The Mini Cooper S enters its 5th generation for the 2025 model year, and like many new cars these days, it has gotten bigger & heavier than before. So does this mean that the new Mini has lost its traditional go-kart driving dynamics?
Performance
Engine – The new Mini Cooper is available with just one engine. A turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder which produces 201 hp & 221 lb-ft (150 kW & 300 Nm) in this S variant. In the lower C variant of the Cooper, this engine produces 161 hp & 184 lb-ft of torque (120 kW & 250 Nm). The old 3-cylinder engine is gone and inevitably there will be a JCW variant with more power.
Getting back to the Cooper S, the engine feels powerful enough to pull the 1,367 kg (3,014 lbs) body of the new Mini. That is about 90 kg (200 lbs) heavier than the outgoing model. But the engine produces torque at very low rpms and the turbocharger only has a slight hint of lag. With the extra power of this engine in this Cooper S over last year’s model, the car can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.6 seconds. So in a straight line, the 2025 Mini Cooper S feels spritely and peppy.
Fuel Economy – The fuel economy of this new 2025 Mini Cooper S remains virtually unchanged over the previous model year. It is rated for 8.5 L/100km (27.7 MPG) in a city and 6.1 L/100km (38.5 MPG) on a highway. That is the same city fuel economy as before but slightly better highway fuel economy by 0.1 L/100km. I averaged 7.9 L/100km (29.8 MPG) during my week with the car.
In Eco mode, the car will automatically shift the transmission to neutral every time you lift your foot off the throttle pedal. This allows the car to travel a little further without any loss in momentum due to engine braking.
Transmission – For the 2025 Mini Cooper, the only transmission that is available is a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The 6-speed manual is gone. But while you won’t be able to row your own gears any more, the tuning of this transmission has been improved. In everyday driving, it quickly shifts to the highest possible gear to improve the fuel economy. As soon as you stab the throttle pedal, it wakes up in a reasonable amount of time and quickly downshifts to the appropriate gear. Switch the car to Go-Kart mode (Sport mode for the Cooper S) and this transmission will stay in one lower gear to ensure that the engine is always in the torque band. There’s also an “L” mode for this transmission which will bring the engine’s rpms pretty much right up to the redline. Essentially, this is the Sport mode for the transmission. One thing that you can’t do with this automatic transmission is change gears whenever you want to. The 2025 Cooper does not come with paddle shifters and there’s no traditional gear selector to change the gears either.
Braking – The Cooper S comes equipped with 13.2-inch front discs with regular floating calipers which provide the bulk of the stopping force. In everyday driving situations, the brakes may feel too sensitive and too grabby to some because it takes almost no effort from your foot to bring the car to a stop. On more spirited drives through mountain roads, the brake pedal provides a firm and surefooted feel that inspires confidence every time you press it.
Handling – Perhaps the most noticeable change to the 2025 Mini Cooper S is the refined demeanor in which it drives through corners. The car always felt planted no matter what type of road it drove over. The front end reacted quickly to steering inputs while the rear end followed it without any drama. At times, it was a bit difficult to put the power down while exiting a corner because the roads during the week I drove the Cooper S were a bit damp and the car does not receive a limited slip differential. Traction control did have to intervene when I got a bit overzealous with my right foot. The extra heft of the 2025 Cooper S didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment of driving the car on winding roads. Additionally, this new Mini is wider than the outgoing model which aids to that planted feeling through the twisties. Overall, the 2025 Mini Cooper S retains the go-kart driving dynamics which it is known for.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – The wheelbase of the 2025 Cooper remains unchanged over the previous model year. It is short which does tend to induce a rougher ride than some other sporty compact cars. Having said that, the ride is firm feeling but not overly rough. You can feel every bump, every pebble, every change in the asphalt, but the ride isn’t jarring. The 2025 Cooper S is available with adaptive suspension but this demo car did not have this feature added to it.
Interior Space – In the front seats, space is plentiful even if you are a taller individual. At 6’4”, I had no issues with legroom nor headroom. What I did notice is that the top of the windshield, where it met the roof, obscured traffic lights if I was the first one at the line. Otherwise, visibility around the car is good. In the back seats, however, it is a completely different story. They are still extremely tight for adults. Perhaps adults under 5’10” that are sitting behind another adult of that height, or less, may be able to squeeze in those back seats. But they’re meant for little kids.
In the trunk, the 2025 Mini Cooper S has 252 L (8.9 cu-ft) of cargo space behind the rear seats. Fold them down and cargo capacity increases to 974 L (34.4 cu-ft). There is a small compartment underneath the trunk floor that is big enough to fit a small backpack or two but you will not find a spare wheel in the new Mini.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The 2025 Cooper S produces a nice engine note throughout the cabin when it’s in Go-Kart mode. Some of the noise is enhanced through the speakers, however, as the engine noise is not that audible from the outside. Road noise from the tires is noticeable on highways but you don’t need to raise your voice too much to have a conversation with the person sitting next to you. This new generation Mini does seem to be a little bit quieter than before.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2025 Mini Cooper C starts at $34,990 CAD )$28,950 USD) while this Cooper S starts at $39,990 CAD ($32,200 USD). There are optional packages and stand-alone features that can be added which this demo car had but it wasn’t quite fully loaded. Even so, it had an as-tested price of $46,590 CAD ($37,300 USD).
Gadgets – The biggest change to the 2025 Mini Cooper, in terms of convenience features, is the new 9.4” circular touchscreen and infotainment system. It is no longer a circular trim piece with an awkward and tiny rectangular touchscreen in the middle. This infotainment system looks great with snazzy new graphics and a new menu layout. It unfortunately incorporates the climate controls along with the speed and other key driver information as there is no more driver instrumentation just behind the steering wheel. However, this new infotainment system allows a slight degree of customization by way of a favourites menu. You can select your most commonly used apps and have them displayed with just a swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Additionally, this system supports wireless Apple CarPlay & wireless Android Auto but I had a difficult time connecting my Android phone to make Android Auto function. Bluetooth worked just fine. The infotainment also changes designs depending on the drive mode or as Mini calls them, experiences. Go-Kart, Core, and Eco actually change the driving dynamics of the car but the others only change the screen graphics.
Other convenience gadgets on the 2025 Mini Cooper S include a dual-pane sunroof (front portion opens), heated front seats and heated steering wheel, synthetic leather upholstery, available surround view cameras, a head-up display, wireless phone charging pad, available Harmon-Kardon sound system, power & memory front seats, keyless entry & start.
Speaking of the HUD, it is the type that has a piece of tinted glass which rises from the dashboard. Normally, I don’t like this type of HUD and much prefer those that project onto the windshield. But because this one is tinted, there’s more contrast between the information that is displayed and what is visible just behind the screen. But none of the drive modes show a proper tachometer. The closest is the one in Go-kart mode but it’s just on the far left side and it is really small.
Interior Design – The styling of the 2025 Mini Cooper’s interior has been simplified. The new infotainment touchscreen is the most prominent feature in the cabin. The analog tachometer has been removed, the toggle switches on the roof are gone as are the climate control switches. The dashboard is covered in a fabric which has an ambient light projected onto it from behind the infotainment touchscreen. On the center console, there’s a small storage “box” for small items but the Cooper S doesn’t have a traditional center console armrest storage bin. And finally, the steering wheel is essentially a two spoke steering wheel as the “third spoke” is a piece of fabric which is there for design. In all, I like the design but I would’ve kept the climate control toggle switches and the analog tachometer.
Exterior Design – Like the interior, the exterior design has been simplified as well. It has fewer vents in the bumper, a smooth side profile, and no more hood scoop. The circular headlights remain with round or horizontal LED daytime running lights. In the back, the Union Jack tail lights remain but they’ve been given a Cyberpunk 2077 look. You can also choose to change the design of said tail lights when the car is parked with the side markers turned on. This is a cool feature for us videographers. One item that should not have been removed is the central exhaust pipe. It is now to the left side and hidden underneath the bumper. The 2025 Cooper is also available with different coloured roof and exterior mirrors.
Safety – The 2025 Mini Cooper S is equipped with every safety & driver aid that is available on this car. The only option is the inclusion of a Stop-and-Go function for the adaptive cruise control and surround view cameras which come as part of the Premier+ package here in Canada.
Warranty – Mini vehicles are covered by a 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle and powertrain warranty with a 12 year rust perforation warranty. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For USA Warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – So although the new Mini Cooper is bigger & heavier than before, it still is a fun car to drive. Is it the perfect Mini Cooper? No. There are a few things that I’d like to see brought back from the old Mini to this new one such as a manual transmission, paddle shifters, and a proper tachometer in front of the driver. Or at the very least, one in the HUD. But overall the new Mini feels more refined, it’s a bit more spacious and it hasn’t lost its go-kart driving dynamics.
Thank you to MINI Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Mini.ca
2025 Mini Cooper S Gallery
