Name: Mini Cooper (2024) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Mini Cooper
Rating: 66.0

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 ICE-powered range 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.

We’ll continue to update this page as more information is published. As of January 2025, the Mini Cooper holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 66%.

Key specifications

Body style: Small hatchback
Engines: petrol
Price: From £23,150 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.

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic Cooper S
Score: 9 / 10
“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.”
Author: John McIlroy
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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
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Car+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Mini might not have reinvented the wheel with its new petrol Cooper, but it has improved an already-winning package as part of this new generation. It’s still great fun to drive, even if there’s no manual, and easily has the best interior of any small car.”
Author: Ted Welford
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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
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Carwow+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“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.”
Author: Tom Wiltshire
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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
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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
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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

No safety rating

As of January 2025, the Mini Cooper has not been crash tested by Euro NCAP.

Although it’s based on the same platform as the previous-generation Mini hatch, there have been plenty of updates and modifications, so the old model’s Euro NCAP rating is not a useful guide to how well the new model may perform when Euro NCAP tests it.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

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

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of January 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.

Running cost rating

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

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	47 mpg	C	47 – 47 mpg	C – C

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	136 g/km	B	136 – 136 g/km	B – B

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	23	B	21 – 35	A – C

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.