MINI Cooper (2006 - 2013) Reviews, Pricing & Specs

I just bought my first MINI, a 2012 base model with 76000 miles in pepper white. This car was very well kept for its age and I had seen many that werent. It has many things you wouldnt expect for the price point, like ambient lighting, basic technology like bluetooth, radio, and aux. There are some things that are a bit of a learning curve like the switches for the window located in the middle and uniquely layed out controls, but all of this is expected with a non American car and in my opinion makes it special. One thing I heard a lot was that sound system without the updated Harman kardon was muddy and awful. I dont think this is true. Its pretty decent in my opinion and I had bose in my last car, just dont expect it to blow your socks off. The base model without turbo doesnt have a ton of power, which is a given, but with the car being light it is pretty peppy. The sport mode also makes a big difference and allows smooth transition. It also takes tight turns and winding roads like a champ. The turn radius on the thing is awesome. If youre looking for a fun car with decent mpg and nice looks this is the one. Sep 14, 2020

If you want a really enjoyable driving experience in a small, used hatchback in the US, you really only have six choices: the Mazdaspeed 3; the VW GTI; the last gen Suburu WRX and WRX STi or the MINI Cooper "S" and JCW. The Cooper "S" isn't the fastest, but it has that magical combination of "feel" + performance + design that's truly hard to beat. (I have excluded the Ford Focus ST and Fiesta ST, because they are so rare as used cars as of this writing). I drove all of them and ranked them as follows, purely on everyday driveability and that unquantifiable fun factor, as follows: 1. Cooper "S"; 2. GTI; 3. JCW; 4. WRX; 5. Mazdaspeed 3; and 6. WRX STI. Realizing that such rankings are highly personal and subjective, I won't bore you with all the variables that mattered to me, but suffice it to say, I purchased the MINI Cooper "S." I have not regretted the decision for one moment. It really is an amazing little car that rides and handles superbly.Sep 02, 2014

I really dont know where to start with this car. Its amazing in every way. If your a fan of back road driving and twisty turns this is it! It might not be a family car because of the lack of space but for a personal car this one should be on the top along with the other minis in its class. The performance on this MINI is top notch with handling like a professional race car. A modified suspension from MINI factory to give it tight turns and feeling in the wheel. There is total control with this car. The supercharger and cold air intake with the reduction pulley give this car top performance in the racing field. Always power under the hood no matter what speed you are at. If you are looking for a fun over all car to get you from home to work or school or anywhere while looking sporty this is it. The style of the MINI has a fun cheerful attitude with loads of goodness inside. I have never had a dull moment with this car! SO MUCH FUN!! The gas milage is sweet when you drive it normally or even hard every now and then. There is a larger blind spot in the back because of the smaller window but its no big deal when you have side mirrors with the extra wide viewing mirrors too. I can say for sure I feel really safe in this car as well. The body is reenforced to support the convertible as well as airbags everywhere needed. I love this car thats the most I can say. :) I know you will love it too. If you are a MINI person then any mini will do really but this one is extra special with almost everything you can have in the mini! :) May 27, 2014

The name Cooper is highly regarded in Mini circles, what with world-championship racing car producer John Cooper having lavished his skills on the original car and BMW wisely reestablishing the name Cooper S for the hot version of its latter-day Mini. Super fun to drive! Really fast and easy to maneuver though traffic. Flashy and sporty. Limited edition, so very few on the road.Aug 21, 2013

I really like that the car is small. It makes it lightweight so the power it comes with makes it a pretty quick car. It also has a really nice exhaust note which surprises many unassuming people. The power coming out of turns is unmatched in this class. There is nothing to really complain about the car. I guess you can say it needs a bit more room, but the point of the car is to be small, not a people mover. Although, the rear interior did surprise some people. It was a lot bigger than people thought it was.Jun 07, 2013

I have wanted a MINI for a long time. The car is amazing, very high sharp handling and all the amenities of a luxury car. It is so much fun to drive. I am only getting around 33mpg overall maybe because the car begs to be driven. With the back seats folded down there is plenty of space for trips to Lowe's. I especially like the 3 year no cost maintenance and the 4/50 bumper to bumper warranty. I have never had so much fun with any car than the MINI Copper. It is excellent all-around with great performance. One negative point: When the car was near 800 miles I had to call road side assistance due to a power failure. According to MINI the radio was improperly installed at the factory and eventually drained the battery. It took close to two weeks to get a replacement radio from Germany. Besides that the customer service in all areas was magnificent. I was just worried about this hiccup because none of my Honda's have ever failed me in any capacity. Jul 08, 2011

Performance- The performance is amazing. Because the car weighs next to nothing, the little 4 cylinder can propel this car forward at a ridiculous rate. It also handles like a go-kart, there is a reason why this car was featured the way it is in The Italian Job. Build Quality- The car is built really well. Everything feels solid and there are no wonky plastic parts. Appearance- It looks like nothing on the road and with all the customization options, you can really make your MINI a unique car. The interior takes some getting used to but after using the car for a few weeks you will be able to use the controls blindfolded. Cost of Ownership- With a great maintenance program from BMW (who owns MINI) the cost of owning a MINI only boils down to tires and fuel. Unfortunately it runs on premium so your trips to the pump may be a little pricey. But considering it gets 40+ mpg, you wont be making those trips often. Fun factor- The MINI is so much fun. Both from a performance perspective and from a social perspective. Take a test drive to see what I mean about the performance. Socially you will experience a huge network of owners from all over the US. Aug 17, 2010

This is my dream car!! Everytime I accelerate I feel as if I am racing someone, the engine revs up and its just amazing!! MINI has great road-side assistance and the people always have you in mind when dealing with any issues. The gas mileage is unbelievable! 32 city 40 highway. It is adorable and yet fierce at the same time, and no two MINI's are alike, sooo many custom options!! BUY ONE, YOU'LL LOVE IT!Mar 14, 2009

I have a close friend that owns a Mini Cooper S. He's a salesman that travels all over town on a daily basis. He absolutely loves his Mini and can't say enough about it. When he bought it a year ago he dropped by the house and let me take it for a spin. This was an incredibly fun car to drive. It was quick and very responsive in many respects. The twin-turbo pushes you through traffic with ease. It handled amazingly well to boot. I'm sure I'd be able to serpentine the narrowist of cones. Besides, he says it gets 30-32 mpg on average. Not bad for this little performance package.Jun 29, 2007