Gallery
Pros
Cons
Mini has gradually updated its entire lineup this year, including my tester, the 2025 Mini Cooper S 5 Door.
The makeover includes some new styling — without straying too far from the iconic design — along with more power, new technology, and a cabin redesign. The 5 Door is actually a four-door, and it’s named that way in the United States, but Britain counts the hatch as a door and so we do, too.
It starts out as the Cooper C, the new name for the lower-powered entry model, at $38,545 including a non-negotiable delivery fee of $2,555. I had the higher-powered Cooper S, starting at $43,545. Mine had several options that brought it to $50,845 before other fees and taxes, including its coat of iconic green paint for $700.
Styling 8 / 10
There are only so many changes you can make before a Mini stops looking like a Mini, so the makeover is a relatively mild one. It includes a new grille set into a flatter front end, and the air scoops in the hood and fascia are gone.
Inside, the hard climate controls are gone, their functions now tucked into a new 9.4-round central touchscreen mounted on the redesigned dash rather than incorporated into it as it was before. The new steering wheel is a bit smaller and with a fabric strap instead of a lower third spoke; the previous round air vents are now horizontal slots; a knitted fabric adorns the dash with tiny pinpoints of light in it; and the upholstery features a faux leather made from recycled materials.
Safety 8 / 10
Neither the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had crash-tested the 2025 Mini Cooper at the time of this writing. Standard driver-assist features include emergency front and rear braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic assist, and lane departure warning. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, self-parking assist, and surround-view cameras are part of a $4,000 Premier+ package, which was added to this tester. The navigation that’s part of it includes augmented reality, so when a route is set you get a real-time video feed as turns come up with an arrow to indicate the direction, which can be handy for hidden or unfamiliar intersections.
Features 8 / 10
Standard features include a sunroof, wireless charger, heated seats and steering wheel, 18-inch wheels, a small lidded console box, and the 9.4-inch screen. The dash ahead of the driver is blank, since instrumentation is incorporated within the main display. To prevent you having to always look sideways to check your speed, a small plastic screen rises up out of the dash and broadcasts a head-up display.
In addition to its driver-assist options, my tester also had a Favoured Style package, which adds a heated sport-style wheel, black headliner, body-colour roof, sport seats, two-tone wheels, and exterior silver trim. An adaptive suspension was also added for $600.
User-Friendliness 7 / 10
Twisting a key-styled knob turns the engine on, while the gear selection lever is a toggle on the dash. I’ve always preferred buttons and dials for oft-used functions and I still do; although the round infotainment screen does a fairly good job of handling commands, with sharp images that don’t easily wash out in sunlight. Its voice command function works well and features an animated assistant — either a car or a dog named Spike. Mini also didn’t alienate me entirely, as it included a dial for stereo volume.
Despite the screen’s high points, some functions require too many steps. For example, while most vehicles adjust the adaptive cruise control distance with farther-or-closer buttons on the wheel, the Mini’s button opens a screen setting to do it. And if you don’t download the Mini app and connect your phone to the car, some functions won’t work, including navigation. Mini says it’s to protect personal data, but some seems a bit much: unless I logged in, I couldn’t set the mirrors to fold in when locking the car.
Practicality 7 / 10
The rear seats are best for people who lack legs; the cargo compartment has a mere 370 L of volume, and the rear seats don’t line up with it when you fold them down; and small-item storage is basically limited to your morning coffee and sunglasses. And all of that is to be expected because if you wanted a practical vehicle then you wouldn’t be looking at a Mini, and everyone knows it.
Comfort 7 / 10
The front chairs are supportive and stay that way over long distances. What detracts from that is the very firm ride. It’s fun at first when you’re carving the Cooper S around tight curves, but it wears thin during daily drives. Just a touch of smoother performance would really balance this car out across both scenarios.
Power 9 / 10
The Cooper S’s turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder previously made 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque; but now that’s increased to 201 hp and 221 lb-ft. (The entry Cooper C, which last year had a 1.5L three-cylinder making 134 hp, now also gets a 2.0L making 161 hp.) There’s no stick shift anymore; it’s an automatic seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), which shifts faster than a conventional automatic. The Cooper 3 Door and Convertible also come in higher-performance John Cooper Works (JCW) versions and they include shift paddles on the steering wheel. I can see leaving them out of the Cooper C, but they really should be included with the Cooper S as well.
While this Mini is larger and heavier than those of days gone by, it’s still a small car; and that 201 hp is more than enough to have some fun. There’s turbo lag when you put your foot into it, but once everything connects the Mini has no trouble accelerating and passing; and in heavier traffic, it’s calm and never feels too muscular.
Driving Feel 9 / 10
The Cooper S is strictly front-wheel drive (FWD), and it has a lot of torque steer. You just have to consider it part of the charm as you concentrate on holding the wheel straight when accelerating. But once you’re used to it, the Mini is great fun. It still has its signature go-kart handling, but it’s a bit more mature and not as twitchy as it once was. While it’s a shame you don’t get to row your own gears anymore, the seven-speed DCT does an excellent job of keeping the engine in its sweet spot, with everything working together very well.
Fuel Economy 9 / 10
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) rates the Cooper S at 8.4 L/100 km in the city, 6.1 on the highway, and 7.3 in combined driving — a hair more than the Cooper C at 7.4 L/100 km combined even though the S has more power. Both ask for premium-grade fuel. I averaged 8.1 L/100 km. Among its competitors, the Volkswagen Golf GTI is rated to burn 8.8 L/100 km combined.
Value 8 / 10
The Mini Cooper S 5 Door starts at $43,545, and while most will likely tack on some options its base price is in line with a competitor like the Golf GTI, which runs from $38,545 to $42,545.
The Verdict
The 2025 Mini Cooper S 5 Door is a niche vehicle, which generally means that if you want one, that’s exactly what you want and nothing else is going to tick the boxes. If that’s the case, the updates give the Mini more power and a nicely-tweaked interior; and if you’re into technology, that centre screen should be a plus. Mini did just enough to the Cooper S while still keeping what makes it a Mini, and that should help to keep its fans satisfied.
