2005 MINI Cooper Reviews, Pricing & Specs

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$17,500 to $25,450

Original MSRP

7.3
of 10

expert review

4.5

avg user rating

(44 reviews)
7.3
out of 10
expert review
Look & feel
8/10
Technology
8/10
Performance
8/10
Safety
6/10
Form & function
7/10
Cost-effectiveness
7/10
2005 MINI Cooper Test Drive Review summaryImage

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.

8/10

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.

Chris Teague
Published May 25, 2021 by Chris Teague
Chris is an automotive journalist covering new vehicle reveals, news, and technology. He loves digging into the details to tell entertaining and informative stories.

User reviews for 2005 MINI Cooper

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User rating:
by Johan C
Apr 11, 2022
Minis are wonderful cars although with excesive electronics, but then all post 2000 vehicles suffer this problem. The model Ss got a hpw boost in 2007 and this led to increased risk for the 2007- 2008 model years, after which the design flaw was corrected. The older the Mini the less electronics and the lower the risk of an electronic failure.Apr 11, 2022
by Michele W
Apr 29, 2021
It needs to be a manual transmission and low milage Many cars online say they are manual, but are not. Apr 29, 2021
by Ginny K
Dec 29, 2020
Overall it’s a reliable car and is a blast to drive however if you live in an area that gets heavy snowfall it might be best to get the model that is higher off the ground, both are suitable for light snowDec 29, 2020

2005 MINI Cooper Pricing

Original MSRP
$17,500 to $25,450
Price range
N/A
Average price on CG
N/A
YoY price change
N/A

Trims & specs

Air Conditioning

Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags

Audio System

Single disc in-Dash CD · Premium Brand: Harman-Kardon · AM/FM radio

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel

Comfort Features

Steering wheel trim: leather

Convenience Features

Multi-function remote: trunk release · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable

Lights

Headlights: Xenon

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: heated · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic

Rear Seats

Type: bench

Roof

Sunroof: power panoramic

Safety

Parking sensors: rear

Seats

Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: vinyl

Tires and Rims

Wheel type: aluminum alloy · Wheels: alloy

Windows

Front wipers: rain sensing · Rear wiper: intermittent

Air Conditioning

Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags

Audio System

Single disc in-Dash CD · Premium Brand: Harman-Kardon · AM/FM radio

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel

Comfort Features

Steering wheel trim: leather

Convenience Features

Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable

Lights

Headlights: Auto on/off

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic

Rear Seats

Type: bench

Roof

Sunroof: power panoramic

Safety

Parking sensors: rear

Seats

Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather

Tires and Rims

Wheel type: aluminum alloy · Wheels: alloy

Windows

Front wipers: rain sensing · Rear wiper: intermittent

Air Conditioning

Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Front side airbags

Audio System

Single disc in-Dash CD · Premium Brand: Harman-Kardon · AM/FM radio

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel

Comfort Features

Steering wheel trim: leather

Convenience Features

Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable

Lights

Headlights: Auto on/off

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic

Rear Seats

Type: bench

Roof

Convertible roof: power

Safety

Parking sensors: rear

Seats

Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: vinyl

Tires and Rims

Wheel type: aluminum alloy · Wheels: alloy

Windows

Front wipers: intermittent

Air Conditioning

Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Front side airbags

Audio System

Single disc in-Dash CD · Premium Brand: Harman-Kardon · AM/FM radio

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel

Comfort Features

Steering wheel trim: leather

Convenience Features

Multi-function remote: trunk release · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable

Lights

Headlights: Xenon

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic

Rear Seats

Type: bench

Roof

Convertible roof: soft top

Safety

Parking sensors: rear

Seats

Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: vinyl

Tires and Rims

Wheel type: aluminum alloy · Wheels: alloy

Windows

Front wipers: rain sensing

See all trims (4)