2025 MINI Cooper S Hardtop 2-Door Overview

Once I picked up the 2025 MINI Cooper S Hardtop 2-Door, I knew it’d be enjoyable. For the reason that trendy BMW-made MINI’s debut in 2001, the performance-oriented Cooper S fashions have been a blast to drive. Plus, they ooze with character and novelty.

My check automobile wore Sunny Facet Yellow paint with a black roof, 18-inch wheels, and efficiency tires, and it definitely regarded like a very good time. Would it not proceed the Cooper S legacy of being a fun-sized boosted highway rocket?

Briefly: The newest MINI Cooper S Hardtop 2-Door goals to proceed the heritage of providing spirited efficiency and nice driving dynamics in a sensible subcompact bundle. The newest mannequin gives a number of modifications that — for higher or for worse — modernize this MINI whereas nonetheless holding on to being a driver’s automobile (with one main caveat). There’s extra energy, extra tech, and revised styling. However the lack of a guide gearbox or a solution to manually choose your personal gears takes away some fanatic enchantment, but is an indication of the occasions concerning trendy automobiles.

2025 MINI Cooper S Overview

My spouse and I picked this automobile up on the airport after arriving house from a visit. We opened the rear hatch, which had already had the rear seats folded down, and our carry-on baggage was simply swallowed up. For this reason I like hatchback configurations; they’re so versatile.

I used to be additionally trying ahead to spending time with an precise automobile. Today, greater than ever, a tiny MINI thumbs its nostril on the boring crossovers of the world and the jacked-up 4x4s used solely to retrieve one’s offspring from college.

No Guide Shifter, No Guide Shifting Means

As soon as I acquired into the MINI, I seen it was an automated. The gear selector is a small tab on the dashboard’s decrease left. You press it all the way down to go from park to drive. Then it occurred to me that there wasn’t a solution to manually shift this factor: no paddle shifters, no guide mode for a gear selector, nothing.

How can the performance-oriented Cooper S not supply the motive force management over gear choice? The brand new Cooper S is a point-and-shoot affair, one thing which will flip off fans.

Spunky Turbocharged Engine

Twist the key-shaped begin knob, and the TwinPower engine involves life with a satisfying growl. Making 201 horsepower and a wholesome 221 pound-feet of torque, this front-drive hatchback has a number of zip. MINI claims a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds and a prime velocity of 150 mph. There’s loads of energy to maneuver round this 3,014-pound hatchback.

Round city, the MINI Cooper S 2-Door looks like a go-kart. Acceleration feels brisk, with easy, fast shifts and a satisfying exhaust be aware. In case you have been questioning, the MINI Cooper S 2 Door is rated at 28 mpg metropolis, 32 mixed, and 39 freeway mpg on premium gas. 

There’s Actually a Go-Kart Mode

Sure, there’s an precise Go-Kart mode, considered one of a number of “experiences,” as MINI calls them, that modifications the center-mounted gauge cluster’s look and driving dynamics. Go-Kart mode will increase accelerator pedal sensitivity and adjusts automated shift factors to be held longer, optimizing the engine’s energy for efficiency.

A Sizzling-Dealing with Sizzling Hatchback

The MINI Cooper S has all the time been recognized for its dealing with, and that definitely continues for 2025. The automobile has totally unbiased suspension with entrance and rear stabilizer bars and digital torque vectoring.

The busy-looking black-and-machined 18-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in grippy 215/40R18 Perelli Cinturato P7 tires. The automobile rides stiffly, and you’re feeling each crack within the pavement. Highway noise is plentiful, as is a good bit of wind noise.

The hatchback handles just like the aforementioned go-kart. The steering is quick and tight, albeit it may use extra really feel. The automobile is a blast to drive within the corners, because it darts simply and confidently by way of the twisties. The enjoyable issue is excessive with this hatchback.

Regardless of its measurement, the turning radius is 36.4 toes. By comparability, a Fiat 500e has a 31.5-foot turning radius.

The steering wheel is super-fat and chunky. Actually, the ten and a couple of o’clock positions are comically massive and border on too huge. The wheel additionally has stereo controls and cruise management.

Difficult Infotainment

MINIs have all the time had satisfying, upbeat interiors, even when they’re not essentially the most ergonomic or straightforward to make use of. That’s the case with the brand new Cooper S. It’s minimal, trendy, and sporty, with fascinating textures, supplies, and lighting.

I like the large spherical middle cluster’s look. It’s definitely completely different, however enjoyable and simple to see. The display is good, however some modes are too shiny at evening and require dimming. Most controls and readouts are dealt with on this display.

The HVAC, infotainment, heated seats, steering wheel — and practically every part else — are managed on the touchscreen. As I briefly talked about earlier than, there are a number of completely different “experiences” you possibly can select from, some altering the efficiency, others, providing a change in aesthetics.

As an illustration, you possibly can choose Eco mode, or a gauge cluster that merely appears to be like like an old-timey dial. These modifications are mimicked by the retractable heads-up show — sure, you possibly can disable it.

I discovered the MINI’s infotainment difficult to make use of. Initially, the time was method off. The navigation system, even when wirelessly hooked to Android Auto, confirmed me to be round 25 miles from the place I actually was. It doesn’t matter what I did, I couldn’t get both to work.

It was prompt that I create a MINI ID account. This required downloading the app, making a username and password, and supplying the identify, tackle, cellphone, e mail, and so forth. to pair with the automobile. Finally it solved the issue, however the pairing course of failed a couple of occasions telling me, “An error occurred whereas logging in. Please strive once more later.”

Easy, Comfy Inside

Know-how apart, the inside is enticing and cozy, not less than for 2 individuals. Anybody with legs in all probability wouldn’t wish to be relegated to the again seat. With the rear seats folded, you’ll get 34.4 cubic toes of cargo-carrying means; 8.9 cubic toes with the seats folded up. These looking for extra space could wish to examine the Cooper S 4-Door.

The entrance seats are snug and heated, they usually supply ample bolstering and assist. You’re in a low-slung seating place, which was nice after driving so many crossovers. That is an precise small automobile, a phase practically useless in North America. I needed to retrain my mind to get out and in with no need to step down 1 / 4 of a mile. Refreshing.

There are two USB-C retailers and a 12V socket in entrance of the armrest. That armrest, nonetheless, is static and doesn’t open up for storage. In entrance of the armrest is a large spot for stuff like telephones, gloves, and so forth., after which two cup holders, and a large vertical space with a strap. This space gives wi-fi cellphone charging, however it’s so massive that you would in all probability get an iPad or pill there. I want there have been extra cubbies as a substitute.

Outward visibility is sweet, and it has one of many crispest rearview cameras I’ve seen.

Retro Styling Carried out Proper (Once more)

Restyling a automobile meant to be a retro tribute might be tough. You don’t wish to lose the unique type, however you’ll want to preserve it recent. MINI has finished this proper since its first refresh, and that continues right here — it’s unmistakably a MINI Cooper.

From the spherical headlights (with illuminated halos) to the general sq. hatchback form, the automobile retains styling cues from the unique 1959 BMC Mini. The restyled semi-triangular taillights present a part of the Union Jack flag, too — regardless of the automobile’s German meeting. The automobile is obtainable with or and not using a black roof. Ours additionally had twin sunroofs.

2025 MINI Cooper S 2-Door Overview Wrap-Up: Enjoyable & Funky, Not Good

It’s straightforward to have enjoyable on this automobile. The dearth of a guide transmission or at least a solution to manually change gears removes from driving luster, however occasions change, and maybe consumers immediately gained’t care. In the event you overlook this, the Cooper S is a real driver’s automobile.

The MINI Cooper S Hardtop 2-Door begins at $34,600. Our tester included the $1,700 Iconic Trim, and $995 value of vacation spot, for a complete of $37,295. That will seem to be so much for a small automobile, however this can be a efficiency scorching hatch in a tiny, nimble bundle.

Perhaps a John Cooper Works mannequin will give us again our means to row our personal gears, or not less than choose them.