2012 & 2013 Mini Coupe Reviews & Ratings

In 1959 the British Motor Company (a company formed upon the 1952 merger of Morris Motors and the Austin Motor Company) launched the Mini Coupe as an economical small car to answer the fuel crisis then gripping Europe. This little car went on to become a hugely popular motoring icon built and sold around the world. The key to the success of the Mini Coupe was its look, fuel economy and driving handling. Today BMW continue to keep the brand going strong with new models that not only retain the... (full review continues below)

In 1959 the British Motor Company (a company formed upon the 1952 merger of Morris Motors and the Austin Motor Company) launched the Mini Coupe as an economical small car to answer the fuel crisis then gripping Europe. This little car went on to become a hugely popular motoring icon built and sold around the world. The key to the success of the Mini Coupe was its look, fuel economy and driving handling. Today BMW continue to keep the brand going strong with new models that not only retain the key benefits of earlier cars but also have higher performance and premium technology including satellite radio, navigation; and safety features such as dynamic stability control and multiple airbags.

The Mini Coupe has always been a fun car to drive and this tradition continues in the range today which includes a hardtop, convertible, wagon, Roadster and the sporty looking 2 seat Mini Coupe which features an aerodynamic roof and an automatic active rear spoiler that can also be controlled manually. Other small cars that compete with the Mini Coupe include the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Mazda MX-5 Miata and Nissan 370Z. Although the competitors have more power the Mini Coupe continues to stand out with its excellent interior features, nimble driving dynamics, excellent fuel economy and front wheel drive.

The Mini Coupe is available in 3 variants the Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works (a street legal racing version of the Mini Coupe with high performance parts and tuning). Each model includes numerous color options such as the classic "British Racing Green". The base model Cooper variant of the Mini Coupe starts at $22,000 featuring a 1.6 liter 4 cylinder engine with 121 horsepower at 6,000rpm and 114 foot pound of torque at 4,250rpm. Fuel economy is an excellent 37mpg on the highway and 29mpg in the city (automatic transmission reduces fuel economy slightly by 1 mpg). The 13.2 gallon fuel tank provides a range of 488 miles.

The Mini Coupe Cooper S starts at $25,300 and features a more powerful turbocharged 1.6 liter 4 cylinder engine boosting standard performance to 181 horsepower at 5,500rpm and 177 foot pound of torque at 1,600 - 5,000 rpm. The increase in power does not detract greatly from the fuel economy with 35mpg on the highway and 27mpg in the city with a range of 462 miles. The slight increase in cost provides drivers with an affordable way to up rate their Mini without suffering at the fuel pump making this a popular option, but for drivers who want even more power the full street racing performance of the Works variant is the way to go.

The John Cooper Works Mini Coupe starts at an increased price of $31,900 but includes an up rated tuned 1.6 liter 4 cylinder turbocharged engine and many additional standard extras including ventilated brake discs, alloy wheels, chrome plated side scuttles and an aero kit. The up rated engine significantly increases performance to208 horsepower at 6,000rpm and 192 foot pound of torque at 1,850 - 5,600 rpm while remaining economical with 33 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg in the city. Range is slightly reduced to 436 miles per tank.