We recently tested the all-new 2025 Mini Countryman and really liked the fresh style, updated interior and great performance. But it did make us beg the question, does something that big really qualify as “Mini”?
So, we were really excited to test the all-new 2025 MINI Cooper S 4-door. Much closer to the original MINI ethos, it brings loads of cheeky goodness that we love with the brand and takes it to a new level. We’ll admit it – we were delighted!
Fresh Look but still MINI
From first glance, you know this is a MINI Cooper, the diminutive size, the bulldog stance, a box with attitude!
Up front, the look is simplified with an integrated, color-keyed from bumper that spans the width of the grille. We really like the new horizontal daytime LED running lights with 4-horizontal lines inside traditional round headlamps that create a unique and friendly face. One thing that has changed, S models no longer have a unique hood scoop for added air, so the only way to know this is the upscale S is the tasteful badge on the grille.
Being a 5-door model, our tester was about 6 inches longer than the 3-door and is very close to the dimensions of the outgoing 5-door. A slightly longer wheelbase promises a bit more rear legroom and slightly smoother ride.
Really making the familiar profile pop are the 18-inch, Slide Spoke 2-Tone Summer wheels and tires, with a sharp aggressive look, and we really like the machined finish – we’re kind of over the blacked-out wheel thing.
One thing we’re not over is the cheeky two-tone paint scheme available on MINIs, and our Chili Red II paint with white roof and mirrors reminds us of the modern Coopers that bowed in 2002.
The rear is the most different angle, with very cool diamond-shaped taillights with Union Jack design – you can even adjust how the rear lights signal which is pretty cool! A black finisher spans the width of the hatch, and C O O P E R spelled out in big block letters – a fresh look that always reminds us of Range Rover and Land Rover models. The lower bumper pushes out and finishes with a cool contrasting lower black fascia. Overall, we love the all-new MINI, lots of traditional goodness, with just enough modernization to keep it exciting and fresh.
Exciting and Fresh Interior
The interior really takes a swing for the fences with a stunning new look.
Open the door, and immediately you see a definite step towards a more upscale experience. There’s a cool textile weave that lays across the dash, including the spot where the gauges used to go – no more.
Now everything is handled by an industry-first, high-resolution OLED display with intuitive touchscreen capabilities for control of navigation, media and more. It’s huge, but it’s not just the size that makes it the center of attention. The Cooper brings a new level of info-tainment to the in-car experience and does it in a cheeky, fun way that’s pure MINI.
You can toggle through different MINI “Experience Modes” from a performance-based Go Kart that gives sporting gauges, and even feeds an audio “wahoo!” as it loads in, plus different ones including Core, Vivid, Timeless, Green and more. Each of these modes also serves up a different ambient lighting, including a color projected on the dashboard fabric that’s very cool.
Maybe our favorite – there’s a lot to choose from – is the virtual canine assistant called Spike. This digital bulldog is super cute, and he’s even got an animated video clip which welcomes you as a new Mini Owner.
Connecting you physically are a great pair of front seats, with excellent support and Vescin Cloth gray/blue on our tester. Our tester had manual seats with no lumbar support (power with lumbar are optional) but were super comfy and once we found our driving position never fidgeted.
Ahead of the driver is a chunky leather-wrapped steering wheel that feels terrific in the hands, and an optional driver’s head-up display for key info. You’ll notice there’s no longer a shift lever – instead there’s a small analog control bar below the screen, and that controls shift lever, ignition (a cool turn-to-start toggle), experiences toggle and a volume knob (yay).
This brings up one issue – you really can’t control the shifting when you’re feeling sporty. Drop from D into L mode (or go to Go Kart experience) and you get more engine sound piped into the cabin, higher shift points and some cool blippy throttle stuff, though.
There is a work around here though, if you opt for the John Cooper Works Style package, you get a JCW sport steering wheel which includes paddles shifters to maximize your driving fun.
Less fun is the rear seat. OK, even with the 4-door model it’s tight. It might be the ticket with small kids, and especially child seats should be easier to load. And of course, there’s always the Countryman model if you really need more space. If you don’t plan to carry much, we like the proportions better in the 2-door, but we’re thankful MINI at least gives you a choice!
Small Car Big Fun
If the cute looks, great interior and amazing tech don’t already have you smiling, the driving experience is sure to win you over.
If you’re looking at the regular Cooper model (non S) you get a significant upgrade in the new model. Replacing last year’s 134 horsepower, 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder turbo is a new 2.0-liter, four cylinder with 161 horses. Our tester was the S model, and it retains a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder turbo, but picks up 12 horsepower for ’25 for a total of 201 hp. Torque is a stout 221 lb.-ft at just 1,450 rpm. While these are not huge numbers, the MINI weighs under 3,000 lb., a flyweight in 2025 terms.
And it’s a happy little engine that pulls hard, with a throaty exhaust note. Helping make most of the power is a standard 7-speed dual clutch auto transmission, and it pops of the shifts quickly and responds “right now” when you hit the gas. And it’s a good thing you get such a responsive transmission – it looks like MINI has discontinued the manual transmission, but we hold out hope for a special John Cooper Works model.
As we noted, switching over to Go Kart mode gives greater throttle response, more exhaust sound and downshift blipping that will make you smile. You can also toggle the transmission from “D” to “L” to get a similar response in the other drive modes.
Either way, the MINI skedaddles to 60 in just under 6 seconds, and in a small vehicle that sits low that feels extremely quick. Fun and thrifty, the MINI is rated at 32 mpg combined by the EPA, and you should be able to get close to 40 mpg freeway if you stay out of the turbo zone.
Handling is equally fun, and the response to the wheel is also “right now” and you slice and dice traffic like a Ginsu Knife on steroids, especially with the low-end turbo boost giving plenty of power at the tap of a toe. With the wheels set out far at the corners of the car, the MINI also serves up excellent grip, and this is a car that just begs you to go have fun!
The only downside we found was a bit of a firm ride – not a surprise in a small vehicle with a relatively short wheelbase and sporty suspension. You might want to slow down a bit for a speed bump, and if you live in area where the roads are heavily cratered it might be challenging. Take a good road test.
We also appreciated our tester’s around view monitor, which makes it easy to park – ok, not that hard in a such a small car, still, in tight city parking it’s great to have an extra pair of eyes all around you, and the optional Parking Assistant Plus makes it even easier.
It may be small, but it feels tough, with an impressive build quality, and an excellent armada of available safety equipment that you’d expect from BMW’s sibling brand. Included are available Active Blind Spot Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Front Collision Warning with Brake Intervention, Rear Cross Traffic Warning and Rear Collision Prevention and Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go Function. A total of 12 ultrasonic sensors envelope the MINI Cooper S 2-door to support driver assistance systems and increase driving safety.
MINI Price?
Well, this is a premium small car, so go in with reasonable expectations. The line up begins with the Cooper 2 Door, starting at $28,950. For a sporty, stylish experience you really can’t get anywhere else. That’s great value.
Like it’s sibling BMW, the higher up you go on the trim and option list, the more it will cost. Our Cooper S 4-door started at $35,600. Iconic Trim which includes Active Driving Assistant, Adaptive Cruise Control, Harmon Kardon Sound and Interior Camera added $1,700. Dynamic Damper Control was $500. Add in Destination for $995, and we rang the bell at $38,795.
Competition? Er…well, nothing is quite like the MINI, but for a small European we’d consider the VW GTI, a great drive, and a more serious driver’s car at $42,125. Less charming, though. The Audi A3 is an elegant small sedan, but at $46,040 it’s significantly more expensive. We also like the Acura Integra, similarly priced at $39,795, and underneath, it’s a Honda Civic so it would probably be significantly less expensive to keep running in the long term.
We’re delighted with the all-new 2025 MINI Cooper S, with its cheeky looks, new upscale interior, and engaging performance. It’s hard not to fall in love!
Ben Lewis grew up in Chicago, and after spending his formative years driving sideways in the winter – often intentionally – moved to sunny Southern California. He now enjoys sunny weather year-round — whether it is autocross driving, aerobatics, and learning to surf.