2022 Mini Cooper

Although BMW purchased the Mini brand in the 1990s and modern examples are much larger than their mid-20th century forebears, Mini retains a lot of its retro cool British sensibility. Some vehicles are still assembled in the UK. The sporty Mini Cooper is one of the smallest vehicles on the market, with a go-kart-like character that makes it exceptionally fun to drive. The larger Countryman competes with small SUVs, and John Cooper Works editions add even more power and more raucous handling. Mini sells both gas and electric versions (branded as “SE”) of every vehicle. Manual transmissions are no longer offered. Until recently, Mini had a checkered reliability history—several older models sat near the bottom of our reliability ratings. However, newer Minis have been among the most reliable on the market. Buyers of used models should pay careful attention to which model and year they choose.

The redesigned 2014 Cooper grew wider and longer, rides better, and has more normal controls. Improved ride and better noise isolation make it more suitable for longer drives and up to date connectivity for the time was welcomed. Even with these improvements, the Mini's frisky character and unmatched charm remain intact. The base turbocharged three-cylinder is surprisingly powerful, and the turbo four-cylinder in the S is strong. We got 31 mpg with the base car, and 30 in the S. While the automatic works well, the manual transmission better fits the Mini's nature. If you want a fun little car, go for the base Mini. But if you want something really sporty, check out the Cooper S. Beyond that, keep things simple. New features for 2016 include an available Sports package with driver-adjustable suspension settings. Updates for 2020 included standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking.