The Mini Cooper maintains a lot of what made the original Mini so popular. It's fun to drive and has easy-to-reach limits, and its diminutive size makes it a great city car. But the drawbacks include a serious lack of storage, lackluster fuel economy and a convoluted infotainment system.Read full review
Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the Edmunds YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.
3/26/2024
The 2024 Mini Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is the smallest vehicle in Mini's lineup, but that's really not saying much as the largest vehicle the company makes is a subcompact SUV. This spritely little hatchback packs a lot of personality, due in no small part to its heritage as an economical and sporty British runabout. Many decades later, it's owned and built by BMW and benefits greatly from improved reliability and technology. It's been 10 years since this third-generation Mini debuted and a fully redesigned model is due next year.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door John Cooper Works 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.99 per gallon for premium unleaded in Connecticut.
No matter which Mini Cooper model you choose, you're guaranteed to have a good time behind the wheel. This is partially due to its tiny size that makes it one of the more nimble and maneuverable vehicles on the road. The base model may not be all that powerful, but it can still get your blood pumping, as pointed out in our test team's Expert Rating below. For the full effect, we suggest stepping up to the more potent Cooper S version. It also allows for some more customization choices.
Competitors to consider
There are a few other small hatchbacks worth checking out. The Mazda 3 comes in a four-door hatchback version with sleek styling and a near-luxury interior. The available turbocharged engine is a legitimate performer. The roomier Honda Civic is a bit more traditional, though the higher-performing Si and Type R models rival the sportiest Mini variants. Finally, there's the zippy Volkswagen GTI and all-wheel-drive Golf R that are sure to please with their strong build quality and refinement.
What’s it like to live with?
To get a more complete ownership experience, Edmunds added a 2023 Mini Cooper S Hardtop 2 Door to its long-term test fleet. Over the course of a year, we're covering everything you need to know about the Mini, including performance, comfort, convenience, and any bright spots or drawbacks. Check out the latest impressions here.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
Driven, tested, rated by automotive expert Nick Yekikian
Senior News Editor
Nick Yekikian has worked in the automotive industry since 2019. He has written close to a thousand car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 200 vehicles over the course of his career. Nick is the Senior News Editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Automobile Magazine and Super Street. When Nick isn't zipping around town in his latest used-car find, he's probably making digital art in Photoshop or playing disc golf with friends.
We drove the 2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
Performance
7.5/10
How does the Hardtop 2 Door drive? The Mini presents like it might have more style than substance, but in fact the opposite is true in the handling department. It is its own small bundle of fun, even if it is less powerful than almost any of its competitors. Our test Mini Cooper S, equipped with the quick-shifting automatic transmission, scooted from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds. That's a full half-second slower than the Volkswagen Golf GTI with its dual-clutch automatic but bests the manual-shift-only Honda Civic Si.
When hauling yourself down from speed, the Cooper S is lacking compared to rivals. It took us 120 feet to stop from 60 mph. The Golf GTI needed just 103 feet and the Civic Si 106 feet. The brake pedal feel is too soft and far from communicative — simply put, the brakes are the Mini's biggest dynamic fault. Its steering and handling, on the other hand, are twitchy and alive and give the Mini a stout handling character that almost reminds us of the Minis of old. Its performance is both easy to access and fun to dig into, and we like that about this generation of Mini.
Comfort
7/10
How comfortable is the Hardtop 2 Door? Minis have always been known for their harsh ride, and the Hardtop doesn't change that. Even the smallest road imperfections incessantly make their way into the cabin. Our test car produced lots of road and wind noise too. The Mini does claw some comfort points back, however. The front seats are very comfortable and fit a range of body sizes. There's also enough headroom for drivers who are above average height to fit in easily.
Interior
7.5/10
How’s the interior? Everything inside the Mini is easy to reach. The doors are long and the openings are large enough to make getting into the front seats a breeze and the back only a small hassle. We also like the Mini's driving position, which feels low down and in the heart of the car.
Visibility is also surprisingly good. The Mini's roof pillars are thin enough that they don't obstruct a driver's view and there are practically no blind spots to speak of. It also has a surprisingly airy cabin for such a small car and never feels cramped inside even with other passengers on board.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Save as much as $1,420 with Edmunds Click on the trim you’re interested in to see what Edmunds suggests you should pay to get a good deal. Savings vary by trim; $1,420 refers to estimated savings off of MSRP for the John Cooper Works trim.
2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door John Cooper Works pricing in Wethersfield, CT
How’s the tech? Because Mini is owned by BMW, a lot of the Cooper's interface is based on an older version of BMW's entertainment interface. That means there's a rotary control flanked by shortcut buttons and a touchscreen. The circular element that the screen sits inside means a very wide, almost letterbox-shaped screen that's compromised. We know the central speedometer is a classic Mini touch, but it might be time to move on from that design motif.
Aside from that, the infotainment is relatively easy to get used to. The shortcut buttons work well, and it has wired and wireless Apple CarPlay but lacks Android Auto. Driver aids are pretty limited too.
Storage
6.5/10
How’s the storage? As you might have guessed, storage is minimal. The cargo area behind the rear seats is just 8.7 cubic feet, which simply pales in comparison to something like a Volkswagen Golf GTI. If you fold the seats down, you get enough storage for bigger items like a set of golf bags, but the seats don't fold flat and the parcel shelf is a pain to remove. The entire process of making the Mini's rear hatch area a usable storage space can only be described as a burden.
There are two cupholders up front, but they're small. That in tandem with a tiny center console and minuscule door pockets means small-item storage is also far from ideal. Fitting a car seat isn't exactly simple either, and having to squeeze one between the rear pillar and a folded front seat is an exercise in extreme patience. All in all, don't expect the Mini to match the practicality of a bigger hatch like the Golf or a sedan like the Honda Civic Si or Hyundai Elantra N.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Fuel Economy
7.5/10
How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the Cooper S, which is what we tested, gets 31 mpg combined, which is pretty good for a sporty car. Unfortunately, we've found it difficult to match that number in real-world driving.
Value
7.5/10
Is the Hardtop 2 Door a good value? The Mini Hardtop has solid build quality and an upscale cabin. Its performance numbers are worse than its rivals, but in the real world it would be hard to notice the difference. Mini's warranty coverage is generally on par with other small-hatch manufacturers. Mini also offers three years/36,000 miles of free maintenance, which helps elevate its ownership experience over other brands that compete in this space.
Wildcard
9/10
There's something permanently fun about a Mini. It's like nothing else on the road. Add to that a lengthy list of customization options and you end up with a car that has significantly more personality than most cars. It's also fun to drive and has easy-to-approach limits, and with a manual transmission, we think it would make an excellent first car for any budding enthusiast.
Which Hardtop 2 Door does Edmunds recommend?
We suggest checking out the Cooper S in the lineup. This midrange model packs a more powerful punch than the base model without punishing you with the stiff ride quality you'd get in the top John Cooper Works Edition. We'd also stick with the entry-level Classic trim since the Signature trim's added features don't quite justify the out-of-pocket premium.
2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door John Cooper Works 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
Solid and nimble with great handling. A joy to drive.
Very fun.
5 out of 5 stars
Poodle guy, 12/13/2024
2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door John Cooper Works 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
I ordered this after driving a Mini Cooper S for 3 years which I loved. This one has a manual and is quite an upgrade from the S. Better brakes, suspension, handling, more power, and as my daughter so eloquently described it the ride is less awful than my S. (Ride quality is not Mini’s strong suit but it’s part of the go-kart feeling). Like the S the main complaint is that it even has … two non sport modes. Like who ever uses them. Also I could do without the “enhanced” sound you get in sport mode.
The Cheapest EVs You Can Buy Today | Most Affordable Electric Cars & SUVs for 2024
NOTE: This video is about the 2023 MINI Hardtop 2 Door, but since the 2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door is part of the same generation, our earlier analysis still applies.
While electric vehicles, in general, remain pricier than their internal combustion-engine counterparts, there are still a decent number of affordable models to choose from — some of which may surprise you. In this video, Edmunds’ Nick Yekikian goes through the cheapest EVs currently available!
Key safety features on the Hardtop 2 Door include:
Back-up camera
Lane Departure Warning
Tire Pressure Warning
Stability Control
Pre-collision safety system
Post-collision safety system
NHTSA Overall Rating 4 out of 5 stars
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Rating
Overall
4 / 5
Driver
4 / 5
Passenger
5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Rating
Overall
4 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Rating
Overall
4 / 5
Driver
5 / 5
Passenger
3 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Rating
Front Seat
5 / 5
Back Seat
3 / 5
Rollover
Rating
Rollover
4 / 5
Dynamic Test Result
No Tip
Risk Of Rollover
11.1%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good
FAQ
Is the MINI Hardtop 2 Door a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2024 Hardtop 2 Door both on the road and at the track, giving it a 7.4 out of 10. What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Hardtop 2 Door has 8.7 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a MINI Hardtop 2 Door. Learn more
What's new in the 2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door:
The base Classic trim returns to the lineup
Minor feature availability changes
Part of the third Hardtop generation introduced for 2014
To determine whether the MINI Hardtop 2 Door is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Hardtop 2 Door. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Hardtop 2 Door's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2024 Hardtop 2 Door and gave it a 7.4 out of 10. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2024 Hardtop 2 Door is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door?
The least-expensive 2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door is the 2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door John Cooper Works 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $35,400.
Other versions include:
John Cooper Works 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) which starts at $35,400
What are the different models of MINI Hardtop 2 Door?
If you're interested in the MINI Hardtop 2 Door, the next question is, which Hardtop 2 Door model is right for you? Hardtop 2 Door variants include John Cooper Works 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M). For a full list of Hardtop 2 Door models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
Related 2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door John Cooper Works info
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