2025 Mini Cooper S First Drive Review: Making Big Improvements To A Small Car

2001 noticed the reintroduction of a British icon to the USA; again beneath BMW possession, Individuals might lastly purchase the Mini Cooper. It was tiny by American requirements, which is usually a recipe for gross sales failure, however the Cooper has proved there’s an urge for food for a small hatchback with nimble dealing with.

The 2025 Mini Cooper is now in its fourth technology, arriving within the US as a two-door hatchback with an extended four-door mannequin coming quickly. DrivingOnRoad had an opportunity to hitch Mini Takes the States, an proprietor occasion the place tons of of Mini autos drive throughout the nation on a curated route. We obtained to expertise the Cooper S on mountain roads in New Mexico and Colorado, giving us the right alternative to search out out if the fourth-generation Mini lives as much as the cliché of “go-kart” dealing with its smaller predecessors made well-known.

First Drive occasions present our preliminary impressions of a car in a restricted atmosphere beneath sure time constraints. Regulate DrivingOnRoad for our complete Take a look at Drive assessment which is able to observe quickly.

Exterior: Modernized Traditional

Model fans would riot if Mini modified the Cooper’s design too drastically, which is why the brand new mannequin nonetheless appears recognizable. The brand new design is smoother, eliminating pointless protrusions from the entrance finish, such because the decrease air intakes and hood vent. From the facet profile, the brand new Cooper appears much like its predecessor, although its mirror caps at the moment are extra elongated than spherical. On the again, the oval-shaped taillights have been changed by extra pointed models, which could be custom-made with totally different lighting patterns. Oddly, Mini deleted the uncovered exhaust pipes, as a substitute opting to cover them beneath the bumper. This makes the Cooper look barely unfinished or prefer it could possibly be an electrical car, in our opinion.

17-inch wheels come commonplace in one in all three colours and patterns: Parallel Spoke two-tone, U-Spoke Gray, or U-Spoke Vibrant Silver (which appears mild gold). Mini additionally presents 18-inch wheels in Slide Spoke two-tone or Evening Flash two-tone as a part of the ‘Favoured’ Fashion, each of which come wrapped in Summer time tires. Prospects can select between Traditional and Favoured model packages, the latter of which is just accessible on the center and prime trim, altering the grille trim shade, wheel choices, and different exterior particulars.

Mini lets homeowners customise their autos with 10 exterior colours, six of that are new. The carryover choices embrace Melting Silver III, Midnight Black II, Nanuq White, and British Racing Inexperienced IV, whereas the brand new colours are Chili Purple II, Ocean Wave Inexperienced, Blazing Blue, Sunny Facet Yellow, Icy Sunshine Blue, and Indigo Sundown Blue. Our tester got here in Ocean Wave Inexperienced, a teal-like hue that basically pops. These colours could be paired with 4 totally different roof colours: Jet Black, Multitone Blue, Glazed White, or physique shade.

By way of dimension, the fourth-generation F66 Cooper is definitely 0.2 inches shorter than its F56 predecessor, although the wheelbase has elevated by 0.7 to 56.4 inches. Essentially the most notable improve comes within the width, the place the F66 is 1.7 inches wider. We seen the width when parking the 2025 Cooper subsequent to different Mini autos, however that is nonetheless a small automobile by anybody’s measure. The dimensions is one space the place you might not discover the Cooper has grown. The outgoing mannequin weighed in at 2,813 kilos, whereas this new one ideas the scales as 3,014 kilos, which is heavy for a Mini.

Inside: New Period Of Funky Design

Mini has at all times punched upmarket with premium interiors, however the 2025 Cooper takes it to probably the most luxurious stage but. Heated sport seats come commonplace, wrapped in a recycled vegan materials referred to as Vescin that appears like actual leather-based. If you happen to go for the traditional model, the game seats are changed by JCW sport seats that are available in a Gray/Blue or Black/Blue mixture with fabric bolstering, whereas the Favoured will get all Vescin in both Beige or black (Mini calls it Nightshade Blue). Energy seats can be found, as is a therapeutic massage operate for the motive force’s facet, cementing the Cooper as a extra luxurious trip.

The dashboard is now lined in a knit textile that appears like fabric, however is definitely produced from recycled bottles. We expect it appears nice, however homeowners on Mini Takes the States expressed issues that the sprint might simply get soiled. Mini guarantees that the recycled materials is straightforward to scrub and stain resistant. Peering by means of the chunky steering wheel, there is no such thing as a conventional gauge cluster; instead, a pop-up head-up show reveals velocity, navigation prompts, and extra. It is a good answer that retains the minimalism however retains the operate.

We have already got a love-hate relationship with Mini’s new Working System 9, which lives on a stunning 9.4-inch round show, the primary of its form in a car. The display appears nice, and could be custom-made with totally different expertise modes, reminiscent of Go-Kart, Core, Vivid, Inexperienced, and Timeless. These modes change colours and different parts of the show, together with the speedometer, which may now be proven centrally on the display like older Mini autos.

Whereas the display appears nice, it’s miles from good. The system can really feel laggy at instances and there are some odd quirks, like CarPlay and Android Auto (each accessible wirelessly) solely taking on a small sq. within the center. Over-the-air updates ought to enhance this method over time. Mini’s new digital assistant can take the type of a automobile or an English bulldog named Spike, each of which change colours with the drive modes. You may ask it to vary the local weather, alter settings, and even let you know a joke. We requested, “what do you consider Fiat?” It replied, “we like passing them.”

Practicality: Highway-Journey Prepared?

The Cooper’s bigger dimension results in elevated practicality, if solely barely. Trunk house grows to eight.9 cubic toes, up modestly from 8.7 cubes within the outgoing mannequin. The rear seats fold in a 60-40 break up, opening up 34.4 cubes, up from 34 within the previous Cooper. Passengers within the rear have a good squeeze with 30.8 inches of legroom, up simply 0.1 over the earlier Cooper. Entrance head and legroom stay an identical to final 12 months’s mannequin.

Patrons who need more room ought to watch for the Cooper S four-door, which arrives later this 12 months. The five-door is 6.3 inches longer, yielding an inch and a half extra legroom within the rear. Cargo capability grows to 13.1 cubic toes, or 40 cubes with the seats folded.

Efficiency: Extra Pep, Much less Management

The earlier Cooper used a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine on the bottom mannequin. That engine is now gone, changed by a bigger 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot. Output jumps from 134 horsepower within the previous automobile to 161 hp. The Cooper S now delivers 201 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, up from 189 and 206 lb-ft within the outgoing mannequin. A John Cooper Works mannequin is probably going within the works, however has not been introduced but.

Energy is routed to the entrance wheels through a brand new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Sadly, the handbook transmission has been retired. Mini says the bottom Cooper can hit 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, whereas the S does it over a second faster, in 6.3 seconds. These instances are 0.2 and 0.1 second enhancements, respectively. Gas economic system stays robust at 28/39/32 MPG metropolis/freeway/mixed, one MPG higher within the metropolis and freeway in comparison with the outgoing automobile.

Driving Impressions: Extra Livable

We spent a while with the Cooper S on mountain roads connecting New Mexico to Colorado to collect our first impressions. A few of the rougher roads upset the trip a bit, however the Mini isn’t too punishing for use every single day. The smaller 17-inch wheels would seemingly enhance trip consolation in comparison with our tester’s 18s. This new Mini is perhaps bigger than its predecessor, but it surely nonetheless feels agile and straightforward to park in comparison with most new autos.

There’s some preliminary turbo lag off the road, however the extra energy of this new Cooper S makes itself obvious with swift acceleration throughout passing maneuvers. The seven-speed gearbox shifts easily and rapidly, although we want Mini included paddle shifters on this mannequin (they may seemingly be reserved for the JCW). There is no such thing as a approach to manually shift the transmission, which turns into annoying on two-lane roads when attempting to overhaul slower vehicles.

Mini stored the heavy steering, although it feels lighter than the earlier technology. There’s additionally much less suggestions from the wheel – a blow to drivers who prefer to really feel extra related to the street. As a trade-off, this new Cooper squirms round much less beneath acceleration, whereas the previous one felt much less refined. As a every day driver, this new mannequin trades some rawness for livability, a change you’ll both love or reluctantly settle for.

Pricing & Verdict: Tiny Luxurious

The 2025 Mini Cooper Hardtop is dearer than final 12 months’s mannequin, but it surely comes with extra energy, commonplace options, and know-how to justify that worth. You may get a base Cooper Signature for $28,950, not together with a $995 vacation spot price. The Cooper S brings the value to $32,200, which feels price it for the improve in efficiency. Even the bottom Signature trim contains twin zone local weather management, rear parking distance management, heated seats and steering wheel, panoramic roof, automated excessive beams, navigation, and extra.

The Signature Plus bundles bigger wheels, the elective Favoured Fashion with nicer seats, an elective distinction roof, expertise modes, energetic driving assistant, a wi-fi charger, distant engine begin, consolation entry, and extra for $2,400, whereas the Iconic is just $300 extra for energy seats, an inside digicam, driving assistant plus, Harmon Kardon Audio, augmented actuality navigation, and parking assistant plus. Loaded up, our tester rang up at $37,295.

Mini is competing in premium territory right here, with the Cooper S priced carefully with the Volkswagen Golf GTI. Because it has at all times been, the VW is bigger and extra highly effective, so the Mini appears like a poor cut price on paper. Nonetheless, the Cooper feels extra premium than the GTI inside and comes with extra commonplace options. The Mini Cooper Hardtop will proceed to attraction to a distinct segment viewers, however that group is now bigger due to all of this 12 months’s high quality enhancements.