Yahoo Autos Tested: 2025 Mini Cooper S Sticks to Its Roots
9/24/24 UPDATE: This review has been updated with instrumented test results.
By all accounts, Mini's new fourth-generation 2025 Cooper hatchback should feel like an entirely different vehicle than last year's model. Mini's ground-up redesign puts the focus on refinement and modernity—a risky endeavor considering how delightful the previous-generation Cooper was. After spending time hustling a two-door Cooper S through the mountains in New Mexico and Colorado, we walked away impressed with what's new (and pleasantly surprised by all that's been retained) in the makeover.
Our test route was part of the first leg of Mini's biennial Mini Takes the States road rally event, in which thousands of owners show up to geek out over their cars and cover hundreds of miles per day enjoying scenic views and good driving roads. The cult following the Cooper has cultivated since its 2002 rebirth is still in full effect.
Even with a host of changes that continue to add weight, the new 2991-pound Cooper S is reasonably nimble, with steering that's responsive enough that it borders on darty. Torque steer, however, is ever present under acceleration, and when powering out of a corner even at moderate speeds, you'll find yourself unable to rely on the natural re-centering of the wheel that you're used to when driving other cars. Instead, the driver must consciously move the wheel back to center. It's unnerving at first, but you adapt, and in a way, it encourages you to stay on your toes and immerse yourself in the driving process.
It's certainly punchy, with the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four under the hood pumping out 201 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, but in this diminutive package, it feels like more. The four-pot revs freely, and even at higher speeds, there's plenty of thrust to keep the Cooper S pulling toward triple-digit speeds.
We managed to hustle the new Mini to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. The last Cooper S automatic we tested was way back in 2015, and that 189-hp four-door needed 6.1 seconds to hit 60 mph. The new Cooper S beat the old one in the quarter-mile too, recording a 14.4-second run at 99 mph, 0.4 second quicker and at a 4-mph higher trap speed than the 2015 model. Skidpad results also favor the new car, which sticks to the pavement at 0.89 g versus 0.87 g for the 2015 model.
The exhaust emits a nice little burble when driving in the normal Core mode, but switch it into the Go-Kart mode (a cheeky nod to what it wants its handling to feel like, but also an allusion to its unforgiving and choppy ride quality), and it sounds a little ruder. All models come with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic—that's right, there's no manual option—and it downshifts quickly when you put your foot down to pull out for a passing maneuver. Most models don't come with paddle shifters either, which seems like an oversight. Our test car was an Iconic trim example with the optional John Cooper Works Style package, and that's the only version that comes with the JCW sport steering wheel and includes the paddles.
Step on the brakes and you'll feel an immediate bite, followed by a reassuring linearity as you sink your foot farther. High-speed stability is mostly good, although we did feel an occasional rear-end wiggle when encountering midcorner bumps while hustling the Cooper S over some particularly twisty pavement. At a more leisurely pace, the Cooper S has a planted feel that belies its small footprint. Here, you can truly appreciate the extra refinement that went into the new model. There's less chrome and more textiles throughout the design, lending it a more upscale vibe. The added refinement doesn't extend to the interior noise level, which measured the same 72 decibels at 70 mph as the previous-generation Mini.
There's plenty of whimsy too, which is expected from Mini. For example, lights hidden behind the infotainment screen project an ambient lighting pattern onto the fabric-covered dash panels at night. During our time out west, we drove a top-spec Iconic model with the Classic appearance package. At $37,295, our Sunny Side Yellow Cooper S came with plenty of desirable options, including a Harman/Kardon stereo system, adaptive cruise control, 18-inch wheels with summer tires, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats and steering wheel, a wireless smartphone charging pad, parking sensors, in-dash navigation, and a dual-pane sunroof. Our British Racing Green test vehicle back home in Michigan rang in at a higher $39,495 thanks to the JCW Style package.
A circular infotainment display resides in the middle of the dashboard and features a virtual canine assistant called Spike. The display itself is a high-resolution OLED panel, and it looks quite fetching. The software, however, needs a little more time to cook. We noticed some intermittent lag throughout our day with the Cooper S; we also found the climate control's temperature adjustments to be fussy and difficult to adjust, both for the driver and passenger. Luckily, Mini says the system is capable of accepting over-the-air updates, which in theory gives the company's software team a chance to address such issues. Our later Michigan test car showed far less laggyness.
Modernization can inadvertently lead to a loss of character, but Mini has attempted to carefully balance the improvements here to keep the Cooper a Cooper. While it doesn't feel nearly as mini from behind the wheel as it once did, we appreciate the doubling down on style in interesting new ways. Being among the throngs of Mini enthusiasts while sampling the new one only served to underscore the importance of getting the new one just right.
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