Name: Mini Cooper (2024) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Mini Cooper
Rating: 71.0

Summary

The Mini Cooper is a small hatchback and the entry-level model in the Mini range. This is the fourth-generation model, which is available to order in three-door and five-door petrol configurations. There is also a battery-powered version – the Mini Cooper Electric – which we cover separately.

While the electric version has been built from scratch, this petrol-powered model is actually a heavily refreshed version of the third-generation Mini hatch, which first arrived in the UK in 2014.

The ‘Cooper’ name is now used to describe all Mini hatchback models, rather than a specific trim level. This largely brings official Mini naming into line with common usage, since most people have always tended to describe the hatch as a ‘Mini Cooper’ anyway.

The range is divided by the entry-level ‘Cooper C’ and top-spec ‘Cooper S’ models, which are both automatics. These are engine options carried over from the previous third-generation Mini, but have been given performance boosts.

As of October 2025, the Mini Cooper range has a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 71%. It achieves top marks for its safety rating, but only average results for its media review scores, CO₂ emissions and running costs. Plus, Mini’s new car warranty offering is poor compared to other brands.

Key specifications

Body style: Small hatchback
Engines: petrol
Price: From £25,265 on-road

Launched: Spring 2024
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Featured reviews

“The new petrol Mini Cooper S has the same charm and idiosyncrasies as its predecessors – which should make it as popular as ever. It’s impractical, true, and it looks expensive on paper. But rock-solid residuals are likely to mean competitive monthly payments and, truth is, there’s nothing of this size and price that can match the Mini’s mix of keen driving dynamics and stellar cabin finish. It’s flawed, yes, but oh so desirable with it.”

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic Cooper S

Score: 9 / 10

Read full review

Auto Express

John McIlroy

“The Mini Cooper hatchback is stylish inside and out and offers more affordable petrol engines compared with its eco-friendly electric alternative, but it’s not very practical.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 7 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

Tom Wiltshire

More reviews

Business Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Cooper must be the most stylish and well-resolved Mini hatch yet, but it’s not a cheap option, plus the rear and boot space remains compromised.”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Mini Cooper wasn’t reinvented in 2024, but it didn’t need to be, as it was always a class act and remains so. It still delivers huge driving fun, real character, and a cabin that now stands among the very best in the class. The downsides are predictable: it’s cramped in the back, the boot is small, and it gets pricey with options. But few small cars bring this much personality to the table, and for that reason the Cooper remains one of the best superminis you can buy today.”
Author: Ted Welford, Keith Adams
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview (petrol and electric)
Score: 8 / 10
“The car’s ride can be a little harsh and the Mini Cooper is not very practical, but those aspects have never really been the point and Mini now offers the larger Aceman. We think the Mini Cooper will prove as popular as ever, we just wish there was a manual version for added driver involvement.”
Author: Charlie Harvey, John McIlroy
Read review

Evo

Model reviewed: Cooper S
Score: 7 / 10
“As Mini pivots towards an all-electric future, the F66 signals the end of the line for the petrol Cooper S. It’s not the most effervescent and engaging model of the lineage – particularly with its standard gearbox configuration – but it combines its new design and tech with classic Mini dynamic traits. If that’s your hot hatch flavour of choice, you won’t find it anywhere else.”
Author: Yousuf Ashraf
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“All-new to look at, but a bit more familiar underneath, the latest generation of petrol-powered MINI Cooper majors on all the key points of its predecessors. This also means it has all the drawbacks of those earlier versions as well, but few choosing this car will get too hung up on that when it comes with a sack-full of fun, cheeky looks, and nifty driving manners.”
Author: Al Suttie
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“When you’re facelifting and upgrading one of the best-selling new cars on the market you’d better be particularly careful not to throw out the baby with the bath water, especially when it’s the MINI Cooper, which has always appealed every bit as much to the heart as the head. Happily, the new refreshed MINI Cooper is almost everything your heart desires and your head demands. Almost.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“If you’re looking for a fun and stylish small car, the new MINI Cooper is very hard to beat. Nobody makes cars of this size that are quite as charming to drive or look at as MINI, and this new car brilliantly continues where its successor left off.”
Author: Luke Wilkinson
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Mini’s tactic to replace its heartland hatch with a heavy facelift was a gamble, but it seems to have paid off.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: September 2025
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 83%
Child protection: 82%
Vulnerable road users: 81%
Safety assist: 77%

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of October 2025, the Mini Cooper has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score
Petrol models	47 mpg	C

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	136 g/km	C

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	23	B

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£159	A
Year 2	£432	A
Year 3	£695	A
Year 4	£935	A
Year 5	£1,236	A
Overall	£3,457	A

The Mini Cooper should be a pretty inexpensive car to own and run, according to long-term ownership costs data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our technical partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

Fuel consumption is only middling, which is somewhat disappointing for a small car. But servicing costs are very low, while insurance should also be very competitively priced.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of October 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the new Mini Cooper to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Cooper, we’ll publish the results here.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the Mini Cooper

Overall ratingD37%
New car warranty duration3 years
New car warranty mileageUnlimited miles
Battery warranty duration0 years
Battery warranty mileage0 miles

Mini’s new car warranty is pretty poor, and worse than rival brands in a similar price bracket as the Cooper. The duration is three years, with no limit on mileage. Some rivals are offering up to seven years.

Warranty on a used Mini Cooper

As of October 2025, all current Mini Coopers should still be covered by their new car warranty. The first Mini Coopers of this generation hit UK roads in early 2024, so they won’t reach the end of their warranty period until early 2027.

If you’re looking to buy any used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Mini Cooper

As of October 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Mini Cooper. However, recall information is updated very regularly, so this may have changed.

You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Mini dealer.