When I picked up the 2025 MINI Cooper S Hardtop 2-Door, I knew it’d be fun. Since the modern BMW-made MINI’s debut in 2001, the performance-oriented Cooper S models have been a blast to drive. Plus, they ooze with character and novelty.
My test car wore Sunny Side Yellow paint with a black roof, 18-inch wheels, and performance tires, and it certainly looked like a good time. Would it continue the Cooper S legacy of being a fun-sized boosted road rocket?
In short: The latest MINI Cooper S Hardtop 2-Door aims to continue the heritage of offering spirited performance and great driving dynamics in a practical subcompact package. The latest model offers a host of changes that — for better or for worse — modernize this MINI while still holding on to being a driver’s car (with one major caveat). There’s more power, more tech, and revised styling. But the lack of a manual gearbox or a way to manually select your own gears takes away some enthusiast appeal, yet is a sign of the times regarding modern cars.
- Vehicle: 2-door, 4-seat hatchback
- Dimensions: 152.6” L x 68.7” x W 56.4” x H, 98.2” wheelbase
- Curb Weight: 3,014 lbs.
- Powertrain: turbocharged 2.0L I4
- Power: 201 HP, 221 lb.-ft. of torque
- Transmission/Drive wheels: 7-speed twin-clutch gearbox, front-wheel-drive
- MPG: 28 city, 32 combined, 39 highway
- MSRP Base Price: $32,200 (as tested $37,295)
Pros
- Nimble, tight go-kart-like handling and braking
- Modern, minimalist, and novel interior
- Quick acceleration
- Fun styling
Cons
- No way to manually select gears
- Frustrating infotainment system
- Significant road and wind noise
- Could use more steering feel