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Mini Cooper

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Mini Cooper Review, For Sale, Colours, Interior & Models in Australia

There are few more famous cars in the world than the Mini Cooper, which was reinvented under new owners BMW in 2001.

Despite its new German masters, Mini hatchbacks and crossovers are built in the company's Oxford, UK plant. From humble three-door origins in 2001, the Mini line-up has grown to incorporate an array of bodystyles and sizes, from the larger but still small Mini One right through to the Mini Countryman SUV, which is in its latest guise the largest Mini ever made. What hasn't changed for the still-cool Mini brand, though, is the level of personalisation that can be added to make the car truly yours.

Current prices range from $28,800 to $39,950 for the Cooper S and Cooper S, respectively.

This vehicle is also known as Mini (marque).

Mini Cooper Models Price and Specs

The price range for the Mini Cooper varies based on the trim level you choose. Starting at $16,830 and going to $44,550 for the latest year the model was manufactured. The model range is available in the following body types starting from the engine/transmission specs shown below.

Year Body Type Specs Price from Price to
2018 Hatchback 1.5L, PULP, 6 SP MAN $16,830 $44,550
2017 Hatchback 1.2L, PULP, 6 SP MAN $13,860 $44,550
2016 Hatchback 1.2L, PULP, 6 SP MAN $12,430 $40,040
2015 Hatchback 1.2L, PULP, 6 SP MAN $11,990 $36,520
2014 Hatchback 1.6L, PULP, 6 SP MAN $9,790 $31,900
See All Mini Cooper Pricing and Specs

Mini Cooper Colours

The regular Cooper Classic is offered in just four colours – Pepper White, Chili Red, Island Blue and Midnight Black, while the Classic Plus adds British Racing Green, Moonwalk Grey and White Silver.

  • Pepper White
  • Chili Red
  • Island Blue
  • Midnight Black
To confirm current colour availability, please check the manufacturer's website. Shown above are the colours for the Mini Cooper 2022.

Mini Cooper Q&As

Check out real-world situations relating to the Mini Cooper here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.

  • Is it hard to get the charger off a Mini Cooper?

    Hi Jeanie, assuming you mean the turbo-charger, it is located at the front of the engine, behind the heat shield. It isn't too difficult for an experienced BMW/Mini mechanic to do the job, but the turbo itself may be expensive to replace if it is seized, and you may also be faced with high hourly labour rates going to a BMW/Mini specialist, so do shop around. Please do ensure that you speak to a specialist who has worked on Minis before.

    Here's a top tip: assuming also that your Mini is from 2007 to 2014 (R55 through to R60 series), call up Peugeot specialists too, as the 'Prince' engine in Mini turbos is exactly the same as the ones used in some Peugeot 207, 308, 508 and RCZ models from about 2007 to 2015. Later Minis (from 2014 to date with an 'F' designation like F56) use an entirely different engine, so if that's yours, disregard the Peugeot specialist.

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  • Is a new Kia Cerato a good 2015 Mini Cooper replacement?

    You can get a good feel for a car’s quality simply by looking at things like the paint finish, the panel fit, the feel of the doors as they open and shut, the touch of the trim and plastics in the cabin. Kia’s quality is generally good; I can’t see any reason why you should be disappointed with the Cerato.

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  • What electric car should I buy?

    We can understand your feelings about the centrally-mounted screen in the Tesla, though you do get used to it surprisingly quickly.

    As for the other models you’ve mentioned, we’ve had to get the crystal ball out to attempt to answer you!

    The Polestar 2 will be on sale by the end of 2020, if all goes to plan. The company will be pushing hard to make that happen. 

    The VW ID3 is likely not going to be here until 2021, likely the mid or latter part of that year. It certainly has a lot of potential, and with pricing set to start below $50,000, it could well be The People’s (Electric) Car. 

    There are other options coming, though it depends on your diary and your budget.

    You could consider the Tesla Model S, which may have been around for a while, but that also means it has a more traceable reliability history. It has a digital instrument cluster in the regular spot as well.

    Have you looked at the Jaguar i-Pace? It has a claimed range of 470 kilometres, though it is on the pricey side of the equation, starting from about $125,000.

    Indeed, a high price tag is a common theme among those EVs with big battery capacity and expansive driving range, because you’re basically covering the cost of the batteries with your money.

    For instance, there’s the Audi e-tron quattro, which is due here in early 2020. That model will have a range of “more than 400 kilometres”, and - we suspect - a price tag above $120,000. 

    The Mercedes EQC is about to go on sale, too. Range for that mid-size SUV is pegged at about 450 kilometres, but again, you can expect a high price tag.

    If 2021 isn’t too long to wait, there’s the Volvo XC40 Recharge coming then. Based on our previous experience with Volvo XC40s, it’ll be a great small SUV, with predicted range of 400km - though we think that’s understating it, because it has a 78kWh battery pack, and it has AWD too.

    At the more affordable end - though admittedly still not quite meeting your expectations for range - there’s the very impressive Hyundai Kona Electric, which has a WLTP range of 449km, and a price tag of around $65k. It isn’t all-wheel drive though.

    And MG is about to launch a real upstart in the segment, with the ZS EV hitting showrooms soon for $46,990 drive-away, albeit with a range of 262km. It’s also FWD only. 

    The Mini Cooper SE will also arrive in mid-2020, with pricing set to be less than $60k. But again, a range of 270km will likely rule it out for your needs, and its 2WD as well.

    Another new small EV due next year is the Mazda MX-30. Pricing is still to be confirmed, and range isn’t great at about 300km. It’s FWD too. 

    In short, at this point in time - and out towards the end of 2020 - it looks like you’ll either need to spend a big amount of money on a premium EV to get the best range possible, or you’ll have to get used to the Model 3’s screen. You could always get an aftermarket head-up display fitted…

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  • Nissan Juke 2019 or Mini Cooper 2018: Which should I buy?

    A: You’re right; every car has its positives and negatives, so try before you buy. Sit in them, drive them, and assess them for your particular needs. There are no hidden nasties in the Juke or Cooper A to worry about. You can negotiate on anything, everything is up for grabs, so have a go and see what you can win.

     

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See All Mini Cooper Q&As
Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

Mini Cooper Interior

From the moment you open the light yet solid front door, it’s obvious that the Mini is a different type of small car.

The frameless doors give it a hardtop feel, though it’s a shame the necessary thick B-pillar doesn’t allow for the rear windows to find down for a truly ‘60s American hardtop-style open side experience.

The 5.0-inch black-panel instrumentation redesign does much to reduce the old Mini tweeness inside, with motorcycle-style digitised analogue-look dials and fresh new graphics and functionality (with new ‘favourites’ shortcuts added) for the rectangular centre multimedia screen. Based on BMW’s excellent iDrive system, it’s all easy and intuitive to operate.

However, that dash is looking old and messy now, with its small letter-box screen and messy buttons, though the toggle switchgear is pleasant to operate and adds to the Mini’s sense of occasion too. The kerbside mirror won’t automatically dip in reverse, and Android Auto users aren’t accommodated like Apple CarPlay users are.

Still, storage is sufficient for most peoples’ needs as long as the things they need put away aren’t too large, backed up by a foldable armrest-cum-cubby and handy pair of big cupholders ahead of the gear lever.

For a three-door four-seater coupe, practicality is better than you might imagine, aided by good all-round vision and thoughtful packaging.

Access to the rear is an easy single-step process. Once sat out back, you’ll find a pair of cupholders and map pockets, a trio of cupholders as well as elbow rests incorporated into the side panels. All double up as receptacles for odds and ends. Lots of glass and those upright pillars impart a surprisingly spacious feel.

However, betraying the F56 Cooper’s age, while the front centre-armrest sited smartphone charger is accessible to rear-seat occupants, there are no USB ports of any variety or overhead lighting in this sunroof-equipped example. Nor will you find a folding centre armrest or overhead grab handles. In fact, the latter is only provided for the front-seat passenger.

Also, keep in mind that passengers cannot crack a window back there.

Shown above are interior details for the Mini Cooper 2022.

Mini Cooper Accessories

The base Cooper Classic includes automatic transmission (sadly a manual gearbox is no longer offered), LED lighting front and rear, cloth seat facings, piano-black interior trim, digital instrumentation, an 8.8-inch touchscreen, wireless phone mirroring and charging, digital radio, reverse camera, parking assistant (that steers the car into parallel spots automatically), front and rear parking sensors and 16-inch alloy wheels (with no spare).

On the safety front you’ll find six airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control with stop/go, among a host of other technologies.  See the safety section below. 

Our red test car was the Classic Plus, which means keyless entry, more-bolstered ‘leatherette’ sports seats, front seat heaters, a panoramic sunroof, Harman Kardon audio upgrade, eco and sport extra driving modes, stronger window tinting and 17-inch alloys in either silver or black.

Shown above are the accessory details for the Mini Cooper 2022.

Mini Cooper Wheel Size

The Mini Cooper has a number of different wheel and tyre options. When it comes to tyres, these range from 175x65 R15 for Hatchback in 2018 with a wheel size that spans from 15x5.5 inches.

Year Body Type Front Tyre Size Front Rim Rear Tyre Size Rear Rim
2018 Hatchback 175x65 R15 15x5.5 inches 175x65 R15 15x5.5 inches
2017 Hatchback 175x65 R15 15x5.5 inches 175x65 R15 15x5.5 inches
2016 Hatchback 175x65 R15 15x5.5 inches 175x65 R15 15x5.5 inches
2015 Hatchback 175x65 R15 15x5.5 inches 175x65 R15 15x5.5 inches
2014 Hatchback 175x65 R15 15x5.5 inches 175x65 R15 15x5.5 inches
The dimensions shown above are for the base model. See All Mini Cooper Wheel Sizes

Mini Cooper Dimensions

The dimensions of the Mini Cooper Hatchback vary according to year of manufacture and spec level.

Year Body Type Height x Width x Length Ground Clearance
2018 Hatchback 1414x1727x3821 mm 124 mm
2017 Hatchback 1414x1727x3821 mm 124 mm
2016 Hatchback 1414x1727x3821 mm 124 mm
2015 Hatchback 1414x1727x3821 mm 124 mm
2014 Hatchback 1414x1727x3821 mm 124 mm
The dimensions shown above are for the base model. See All Mini Cooper Dimensions

Mini Cooper Fuel Consumption

The Mini Cooper is available in a number of variants and body types that are powered by Diesel, PULP and ULP fuel type(s). It has an estimated fuel consumption starting from 3.7L/100km for Hatchback /Diesel for the latest year the model was manufactured.

Year Body Type Fuel Consumption* Engine Fuel Type Transmission
2018 Hatchback 3.7L/100km 1.5L Diesel 6 SP MAN
2018 Hatchback 4.7L/100km 1.5L PULP 6 SP MAN
2017 Hatchback 3.7L/100km 1.5L Diesel 6 SP MAN
2017 Hatchback 4.9L/100km 1.2L PULP 6 SP MAN
2016 Hatchback 3.7L/100km 1.5L Diesel 6 SP MAN
2016 Hatchback 4.9L/100km 1.2L PULP 6 SP MAN
2015 Hatchback 3.7L/100km 1.5L Diesel 6 SP MAN
2015 Hatchback 4.9L/100km 1.2L PULP 6 SP MAN
2014 Hatchback 3.7L/100km 1.5L Diesel 6 SP MAN
2014 Hatchback 4.9L/100km 1.2L PULP 6 SP MAN
2014 Hatchback 5.8L/100km 1.6L ULP 6 SP MAN
* Combined fuel consumption See All Mini Cooper Pricing and Specs for 2018

Mini Cooper Seats

The Classic Plus’ standard front seats are a highlight.

Superbly supportive and with extensive adjustment permutations so even taller and heftier folk can find the right position, they help create a snug yet not cramped environment, with a low, focused driving position that’s easy to get comfy behind thanks to endless column and seat adjustability.

Access to the Mini's rear is obviously not going to be the Hatch’s easiest party trick, but a single-action lift-up latch (located on both front seats' shoulder area) that slides and automatically returns each front seat back to the original spot helps enormously.

Once sat out back, you’ll find a firm but inviting bench and 60:40-split backrest (for two). The backrest angle is about right for most people, as is the depth of the cushion. The latter does not slide back and forth to increase boot room.

Speaking of space, because it’s only a two-seater configuration, there’s a welcome amount of acreage for elbows, shoulders and bottoms back there, while legroom isn’t too bad for a 178cm adult sat behind themselves. There’s nothing cramped or oppressive in the Classic Plus we’re in, save perhaps for the endless black trim.

Shown above are seat details for the Mini Cooper 2022.

Mini Cooper Boot Space

A can of goo in lieu of a spare wheel means the 3DR Hatch's boot floor is deeper than you might imagine, with a small compartment below the second floor for added hidden storage. Beyond that, it’s an F56 Mini, so a 211L capacity and a pair of 60:40-folding backrests into the cabin as your lot luggage-capacity wise.

Mini Cooper Boot space Mini Cooper Boot space
Shown above are boot space details for the Mini Cooper 2022.

Mini Cooper Towing Capacity

The Mini Cooper has no towing capacity for the latest model available.

Year Body Type Braked Capacity from Braked Capacity to
2018 Hatchback 0kg 0kg
2017 Hatchback 0kg 0kg
2016 Hatchback 0kg 0kg
2015 Hatchback 0kg 0kg
2014 Hatchback 0kg 750kg
See All Towing Capacity for Mini Cooper

Mini Cooper Speed

The Mini Cooper Classic Plus needs 8.2 seconds to reach 100km/h from standstill, on the way to a 210km/h top speed.

Shown above are speed details for the Mini Cooper 2022.