2025 Mini Cooper S Review

A decade ago, there was a trifecta of tiny turbocharged hatchbacks from Europe to pick from.

In the years since, Volkswagen has killed off its Beetle, and the Fiat 500 has been reincarnated as an electric vehicle (EV). But the 2025 Mini Cooper S is born anew in all its turbocharged glory.

The Mini has always been the gutsiest of the bunch — Fiat 500 Abarth notwithstanding, of course — and that has helped broaden its appeal to those who appreciate its fashionability, yes, but also those who respect its storied rally history. The Cooper S has long been a legitimate little sports car that just happened to look cute and inexplicably happy — characteristics that would seemingly run counter to the fundamentals of today’s larger, heavier vehicles.

Styling:  9.5/10

Visually, there’s no mistaking this new Cooper S for anything but a Mini. The dimensions have grown by a whisker in terms of width and length — not enough that anyone will notice — but the profile remains familiar. It’s still a two-box format with a square little greenhouse atop a lower body that seems stretched over the 18-inch wheels pushed to the extreme corners of the car.

The sides are smoother and cleaner than those that came before, while the biggest stylistic departure happens on its pert little butt with the traditional tail lights replaced by sharper triangular units unit by a black band that spans the tailgate. Also gone are the exhaust tips — at least visually; they’re now tucked behind the bumper — and it’s now possible to mistake this Mini for an EV at a glance.

For all the character outside, it’s the interior that really stands out. Mini’s designers have always done a great job incorporating traditional design elements like the large speedometer on the centre of the dash, or little toggle switches for various controls, but embracing modern technology hasn’t kept the Mini-ness out of this new model. The centre of the dash is dominated by a dinner plate-sized touchscreen, while a small strip below presents a few toggle switches for drive modes and the gear selector, but it’s otherwise unadorned by the buttons and gauges that typically complicate a dash design.

The material choices are exceptional. The dashtop and door panels are finished in a tweed-like fabric, and there’s a vertical accent strip above a central vent that serves no purpose except whimsical design. It’s also repeated in a similar fabric strip that forms the lower spoke of the steering wheel. The fun and creativity employed throughout the Mini’s cockpit is not only wholly appropriate for this car, but thoroughly appreciated. 

User-Friendliness: 7.5/10

It would be easy to assume all that fashion would come at the expense of function, but that’s not the case here. While it takes some time to get familiar with the bulk of the car’s controls and information within that big screen, it’s quick to respond to inputs and is sensibly laid out, enabling simple swipes left and right to get around the menus. There’s a head-up display that’s somewhat inelegant in its appearance, with a little plastic panel protruding from the dash ahead of the driver, but unlike most systems it’s legible with polarized glasses on. 

The driving position offers good outward visibility all around thanks to the Mini’s square shape, and although the A- and B-pillars are chunky, it’s still easy to do quick shoulder checks and place the car confidently within traffic. However, tall drivers are likely to find that the short, vertical windshield requires some neck-craning to see overhead traffic lights when stopped at the front of an intersection. And the steering wheel is thicker than a bratwurst, which may be uncomfortable for those with smaller hands. 

Comfort: 7/10

The front seats offer enough adjustability that most occupants should find a comfy position, and there’s decent head- and legroom. Unsurprisingly, the same isn’t true of the rear-seat accommodations. The Mini is also impressively quiet for a compact hatchback, quelling both road and wind noise well. Even the (enhanced) engine sounds that permeate the cabin give it some sporty flavour, and they’re smoother and richer than what might be expected from a four-cylinder. 

The biggest knock against the Mini’s comfort remains its ride quality. The suspension is quite stiff, and with such a short wheelbase and relatively large wheels, the Cooper S can crash over potholes that a Volkswagen Golf GTI would smooth out. Mini offers an adaptive suspension that, for an extra $600, may be well worth the cost.

Practicality: 6.5/10

In a market dominated by compact crossovers, even with the split-folding rear seats stashed the overall space isn’t terribly generous. We tried fitting a mountain bike in the back with its front wheel removed, but couldn’t get it to fit with the hatch closed. The rear seat is only wide enough for two, which further limits the Mini’s functionality. Mini buyers needing more space can go for a model like the Countryman that offers more space for people and stuff.

Features: 7/10

The Mini Cooper S tested here was loaded up with plenty of goodies, but many of them are part of optional packages. While heated front seats are standard, the heated steering wheel isn’t, and neither are ventilated seats, while a power rear hatch isn’t available at all. The vertical wireless charging pad is a brilliant design that holds a phone in place with a little elasticized seatbelt, but it, too, is part of a $4,000 package that includes onboard navigation with augmented reality, 18-inch wheels, and various driver assistance features. Of note, the upgraded stereo that’s also part of this package produces excellent, powerful sound that fills the Mini’s little cabin.

Safety: 7/10

The previous generation Cooper fared well in crash testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing, with only the base headlights holding it back from a top score (results for the new generation weren’t yet published at the time of writing). Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a particularly aggressive lane departure warning and keeping system are standard far, as is rear automatic emergency braking. But buyers seeking adaptive cruise control, surround-view cameras, and parking sensors will need to buy an upgrade package. 

Driving Feel: 7/10

When the last-generation Cooper S landed a decade ago, most media and enthusiasts decried its size- and weight gain. The reality was the sporty Mini remained a sensationally nimble car with flat cornering, lightning-quick steering, and the driving personality of a go-kart with a roof. Mini wants drivers of the new Cooper S to recall that go-kart feel and even named its sportiest drive mode for it.

Its quick-ratio steering and tidy dimensions support the go-kart analogy, but the Cooper S has predictably gained a bit more weight, and more importantly, has lost some more of the steering feel that was a hallmark of earlier Coopers. The new car’s steering has a slight numbness on-centre that surely contributes to greater highway stability, but just off-centre, becomes quick and makes the car dart around easily.

For spirited on-road driving, the brakes are excellent. They offer an immediate bite, but also strong, linear stopping power that helps a driver confidently approach corners at considerable speed. Likewise, the Pirelli tires have grown to a 215-mm width and deliver plenty of grip to hang on when having fun in roundabouts or on highway ramps. 

The Cooper S is still able to tackle backroad corners and nip-and-tuck through traffic as well as it ever has, but it’s not as fun as before. It’s capable but clinical in its approach, where some of Mini’s former frenetic personality has been dulled. Most obvious in this change is the lack of any sort of driver input to the dual-clutch automatic transmission, with no paddle shifters, let alone any offering of a manual transmission at all. Pour one out for another dead stick-shift.  

Power: 7/10

Under the hood, there’s still a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine, but horsepower is up 12 to 201, while torque rises to 221 from 207 lb-ft, with both requiring a few more revs to reach than before. It’s enough motivation that Mini claims it’ll rip to 100 km/h in about 6.6 seconds, but that sounds conservative compared to how quick the car actually feels. After the briefest of hesitation for the turbo to wind up, the engine pulls very strongly — and smoothly — throughout its rev range.

As far as four-bangers are concerned, this one’s a sweetheart. A heavy foot can summon a very rapid overtake of slower traffic on a two-lane road. But being front-wheel drive, there is some torque steer that requires a driver to pay attention lest the little hatchback zig-zag its way around the lane when accelerating smartly. 

Fuel Economy: 8.5/10

Happily, the increase in both power and mass didn’t negatively affect the Cooper S’s fuel efficiency, as its city rating of 8.5 L/100 km remains unchanged, and both highway (6.1) and combined (7.4) figures are actually improved — albeit barely, at 0.1 L/100 km each. Even during a mix of highway commuting, back-road fun, and some around-town urban driving, our overall average came in at a very respectable 6.3 L/100 km. 

Value: 7/10

While the previous Mini Cooper S started less than $30,000 when it came out, this model now starts at $39,990. Add a nearly-necessary $4,000 option package, plus another if you want to maximize the Mini’s styling, and the price tag grows to $45,990 before freight and tax. By comparison, a Volkswagen GTI doesn’t have the same visible flair of the Mini, but it offers more functional space and more performance for a few grand less. 

The Verdict

For decades, driving enthusiasts have celebrated the Mini Cooper S as a legitimate sports coupe thanks to its engaging drive experience that punches above its diminutive size. It’s always been an icon, too, and for fans of the brand, the three-door represents the truest variation of that classic British hatchback.

The 2025 Mini Cooper S, while still a capable performer, has lost some of its driving excitement, with a greater focus now placed on style and technology than ever before. For most Mini buyers, it’s likely just what they need, and for the enthusiasts, there’s always higher-performing John Cooper Works variants to look forward to.