2012 MINI Cooper Coupe Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Overview
The rapidly growing MINI family offers a warm welcome to the cutest 2-seater on the road with the addition of the all-new 2012 MINI Cooper...
The rapidly growing MINI family offers a warm welcome to the cutest 2-seater on the road with the addition of the all-new 2012 MINI Cooper Coupe. Inside the cabin it's not at all different from the standard hard-top edition, with a few exceptions in the functionality department, but if it wasn't already obvious, the outside is quite a different story.
In a complete departure from everything we have come to know about MINI and BMW, the Coupe is designed on a three-box system rather than the usual two, and it offers a pop-up surprise once you hit 50 mph that no other MINI or BMW features. It's not just a cutesy gimmick, either—the pop-up spoiler serves a real purpose, trying to counter the Coupe's high-speed understeer that's most evident in the lower-shelf trims. The Coupe is heavier and slightly longer than any other Cooper with all of the reinforcements needed to remove the roof, so those lateral G's tend to push it around a little more than usual.
This fresh design also has a bit of a problem with steering torque in a few more spots than the usual Cooper breeds, due to the weight added forward to reinforce the chassis, even in the top-shelf John Cooper Works. The steeply sloped roof hinders outward visibility, and the spoiler doesn't help when it comes out to play, while the cloth roof expectedly lets in quite a bit of road noise.
The rear seat has been chopped out in favor of a small shelf for handbags and the like, which doubles as the primary reinforcement wall and ballast, while the hatchback trunk offers just shy of 10 cubic feet—about half what the hard-top offers with the rear seats folded down. The wall also has a locked pass-through with more handy cubbies, but it's a pretty safe bet anyone interested in the Coupe isn't especially concerned about such practicalities. The $2,000 premium for the Coupe over the hard-top could be a deal-killer when you're losing so much trunk and two seats.
This is a car built for one thing: kicks and giggles. The 2012 Coupe will be offered in the usual three flavors—Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works—with the usual three corresponding flavors of the standard MINI 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine. The base Cooper offers 121 hp and the best economy, with 29 mpg city/37 highway, but the turbo S pushes out another 60 hp for 181 at the cost of 2 mpg.
The John Cooper Works, on the other hand, is touted as the fastest box-stock MINI of all time, pushing out nearly twice the capacity of the base engine to make 208 hp, taking you to 60 in a zippy 6 seconds. Although the Coupe is 55 pounds heavier than its brothers, the JCW flavor does more than just get up and go—this track-tested toy tops out at 150 mph for high-speed conquest, too. However, all this power comes at the cost of an additional 2 mpg less than the S, for 25/33.
What owners say
"Overall, owners of the 2012 MINI Cooper Coupe find it to be a fun and powerful car that's enjoyable to drive, often describing it as a great choice for those seeking a sporty feel. They appreciate its solid build and economy, as well as its compact size and unique design. However, some drivers have pointed out downsides like the high insurance costs, limited interior space for taller individuals, and the absence of certain features like a premium sound system which they feel should be included for the price."
The car has all the features I want and is great fun to drive
March 18, 2024Great car , solid build , quick, very economical, I would say height wise no taller than 6’2” , I am 6’ And still have space. Only missing thing would be center console is not much but an after market one is available.
July 10, 2022It’s a great little mid life crisis car. Powerful and fun to drive handles like a rocket on rails
February 3, 2021What owners say
The car has all the features I want and is great fun to drive
March 18, 2024Great car , solid build , quick, very economical, I would say height wise no taller than 6’2” , I am 6’ And still have space. Only missing thing would be center console is not much but an after market one is available.
July 10, 2022It’s a great little mid life crisis car. Powerful and fun to drive handles like a rocket on rails
February 3, 2021Super cute car. Manual transmission easy to drive. Auto pop up spoiler. I am short 5’’, had to sit closer than I was comfortable with to engage clutch. Felt too closed in for my preference. Features were great. Hatch had lots of room for this size car. Definitely am liking the MINI Cooper.
April 28, 2021Great little car. Missing Harmon Kardan sound system, especially at this price point.
August 19, 2020Love the car; be prepared for sticker shock on the insurance premiums.
October 6, 2020I own a S2000 and took a Mini Cooper Coupe JCW for a test drive back in 2015 and loved how it felt similar to a S2000 but front wheel drive and always thought about getting one. And here i am now in 2021 with a 2012 Coupe JCW and loving it. They feel just like the hatchback version but chassis feels just a little stiffer with less body roll. Awesome car and glad that i was able to get it two days before my birthday!!
April 4, 2021Trims & specs
Base MSRP $31,900 | Seating 2 |
Engine 1.6L 208 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 9.8 cu ft |
Combined MPG 30 | Drivetrain FWD |
Base MSRP $25,300 | Seating 2 |
Engine 1.6L 181 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 9.8 cu ft |
Combined MPG 30 | Drivetrain FWD |
Base MSRP $22,000 | Seating 2 |
Engine 1.6L 121 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 9.8 cu ft |
Combined MPG 33 | Drivetrain FWD |
