Mini Cooper vs Kia Rio

What's the difference?

VS
Mini Cooper
Mini Cooper

$41,990 - $63,990

2025 price

Kia Rio
Kia Rio

$16,990 - $25,990

2022 price

Summary

2025 Mini Cooper
2022 Kia Rio
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 2.0L

Inline 4, 1.4L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
6.3L/100km (combined)

6.0L/100km (combined)
Seating
4

5
Dislikes
  • Expensive
  • Petrol-powered Minis aren't a great leap forward
  • No manual gearbox availability

  • Uninspiring drivetrain
  • Lacks active safety features
  • Hard, noisy ride
2025 Mini Cooper Summary

Can it be possible that, between 1959 and 2023, there have only been four distinct generations of Mini? 

Besides the 1959 British Motor Corporation (BMC) original, it’s just been a trio of hatchback versions under BMW stewardship – the R50 of 2001, 2006’s R56 and the 2014 F56.

Now, in 2024, that number has suddenly jumped to six. 

The F56 has morphed into the lightly restyled and solely petrol-powered F66 Cooper range in F66 three-door (3DR) and coming F65 five-door (5DR) hatchback guises like before.

Meanwhile, the completely new and electric-only J01 Cooper 3DR joins the fold, along with its J05 Aceman 5DR crossover spin-off.

Despite their shared name and similar styling inside and out, the British-built Cooper and electric Cooper from China are two different cars. You can read all about the latter in another review, as this is about the petrol-powered Cooper range.

More of a thorough makeover and less of a total redesign, has it changed enough? Let’s find out. 

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2022 Kia Rio Summary

Australia is experiencing a mass extinction event.

Like the dinosaurs before them, and hopefully not the bees in the near future, the sub-$20,000 car is nearing the bitter end.

An evolutionary dead-end, as higher emissions and safety regulations relegate older models (read Mitsubishi Mirage) to the great scrap-heap in the sky and prevent newer ones (read Honda Jazz) from leaving their local markets.

For you, this means there are quite literally a handful of brand-new vehicles left in Australia which wear before-on-road price-tags under the magic $20,000 number.

One of them is the car we’re looking at for this review: The Kia Rio S, with the catch being you’ll have to be happy changing gears yourself.

So, is this most basic Rio worth your while, or is it best left as a puzzling fossil for future generations to study? Let’s have a look.

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Deep dive comparison

2025 Mini Cooper 2022 Kia Rio

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