2023 MINI Cooper Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Available as a two-door hatchback, four-door hatch, or two-door convertible, the MINI Cooper resembles no other modern car. This third-generation model is larger than the first 2002 model (and positively gigantic compared to the 1959 BMC Mini that inspired it) due to increased safety regulations and customer expectations. Yet today’s MINI Cooper is still a few centimetres shorter than a Mazda MX-5. These are tiny cars we’re talking about here. A Toyota Camry looks positively mammoth next to a MINI.

A bug-eyed little bulldog is an accurate description of a two-door Cooper. It’s short, squat, and stretches its tires to the furthest corners of the body to maximize space, just like the original 1959 Mini. Dressed in stripes, multicolour roofs, and loud colours, the Cooper is just cute. The design is textbook perfect in its simplicity and authenticity. No other small car has a rear end so short and a roof so flat. Despite BMW’s stoic, extremely buttoned-down managers overseeing it, MINI is always playful and dressed down. For 2023, the Cooper comes with a gradient paint effect that on our car faded from red to white to green. On 18-inch wheels with big red brake calipers and red mirrors, our Cooper JCW was a life-size windup toy.

Our test car’s interior was only slightly more grown up, sporting Chesterfield leather seats, a classic saddle tan upholstery with diamond-patterned double stitching and white piping. The seats are sculpted and very supportive. The giant circle on the dash with its inset touchscreen is like a ship’s porthole, while the toggle switches above and below, separated by metal loops, resemble old soundboards. The best analog connection, though, is the long manual gear shifter and clutch pedal, a setup MINI offers on multiple Cooper trims. Fit, finish, and quality are high. The interior may be abstract, but it never feels cheap.

For 2023, Cooper S and electric SE models can be ordered in the Resolute Edition which features Rebel Green paint from the JCW model with a white roof and mirror caps, plus special hood stripes, unique wheels, and bronze accents. But the regular MINI Cooper SE, an all-electric model distinguished by yellow mirrors, a yellow accent around a covered grille, and four-spoke wheels that look like squares, might be even rarer. It’s MINI, after all.

Our JCW is the quickest Cooper—with the most powerful engine. The 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four produces power specs of 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine is unique to the JCW but not to MINI. It’s shared with certain BMW models sold in other markets. That’s a good thing because BMW makes fantastic engines. They rev smoothly, exhibit no harshness or uncouth vibrations, and pull strongly even in top gear. Turbo lag is minor. In a small car weighing under 1,400 kilograms, this is plenty of engine.

Clutch take-up in the six-speed manual transmission is abrupt enough that lifting off the pedal will move the car without any throttle. This is ideal for teaching someone to drive a manual transmission, but less ideal to launch smoothly from a stop. Once you master the proper throttle application, you’ll need to memorize the long throws, especially going from fourth to fifth, which requires a harder shove to the upper corner of the gearbox’s linkage than we’re used to giving. It’s all good fun, though, and it’s great to be in full control. In Sport mode, the engine also automatically rev matches on downshifts for the smoothest-possible deceleration. An eight-speed automatic transmission is also available and feels just as engaging with hard rasps belting through the exhaust when shifting.

Base MINI Cooper models have a 1.5-litre inline-three turbo engine with 134 hp and 162 lb-ft. Cooper S models have a detuned version of the JCW four-cylinder engine with 189 hp and 206 lb-ft. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is an optional part of the powertrain on these models. If you won’t spring for the JCW, we recommend a manual S since the inline-three is meant for the slow lane. All versions of the MINI Cooper 3-door and 5-door have a front-wheel drive (FWD) drivetrain.

Fuel economy is the three-cylinder’s strongest suit. In the two-door Hardtop with the manual, it’s rated at 8.6 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 6.3 on the highway, and 7.6 combined (and 8.2/6.2/7.3 with the automatic). A manual Cooper S is still good at 10.3/7.0/8.8, but the automatic hits 8.5/6.2/7.5. The JCW is 10.7/7.5/9.3 with the manual and 9.3/6.9/8.2 with the automatic. Those are poor for such a small car, but you’re paying for power.

The electric MINI Cooper SE is rated at 183 kilometres of range and has similar output to the gasoline Cooper S. Launched for the 2020 model year, it’s mostly unchanged for 2023.

The JCW’s handling is enjoyable and cornering is flat, thanks to a stiff suspension and adaptive dampers, but every MINI is nimble. Considering its puny dimensions and light weight, the Cooper doesn’t steer with immediacy. It feels a beat or two behind your desired angle. This detracts from the “go-kart” experience MINI promises in its advertising. It’s not as reactive or fun as it should be. The ride is also firm. The brakes are very impressive and more than a few times saved our co-driver from meeting the back of another MINI.

Outward visibility in the MINI Hardtop is good and the front seats offer plenty of legroom and headroom. The rear bench on the two-door model should be avoided, as should the cargo hold which measures just 254 litres. With the seats folded, it’s 962 litres. In four-door Cooper models, that expands to 368 litres and 1,160 litres with the seats up and down, respectively. This car is called a MINI for a reason.

Convertible models have only 226 litres of cargo space before folding the rear seats. But the convertible’s tailgate has some helpful features. It folds down like a pickup truck tailgate for unobstructed access. Two prop bars lift the soft top’s rear section up and out of the way, while two handles in the trunk release the rear seat backs. It’s a weird setup but remarkably helpful when you actually need to load something in the back of the tiny convertible.

Another convertible surprise are roof rails that let the fabric section slide back like a big sunroof. It’s really nice on faster roads so you can soak up some sun and wind while having a real conversation with your passenger. Also, just like a power sunroof, you can operate it at speed.

MINI’s instrument panel, or rather, the screen mounted to the steering column, has a matte finish that helps with glare but softens the central display so it’s tougher to read. The infotainment system uses both a touchscreen and buttons on the console, but those buttons are located too far down and out of sight. The glowing ring on the dashboard porthole that houses the touchscreen is more than a gimmick, at least. It’s a dancing light that mimics your every move. Rev the engine and it’ll become a secondary tachometer with a redline. Turn up the volume, adjust the climate controls, activate the parking sensors, and more—it’ll respond in kind. It seems cheesy but it’s oddly helpful in daily driving.

An 8.8-inch touchscreen comes standard, along with Apple CarPlay (Android Auto is unavailable), SiriusXM satellite radio, connected apps, LED headlights and British Union Jack-patterned taillights, rain-sensing wipers, and manual seats.

In addition to those standard features, Cooper S models in Premier 2.0 trim add a panoramic moonroof and heated leatherette seats. Wireless phone charging and a head-up display—which is really bad since it’s a pop-up piece of plastic—are only available on the Premier+ 2.0 trim. A heated steering wheel is a standalone option.

The infotainment system uses reskinned BMW iDrive software that’s several versions old. The home screen can show the map and music side by side. Settings are easy to adjust. But if you’re used to the slick interface and incredible features in any new BMW, you won’t find them in a new MINI. What the Cooper does have is an Openometer (tracking how long the convertible top stays open, down to the minute), a “checkup” that shows a MINI with sunglasses on it, and cartoonish sounds and chimes.

The MINI Cooper comes standard with eight airbags, including two front knee airbags, plus rear parking sensors, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. But blind-spot monitoring and many of the safety features available in other similarly priced cars aren’t available.

Befitting MINIs mantra as a driver’s car, there is no semi-automated driving assist or parking assistance, but adaptive cruise control is available on certain versions with the automatic transmission.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not rated the MINI Cooper. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) last published safety ratings for the 2014 model, which is structurally identical to the 2023 MINI Cooper, giving it the highest “good” rating in five out of its six crash tests (no rating for the sixth test was published).

The 2023 MINI Cooper starts at a new car price of $36,706 in Canada including a $2,245 destination charge. It’s easy to push 40 or even 50 grand in a MINI model with a few options; our two-door JCW Mini Cooper Hardtop would sticker for a new vehicle price of $57,231 with destination. Compared to other cars this small, a MINI is very expensive. But no other cars this small deliver so much style and customization. And none can match the power and quickness of the MINI John Cooper Works.

Note: Images show a US model.