MINI Cooper review (2014-2024)

As with the outside, the interior of the MINI is instantly recognisable as one of the British firm’s offerings.

There’s a circular theme throughout, so circular vents abound on the dashboard for a start.

Ahead of the driver is a sporty three-spoke steering wheel and on top of the dashboard ahead of it sits an instrument pod.

This contains speed, revs, fuel level, coolant temperature and driving information.

In the centre of the dashboard sits a huge round instrument panel reminiscent of the speedometer in the first MINI (and earlier generations of the reborn MINI).

Tech and features

This infotainment centre contains the sat-nav system where one is fitted, plus the Bluetooth set-up and the audio system.

Below this sit the dials for the air-conditioning system, and at the bottom is a row of toggle-type switches that you simply need to flick.

The glass area is comparatively huge, so seeing out of the car is very easy indeed, helped by thin pillars.

Every MINI also exudes a feeling of quality, so the stuff you touch regularly, such as the door releases, indicator stalks, even the gearshift action, feel classy and smooth.

Driving the MINI Cooper is a lot like playing with an eager, obedient puppy. It somehow manages to fill every drive with a feeling of joy and of getting caught up in the moment.

Engines and power

The turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine pulls strongly away from rest. Earlier models also had a 1.5-litre diesel available, which isn’t as much fun but is quiet and economical on the motorway.

Handling and ride comfort

All MINIs have firm, short-travel suspension and quick steering that echoes go-kart rides.

No kart has ever been as comfortable as the MINI, though it's still noticeably go kart-like compared to many of its key rivals.

Quick steering also makes the MINI Cooper incisive in town and parking is amazingly easy.

The MINI Cooper is a low-driving car, so you’ll need to be fairly nimble to get into and out of it. Once you’re in there, though, there’s a fair amount of space up front.

There’s a huge amount of legroom up front so you can really enjoy the legs-out driving position. You sit quite low in the car, too, so there’s a surprising amount of headroom.

Rear seats

Things are a bit tighter in the back, where there’s less space than you’ll find in the Audi A1. Getting in and out of the back seat can be tricky.

There is a five-door version of the MINI Cooper, which is a bit longer and much easier to get into the back of.

Boot space

The five-door model also has a bigger boot, which is a welcome addition for families – standard MINIs aren’t known for their boot space.

Safety

The MINI Cooper is pretty safe and earned a four-star rating from crash test experts Euro NCAP when it was tested in 2014.

It was marked down slightly because it has an automatic braking system only as an option, not standard. The same applies to lane-departure warning.

Fuel economy

The MINI Cooper shouldn’t prove expensive to run – the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine is punchy and managed an official average of 52.3mpg, which is strong for a feisty petrol hatch.

If diesel is your preference, then the 1.5 model can manage an average of 74.3mpg.