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MINI Cooper - What the Auto Press Says

The 2009 MINI Cooper ranks 12 out of 36 Affordable Small Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 44 published reviews and test drives of the MINI Cooper, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

After a year hiatus, the 2009 MINI Cooper has come back with the same combination of classic and contemporary that won over reviewers in 2007. Reviewers like the hatchback's unconventional style and fun-to-drive personality, but say its cabin is more fashionable than functional.

Like its name suggests, the MINI is one of the tiniest affordable small cars. However, the car's name also hints at other aspects of its personality -- like its nimble road manners, its outstanding fuel efficiency, or even rear seats that seem to be designed to keep chiropractors in business -- all of which are common characteristics of small cars.

If you like the MINI Cooper but need more room, the Clubman might suit you better. The Clubman's rear seat is not significantly roomier than the regular Cooper, but it does offer an impressive 32.8 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded down. The 2009 Honda Fit also has plenty of personality -- and 57.3 cubic feet allotted for cargo.

BMW did not release a 2008 model of the Cooper, and the model's limited supply along with the cost of fuel resulted in the model selling out that model year. The 2009 MINI carries over relatively unchanged from the previous model, but the Cooper convertible receives numerous modifications, including a larger glass rear window, more cargo room and more color options. Both the hatchback and convertible have base trims and sportier S models.

• "The Mini Cooper is a phenomenal car, which is to say a phenomenon. When you consider its solid feel, cult status and high demand, Mini could price it higher than it does." -- Cars.com
• "Beneath the car's huggable, happy-go-lucky demeanor is a planted, capable sports car." -- Bend Weekly
• "The 2009 Mini Cooper is the automotive equivalent of a boundlessly energetic Jack Russell terrier. Sure, it makes a lot of road noise. Sure, it plays a little rough sometimes. And, well, it's little. But when that pooch is bounding toward you, yipping gaily, lips peeled back in an apparent smile, you can't help but smile back. That's the Mini in a nutshell -- it's not the most refined pup in the litter, but its exuberant personality is bound to win you over." -- Edmunds
• "Hallmarks of the two-door four-seat hatchback's design include sporty handling, distinctive styling and more interior space than its small exterior dimensions might imply." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "All in all, a consumer would be hard pressed to find a better combination of positive attributes than are present in the 2009 Mini Cooper." -- Associated Content
• "The 2009 Mini Cooper Convertible is fun to drive, efficiently packaged and cute. But more complling in these hard times is that Mini's open-top model has the lowest starting price of any new four-seat convertible in the country: $24,550 with manual transmission." -- Associated Press
• Of the MINI Cooper Convertible, Autoblog writes, "The trunk's roomier, the interior gets brought up-to-date, and the rollbar becomes a pop-up unit, significantly improving rearward visibility and giving the Cooper a much cleaner top-down profile. ... Adorable, right? Chicks are gonna dig it." -- Autoblog

Cooper Performance - 8.3 (Very Good)

Driving the MINI is fun, thanks to a recently beefed-up engine and more agile suspension and steering systems. Consumer Guide writes, "Minis may look like economy cars, but these 2008 Recommended picks are actually sporty driving machines." According to Kelley Blue Book, the MINI's "light, easy-to-use clutch, responsive steering and quick-shifting transmission make commuting in the 2009 MINI a blast." Read More

Cooper Exterior - 8.4 (Very Good)

The 2009 MINI is best known for its Euro-chic styling, and reviewers still consider its bodylines as one of the most distinctive designs in its class. According to Car and Driver, the MINI is "Cute to the bone, cute." The modified MINI Convertible is very similar to the hatch, but has a larger glass rear window to improve visibility. Read More

Cooper Interior - 6.6 (Mediocre)

Many writers approve of the MINI Cooper's expandable cargo area and cabin materials. The Associated Press notes, "The interior is well done, with a mix of modern and old style, creating a special environment reminiscent of the Minis of the 1960s." But there are equally negative remarks concerning the shrunken space for sitting in the back and the hard-to-use controls. According to Edmunds, "The 2009 Mini Cooper's interior layout is as head-scratching as the exterior is endearing. The pie-plate-sized, center-mounted speedometer is kitschy (think Flavor Flav's clock necklace) and largely useless. The climate controls aren't finger-friendly, even after familiarization." Read More

Cooper Safety - 9.1 (Excellent)

The MINI does well in federal government and insurance industry crash tests, but not as well as its lengthy list of safety equipment would indicate. Read More

Cooper Reliability - 5.0 (Mediocre)

The 2009 MINI Cooper reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2009 MINI Cooper's new vehicle limited warranty is good for four years or 50,000 miles. Full maintenance is provided for the first three years or 36,000 miles. Read More