds in our test car, which is fast for a convertible in this class.

The Mini’s turbocharged engine produces plenty of torque but lacks the pleasing high-rev character of a Mazda Miata engine.

Panic braking from 60 mph yields the best result of 119 feet, which is the average distance; we expected better. Most of the blame falls on the Mini JCW’s rather narrow tires, which also limit its handling capabilities. We love the nimbleness, but the cheaper Mini Convertible trim gets you that too.

The rigid and sporty Mini that is expected of course comes with the John Cooper Works version. While it’s never too loud, it can get agitated on less smooth pavement. Our test car was equipped with optional adaptive dampers, but we didn’t feel there was enough difference between Normal and Sport modes to warrant the extra cost.

The front seats are supportive and comfortable, but rear passengers will likely complain about the vertical seatbacks and lack of shoulder room.

The top of the Mini looks and feels well-built, but lets in a lot of ambient and road noise when you’re driving at highway speeds. In fact, when we tested the interior noise level, we found that it was barely louder with the top down than when it was up.

The JCW’s center exhaust makes some nice burbles and pops but can hum during long periods of driving at a constant speed.

The slightly long doors have good weight and provide sufficient access to the front seats but don’t make it easier to get into the back seats. If an adult can press back there — a bit easier with the top down — they will likely touch the shoulder.

The driver and passenger will have plenty of shoulder room and excess headroom, making the compact Mini feel quite spacious. The Mini Convertible’s controls are quite easy to understand and use.

The well-constructed folding fabric top sits more or less on the back of the Mini and, when descending, slightly blocks your rear visibility. When turned on, there are decent side visibility thanks to the tall windows and large outside mirrors. Visibility from the front is impaired because the rearview mirror takes up a lot of space in the narrow windshield.

Much of the Mini Convertible’s technology is lifted directly from parent company BMW. This isn’t a bad thing as the infotainment system is basically BMW’s with a colorful Mini-themed interface. It’s easy to navigate and looks a little more premium than some of the competitors.

The navigation and voice control work well and prove to be very helpful in certain situations. Apple CarPlay wireless smartphone integration is standard, but the lack of Android Auto is surprising given most of the Mini’s rivals. Our test car’s Harman Kardon audio system was powerful enough to produce good-quality sound over high interior noise levels.

Adaptive cruise control works well and keeps traffic in tight spaces. We did not experience any false alarms or overreactions from any other system. But we were a bit disappointed by the conservative tuning of the electronic stability control, especially in a car that should be fun to drive. Luckily, you can disable it.

It should come as no surprise that the Mini Convertible isn’t the most practical of cars. The trunk is 7.6 cubic feet small and not easily accessible. Ironically, the smaller Mazda Miata trunk (4.6 cubic feet) is more practical and easier to use.

Interior storage is slightly better, and there’s enough room for one person’s small items in the cupboard in front of the cup holder and the cup holder itself. If you use wireless charging, you will lose most of your center palm rest storage.

Child seat anchors are provided in the rear seats, but only the smallest booster seat can fit without much fuss.

The EPA estimates the John Cooper Works Convertible will get a combined 28 mpg (24 city/33 highway) and our time with the Mini supports that. During our 115-mile evaluation route, the drop-top Mini returned a solid 29.4 mpg with some pretty enthusiastic rides, just because. It should be noted that Mini recommends premium gasoline for the JCW.

Excellent handling makes it fun on twists and turns
Classy interior and looks luxurious
Available add-ons offer a high level of personalization
Apple CarPlay is now standard
Adaptive cruise control is now a standalone option
The Resolute Edition combines green, bronze, and plaid elements for a unique look
Part of the third-generation Mini Convertible introduced for 2016

2023 MINI Cooper Interior

The Mini’s interior is very unique but at the expense of user-friendliness. The rear seat passenger space is cramped, but front seat passengers won’t find much reason to complain. The Convertible’s power top folds in 18 seconds to unlock the joy of unlimited headroom.

Too bad the stems are small. Hardtop models offer more practicality in their hatchback bodies—but still not much because of the car’s small size. The Hardtop model’s trunk is quite small, offering room for just three carry-on suitcases in our tests.

But drop the back seat, and there’s room for 12 pieces of luggage. The five-door hardtop offers more space for cargo with the rear seats folded, but the Convertible offers less. A leather-wrapped steering wheel and heated front seats come standard on the MINI Cooper, and a leather interior is optional.

All MINI Cooper models come as standard with an 8.8-inch infotainment screen and digital gauge cluster. SiriusXM satellite radio is also standard across the range but buyers looking for Apple CarPlay, dashboard navigation, or wireless phone charging will need to pay extra for the feature. Android Auto is not available.

The JCW cabin offers high-quality materials plus unique design elements such as a circular frame housing the infotainment system’s touchscreen. Compared to other subcompacts, the Mini does not rank highly in terms of utility.

Rear seat legroom is narrow; most adults will feel claustrophobic. On the Hardtop, the Mini provides nine cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 34 cubic feet with them folded. (The convertible is even worse, offering only six cubes of luggage space.)

All JCW Minis come with an 8.8-inch infotainment screen with SiriusXM satellite radio, a six-speaker stereo, and Bluetooth phone and audio streaming.

The list of optional equipment includes a premium Harman/Kardon sound system, in-dash navigation, Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, and wireless charging for your devices. Unfortunately, Android Auto capabilities are not available.

MINI Cooper Color

Chili Red
Pepper White
Zesty Yellow
Rooftop Gray Metallic
MINI Yours Enigmatic Black Metallic
British Racing Green IV Metallic
White Silver Metallic
Moonwalk Gray Metallic
Island Blue Metallic
Midnight Black II
John Cooper Works Rebel Green

MINI Cooper Engine

The standard engine is a turbocharged 134-hp 1.5-liter three-cylinder, which provides adequate power to this small and light front-drive vehicle. We prefer the S model, which comes with a turbocharged 189-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder.

With the larger engine, the S proved to be a little over a second faster at up to 60 mph compared to the base 1.5-liter engine, clocking in at 6.2 seconds. We found the automatic transmission shifting well, but the manual transmission is still our favorite because it provides the most driver involvement.

The rugged suspension lends itself to an enthusiast-oriented ride, which can make the MINI Cooper attractive, but its ride can be unforgiving on rough roads.

The MINI Cooper JCW is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that produces 228 horsepower. The single transmission for the convertible is an eight-speed automatic, while Hardtop buyers get a choice between that or a six-speed manual.

In our track testing, a JCW convertible with a slushbox made the dash to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The auto-equipped Volkswagen GTI, JCW’s natural competitor, made it in 5.1 seconds.

Compared to the standard MINI Cooper, the JCW features such as Brembo brakes, a more aggressive suspension, and an electronically locking front differential. All of this combined to help him deliver the right handling which was a treat for the fans.

However, this Mini’s firm suspension can make for an unpleasant choppy ride on rough roads.

MINI Cooper MPG

The hardtop and convertible models with the base three-cylinder engine are rated for 29 mpg city and 38 mpg highway with automatic transmission and 27 mpg city and 37 mpg highway with the manual.

With a three-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual, we managed to hit 38 mpg during the 75 mph highway fuel economy test route.

The more powerful 2.0-liter engine in the MINI Cooper S is rated slightly lower by the EPA, with the automatic model getting ratings as high as 28 mpg city and 38 mpg highway and the manual model getting ratings of 23 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. For more information on Cooper’s fuel economy, visit the EPA website.

JCW’s estimated fuel economy varies based on body style and transmission. The most fuel-efficient combo is the Hardtop with an eight-speed automatic rated for 25 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.

We haven’t tested the JCW model on our 75 mph highway fuel-efficient route, but during our time with the JCW Hardtop, we observed 25 mpg in mixed driving. For more information on MINI Cooper JCW fuel economy, visit the EPA website.

MINI Cooper Price

We’ll opt for a manual transmission and put it in the more powerful 189-hp Cooper S Hardtop to maximize the fun-to-drive factor.

The five-door hardtop costs a little more, but we’ll stick with the three-door because the Mini isn’t very spacious. Beyond that, the personal customization options are numerous and desirable, and we’ll leave that up to you.

Regarding the price, the two-door Cooper S Resolute Edition, which is the cheapest, can be redeemed by spending 35,900 US dollars (approximately Rp. 514 million).

The cheapest Clubman Untold Edition can be obtained at a price of 41,650 US dollars (about Rp. 597 million).

Meanwhile, Countryman Untamed is only slightly more expensive at around US$41,900 (around Rp. 601 million). All of this does not include the shipping fee of US$850 (around Rp. 12.1 million).

The JCW Hardtop is equipped with LED headlights, front fog lamps, rain-detecting wipers, heated and power-adjusted side mirrors, and a rear spoiler. We’ll stick with the six-speed manual transmission but upgrade to the Signature Trim package, which adds a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

Cooper Hardtop $24,250
Cooper S Hardtop $27,750
Cooper Convertible $29,250
Cooper S Convertible $32,750
JCW Hardtop $36,750
JCW Convertible $41,500

2023 MINI Cooper Release Date

The MINI Cooper 2023 goes into production in March 2022, ahead of the rush of summer car purchases. The 2-door, 4-door, and convertible MINI Hardtop variants will all be produced simultaneously.

Exclusive! MINI Cooper Subcompact Car Special Review