2005 MINI Cooper Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Expert review
The 2005 MINI Cooper is a fun, stylish car with plenty to like.
The new MINI Cooper, though nowhere near as “mini” as the original, is still a quirky, fun car with an attitude all of its own. Its revival a few years back by BMW means the name on the dealership might not be familiar, but the cute little cars on the lot will be instantly recognizable. The Cooper is offered as either a hardtop hatchback or a convertible for the 2005 model year, both of which are offered as a base model and a sportier “S” model. There is a separate John Cooper Works model with an even hotter engine. The JCW, as its known, combines the retro styling with modern sports car go-fast parts to make a subcompact car with real attitude.
Two engines are on offer: a 1.6-liter inline-four-cylinder that produces 115 horsepower and 111 pound-feet of torque and an upgraded supercharged 1.6-liter that produces 168 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. The base engine is available with a five- or six-speed manual transmission or with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The hotter powerplant is available with either a six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed automatic transmission. All models are front-wheel drive.
The Cooper’s trims are broken down by body style and powertrain. Both the hatchback and convertible are available as a standard car, a Cooper CVT, and a Cooper S. The MINI is targeted at new-car buyers that want a fun, quirky car. The MINI Cooper competes against the Fiat 500, Volkswagen Beetle, Volkswagen Golf, and Ford Fiesta. Buyers may also consider the Toyota Corolla, Mazda Mazda3, Honda Civic, or Nissan Sentra.
out of 10 expert review
Look & feel
Take one look, and there’s no mistaking what’s in front of you. The MINI Cooper is one of those things in life that happily remains the same, no matter what’s changing or going on around it. It’s grown over the years, but the Cooper still sports the round headlights, rounded shape, and somewhat small stature that defined the original cars.
The Cooper’s interior is equally as quirky, though nowhere near as cute as the cars upon which it’s based. The gauge cluster is split between a small central gauge behind the steering wheel and a large, round speedometer that sits atop the stereo. That, combined with the tight interior dimensions, gives the MINI a cartoony look that doesn’t fit with its premium aspirations.
Performance
No matter which MINI Cooper you choose, the driving experience is going to be sporty. The Cooper S is the choice for enthusiasts, but its overly-firm ride can make it tough to live with on a daily basis. The car’s BMW roots shine through in its precise power steering and firm braking, and it seems to handle like a go-kart at times. It's no Porsche, but it'll get the job done.
The upgraded Cooper S engine is far more potent than the 115-hp base mill, and provides more than ample power, thanks to its supercharger. There’s nothing mind-blowing here, but the car picks up speed eagerly, especially in the mid-range areas between 30 mph and 60 mph. The supercharged engine makes a healthy noise under full throttle, which is made even more pronounced in Cooper S Convertible models with the top down.
Form & function
There are sacrifices to be made with a car like the Cooper, but they’re at least easy to see going in. Though it technically has a rear seat, the MINI’s overall size will pose challenges to owners with more than one other person to haul around on a daily basis, and cargo space in the convertible models is laughable. At least the hatchback offers fold-down back seats.
The MINI's small size and low ride height make entry and exit challenging, though the car’s doors are small and easy to handle in tight spots. The hatchback’s roofline sits low, which can make loading people and gear more difficult than it needs to be.
Technology
Standard tech in the 2005 MINI Cooper includes a CD stereo with six speakers, power windows and door locks, remote keyless entry, and air conditioning. Available tech includes a Harman Kardon stereo with eight speakers, xenon headlights, a navigation system, a power sunroof, dynamic stability control, cruise control, heated seats, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
Several of the best options are held back in added-cost options, both standalone and in packages. Each adds a considerable amount to the Cooper’s bottom line.
Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the MINI Cooper "good" in moderate overlap front crashworthiness and "marginal" for its head restraints and seats. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated it four stars in all categories, including rollover resistance.
Standard safety gear includes traction control, power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes, antilock brakes, six airbags, Mini Advanced Head Protection System, battery terminal impact cut-off, smart airbag sensors, tire pressure monitoring, and child-seat anchors.
Cost-effectiveness
The MINI Cooper’s starting MSRP of just $17,500 after destination sounds like a deal, but take a step back and the picture becomes less clear. Options are expensive, numerous, and required to obtain the most desirable features. From that base price, the Cooper’s price tag can grow quickly, as MINI offers several attractive upgrades for the car. The best part is that there's a MINI Cooper convertible for people wanting an open-air experience, and there's also the used-car market for people put off by the expensive options, where plenty of off-lease MINIs end up at discount prices.
The MINI Cooper’s gas-mileage estimates are competitive and align with what is expected from a small-but-sporty car. In its base form, the car returns combined fuel economy of 28 mpg, the best of the range. Unsurprisingly, it’s the Cooper S variants that get the worst gas mileage of the line, with combined fuel economy estimated at 24 mpg.
What owners say
"Overall, owners of the 2005 MINI Cooper appreciate its sporty handling, compact size, and fun driving experience. Many drivers enjoy its economical gas mileage and unique styling, making it a standout choice for city driving and short trips. However, some have concerns about its power, comfort, and durability, particularly regarding rattling parts and limited interior space. Several owners noted the need for careful maintenance due to repair costs."
Being made by BMW means build quality is superb. Go-kart quick steering response is great for on-ramps and twisties. Six speed Getrag transmission is extremely smooth shifting with a clutch on the lighter side in terms of effort. Turn the wheel and the car sticks. No power understeer; slight off power oversteer, but that's a good thing and rare for a FWD car. All in all its a fun little car that gets great gas mileage while also delivering awesome performance.
October 11, 2010It's absolutely the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Period! It corners as if on rails, it accelerates like being shot of a canon, and it looks fast even sitting still. Bets overall car I have ever owned!
August 2, 2009Acceleration, braking and handling will give any $100+ thousand dollar sports car a good run for the money. Know that if you ever purchase one of these cars you WILL EXPERIENCE CONSTANT RATTLES. Run flat tires can be a bit costly as any flat requires the entire tire to be replaced in most cases. The warranty and maintenance program on these cars are superb.
January 3, 2009What owners say
Being made by BMW means build quality is superb. Go-kart quick steering response is great for on-ramps and twisties. Six speed Getrag transmission is extremely smooth shifting with a clutch on the lighter side in terms of effort. Turn the wheel and the car sticks. No power understeer; slight off power oversteer, but that's a good thing and rare for a FWD car. All in all its a fun little car that gets great gas mileage while also delivering awesome performance.
October 11, 2010It's absolutely the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Period! It corners as if on rails, it accelerates like being shot of a canon, and it looks fast even sitting still. Bets overall car I have ever owned!
August 2, 2009Acceleration, braking and handling will give any $100+ thousand dollar sports car a good run for the money. Know that if you ever purchase one of these cars you WILL EXPERIENCE CONSTANT RATTLES. Run flat tires can be a bit costly as any flat requires the entire tire to be replaced in most cases. The warranty and maintenance program on these cars are superb.
January 3, 2009Perfect size for a single person, good on gas, I like the color and I think the features it has are good enough
August 7, 2020Loved everything!!! Very reliable, so much fun to drive, the most engaging car I've ever had!!! Absolutely astonishing vehicle, a lot of car for the money... I owned a lot of luxury, high end vehicles in my life and this car became my absolute favorite almost immediately, so much that my new car is now a 2011 Mini Cooper S.
March 17, 2014This was the first Mini that I have owned. I found this mini with only 38000 miles on it with the right trim package. It was just under the John Cooper Works. Totally fun to drive and plenty of room for a 6' 1" driver. The fit and finish of the interior was really nice and it kept that european feel as well. I would recommend driving or owning one.
February 13, 2014As of the summer of 2005, my mom's A4 had racked up more than 100,000 miles. Time for her to switch out, my dad thought. And since it was her 50th birthday, and my parents' 25th wedding anniversary, he decided to get something special. Which is what he did. Since we lived in France and saw the iconic original Mini still roaming the streets in hoards, she always envisioned herself as an old lady in a Mini. Since she's not old, I told my dad to check out the Mini Cooper S, catering to her "Momma Leadfoot" nickname. Other "mandatory" options for my mother included the Premium pack (sunroof, heated seats, auto AC, Xenons), 6-speed manual, and harman/kardon stereo. The dealer, Mini of Fairfield County, had one in Red with White Roof and Racing Stripes, on order, and since Minis were a hot commodity, we snapped it right up. There were a couple extras, such as the Sport pkg, and driving lights, but all in all it was a very well-rounded sports car for $25k, a bargain compared to the MkII Cooper S. I'm not going to lie, the car looks ridiculous on first glance. People who don't know cars says its too girly, but how many girly cars do you know have racing stripes, driving lights (just like a 1960s rally Cooper), 2-piece wheels with 45-series run-flats, and a supercharged-4/6-speed Getrag manual combo that goes 0-60 in just over 6 seconds? I'm not trying to hit on my mother, but show me a 20-something girl with that kind of ride and I'll buy her dinner. The notion of a girly car is dispelled whenever you climb into the body-hugging seats. The car isn't terribly comfortable if you're over 6-ft, but that's not a problem for me. The diminutive 3-spoke multifunction wheel lets you know that you're driving 1/2 a normal-sized car. The upright windshield is definitely distinctive, as is the giant center-mounted speedometer. My advice: make sure the on-board computer, which resides in the tach housing in front of the steering wheel, is set to show speed, as you will quickly find yourself in trouble with the law if you're not accustomed to looking @ the center speedo - especially in an arrest-me red sports car. The car begs to be driven hard and fast. My attempts to drive it sedately are met with embarrassing jerkiness, and any attempts to go faster are met with a stern "Slow Down!" from my mother. Needless to say, the problem goes away if I am driving alone or with my dad. The ride is what you would expect of a short wheelbase car w/ stiff suspension, and 45-series runflats: harsh. And because of that, I am reminded that this $25k car was designed to be profitable at $15k, with a myriad of squeaks and rattles evident by 3.5 years and 30,000 miles of use. Fuel economy is supposed to be the point of a Mini, and the supercharger saps any efficiency that the Tritec had, which wasn't much. I averaged just 31 mpg on a trip to VT once in the summer time, barely better than the 10-year-old Audi I was driving at the time, which weights 700 lbs more with AWD and a 2.8L V6. And the short gearing of the car amounted to 3000 rpm at 70 mph, and you can hear the engine droning away all day long. Lastly, despite the snow tires, the throttle can be tricky in the snow, sometimes providing more power than intended, spinning the fronts and activating the stability control Still, not bad given the immense driving satisfaction that I get when I drive it. The supercharger whine and exhaust note are spine-tingling, and the steering and shift action both have a natural heft about their action. It remains to be seen whether or not I would consider getting a Mini of my own, but in the meantime I enjoy the drive whenever I get the chance to get behind the wheel of this one.
January 20, 2009This car still makes me smile every time I see it, and every time I drive it. Yes it runs on Premium, but that tank lasts me 2.5 weeks vs every week with my previous F150. I can't recommend the MINI enough. Love it!
July 4, 2008Great fun to drive, nice every day car, just likes to be driven.
April 15, 2008Excellent vehicle...mods helped a great deal.
March 27, 2008Trims & specs
Base MSRP $22,000 | Seating 4 |
Engine 1.6L 115 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 5.8 cu ft |
Combined MPG 28 | Drivetrain FWD |
Base MSRP $25,450 | Seating 4 |
Engine 1.6L 168 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 5.8 cu ft |
Combined MPG 25 | Drivetrain FWD |
Base MSRP N/A | Seating N/A |
Engine N/A | Cargo Capacity N/A |
Combined MPG N/A | Drivetrain N/A |
Base MSRP $17,500 | Seating 4 |
Engine 1.6L 115 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 5.3 cu ft |
Combined MPG 28 | Drivetrain FWD |
Base MSRP $20,950 | Seating 4 |
Engine 1.6L 168 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 5.3 cu ft |
Combined MPG 25 | Drivetrain FWD |
