The Mini Cooper maintains a lot of what made the original Mini so popular. It's fun to drive and has easy-to-reach limits, and its diminutive size makes it a great city car. But the drawbacks include a serious lack of storage, lackluster fuel economy and a convoluted infotainment system. Unless practicality is a low priority for you, the Mini's faults may be too glaring to ignore.
Pros
- All engines blend quickness and fuel efficiency
- Nimble handling helps keep the Hardtop glued to the road
- Many available add-ons allow for personalization
- Upscale interior
Cons
- Ride can be stiff and choppy, especially with larger wheels
- Gas-powered Hardtop is pricier than most rivals
- Rear seats are a vestigial appendage
- Android Auto is not offered
What's new
- A new Resolute Edition debuts with exclusive paint and interior colors
- Last year's Classic and Signature Plus subtrims have been discontinued
- Minor shuffling of features between trim levels
- Part of the third Hardtop generation introduced for 2014
Overview
Considering how much time we spend in our cars, doesn't it make sense to choose a vehicle that makes us happy? If you're looking to add some fun and personality to your commute, we suggest the 2023 Mini Cooper 2 Door. This spritely little hatchback inherits a lot of the charm of the original Minis from the 1960s, infused with modern engineering and technology from parent company BMW.
The Mini Cooper 2 Door is showing its age, though, as it was last redesigned nine years ago. In that time, more refined, comfortable and convenient hatchback rivals have come and gone. We suggest checking out newer competitors that include the Mazda 3, Honda Civic and Volkswagen GTI before committing to a new Mini. These fresher alternatives are easier to live with and benefit from newer technology features, but they lack the Mini's personality. Add in its many customization options and the Mini should attract even more extroverts, but keep an eye on how those pricey options affect the bottom line.
Edmunds Expert Rating
Performance
7.5/10
How does the Hardtop 2 Door drive? The Mini presents like it might have more style than substance, but in fact the opposite is true in the handling department. It is its own small bundle of fun, even if it is less powerful than almost any of its competitors. Our test Mini Cooper S, equipped with the quick-shifting automatic transmission, scooted from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds. That's a full half-second slower than the Volkswagen Golf GTI with its dual-clutch automatic but bests the manually shifted Honda Civic Si.
When hauling yourself down from speed, the Cooper S is lacking compared to rivals. It took us 120 feet to stop from 60 mph. The Golf GTI needed just 103 feet and the Civic Si 106 feet. The brake pedal feel is too soft and far from communicative — simply put, the brakes are the Mini's biggest dynamic fault. Its steering and handling, on the other hand, are twitchy and alive and give the Mini a stout handling character that almost reminds us of the Minis of old. Its performance is both easy to access and fun to dig into, and we like that about this generation of Mini.
Comfort
7.0/10
How comfortable is the Hardtop 2 Door? Minis have always been known for their harsh ride, and the Hardtop doesn't change that. Even the smallest road imperfections incessantly make their way into the cabin. Our test car produced lots of road and wind noise too. The Mini does claw some comfort points back, however. The front seats are very comfortable and fit a range of body sizes. There's also enough headroom for drivers who are above average height to fit in easily.
Interior
7.5/10
How’s the interior? Everything inside the Mini is easy to reach. The doors are long and the openings are large enough to make getting into the front seats a breeze and the back only a small hassle. We also like the Mini's driving position, which feels low down and in the heart of the car.
Visibility is also surprisingly good. The Mini's roof pillars are thin enough that they don't obstruct a driver's view and there are practically no blind spots to speak of. It also has a surprisingly airy cabin for such a small car and never feels cramped inside even with other passengers on board.
Technology
7.0/10
How’s the tech? Because Mini is owned by BMW, a lot of the Cooper's interface mimics a last-generation iDrive setup. That means there's a rotary control flanked by shortcut buttons and a touchscreen. The circular element that the screen sits inside means a very wide, almost letterbox-shaped screen that's compromised. We know the central speedometer is a classic Mini touch, but it might be time to move on from that design motif.
Aside from that, the infotainment is relatively easy to get used to. The shortcut buttons work well, and it has wired and wireless Apple CarPlay but lacks Android Auto. Driver aids are limited too. You can't get blind-spot warning or adaptive cruise control, for example.
Storage
6.5/10
How’s the storage? As you might have guessed, storage is minimal. The cargo area behind the rear seats is just 8.7 cubic feet, which simply pales in comparison to something like a Volkswagen Golf GTI. If you fold the seats down, you get enough storage for bigger items like a set of golf bags, but the seats don't fold flat and the parcel shelf is a pain to remove. The entire process of making the Mini's rear hatch area a usable storage space can only be described as a burden.
There are two cupholders up front, but they're small. That in tandem with a tiny center console and minuscule door pockets means small-item storage is also far from ideal. Fitting a car seat isn't exactly simple either, and having to squeeze one between the rear pillar and a folded front seat is an exercise in extreme patience. All in all, don't expect the Mini to match the practicality of a bigger hatch like the Golf or a sedan like the Honda Civic Si or Hyundai Elantra N.
Range and Efficiency
7.5/10
How are the range and efficiency? The EPA estimates the Cooper S will get 31 mpg combined, which is pretty good for a sporty car. Unfortunately, we've found it difficult to match that number in real-world driving.
Value
7.5/10
Is the Hardtop 2 Door a good value? The Mini is competing with far superior performance machines like the Golf GTI and the Elantra N in terms of price. The Mini feels better built than the Hyundai, and the most recent GTI has lost some of the interior quality its predecessor had, making the Mini a nicer place to be in the end. Its performance doesn't quite stack up when you look at the numbers, but in the real world it would be hard to notice the difference. Mini's warranty coverage is generally on par with other small-hatch manufacturers. Mini also offers three years/36,000 miles of free maintenance, which helps elevate its ownership experience over other brands that compete in this space.
Wildcard
9.0/10
There's something permanently fun about a Mini. It's like nothing else on the road. Add to that a lengthy list of customization options and you end up with a car that has significantly more personality than most cars. It's also fun to drive, has easy-to-approach limits, and with a manual transmission, we think it would make an excellent first car for any budding enthusiast.
Which Hardtop 2 Door does Edmunds recommend?
The midrange Cooper S trim gets our recommendation since it delivers more performance than the base model without the stiffer ride of the John Cooper Works version. We'd also suggest opting for the manual transmission for even more driver engagement, and if you don't know how to drive a stick shift, this is a great car to learn on.
MINI Hardtop 2 Door models
The 2023 Mini Hardtop 2 Door comes in three main trim levels. The gas-powered Minis include the Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works (JCW). Mini also offers the all-electric Cooper SE. From there, you can pick subtrim packages such as Signature and Iconic. Smaller packages can also be added, giving the Hardtop a high level of customization in both appearance and features.