Americans are not interested in small cars, except for the Kia Rio and Nissan Versa. Mini Hard is an exception to this norm. However, once-favorite models like the Honda Fit and Ford Fiesta are no longer produced. Sales of Mini’s iconic model (and its Convertible and Electric sisters) increased 8.2% in the calendar year 2022 despite significant supply chain disruptions that negatively impacted the availability of both the base trims and beloved manual transmissions, according to data from Motor Intelligence, while the industry as a whole declined.
Why, then, did Mini sell over 10,000 Hardtops in 2022? Even though the current Hardtop is over ten years old (a brand-new version will debut in 2025), the Mini Faithful continues to purchase the vehicle. This adorable, entertaining vehicle feels and looks unique. The two-door Cooper Hardtop is two inches shorter than a Mazda Miata at 152.1 inches. The Hyundai Kona is longer by more than a foot. Mini also produces a four-door variant with only 159.1 inches in length. The only smaller hatchback is Mitsubishi’s (much less entertaining) Mirage.
For 2022, Mini updated the Cooper Hardtop with new fascias and bumper designs as well as additional standard features, but other than that, this third-generation Cooper is quite similar to what it was in 2014. The new Resolute Edition, which combines distinctive green, white, or black paint with bronze and black accents, is the lone update for 2023. Due to supply chain constraints (which are only starting to ease), manual transmissions and the entry-level Classic trim were out of stock for most of the 2023 model year. As a result, the former mid-grade Signature trim was the only choice, increasing each Hardtop’s cost while adding features.
The Kona (marketed as a crossover but somewhere between a hatchback and an SUV) and its hot N version, the Volkswagen Golf GTI (no longer produced as a two-door), the Kia Soul, and the fact that there are no other vehicles in the two-door hatch class make up the Hardtop’s closest rivals. Honda Civic Sport Touring and Type R, Mazda3, and tiny coupes like the BMW 2 Series and Toyota GR86 are some other rivals that mirror Cooper’s performance and costs in the $30,000 to $45,000 range.
Although most passengers will fit just fine in the front, neither Mini Hardtop has much room for passengers in the back, and tall individuals won’t want to spend much time there. The lengthier Mini Clubman is better than the four-door Hardtop if you need additional space. The Hardtop radiates high-quality materials and superb fit and finishes inside and out for those who fit. Base models can resemble less expensive competitors too closely, but Mini’s many color and upholstery options give them a suitably upscale vibe.
However, with this vehicle, enjoyment comes before room, and the Hardtop delivers. Although the JCW is a rough rider, the faster Cooper S and John Cooper Works (JCW) versions combine turbocharged punch and a solid chassis to provide a gratifying drive. The standard engine is unimpressive. It’s a vehicle for a restricted group of people who like backroad hijinks. However, they will make some sacrifices. The Mini lacks crucial active safety and tech features because of its outdated hardware and software.
Performance: Mini Hardtop
Because three-cylinder engines are as scarce as Minis, the essential Cooper comes with one as standard. In a front-wheel drive vehicle under 2,800 pounds, the turbocharged 1.5-liter three’s 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque are plenty.
There has to be an additional cylinder for actual get-up-and-go. The Cooper S’s 2.0-liter turbo four with 189 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque accelerates to 60 mph in less than two seconds. The JCW adds a retuned suspension, more powerful brakes, more substantial tires, and a throaty exhaust, increasing those numbers to 228 horsepower and 235 pound-feet.
All three grades come standard with a six-speed manual transmission, although it won’t be widely available until the second quarter of 2023. The Cooper and Cooper S Hardtops have a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as an option, but in practice, this has been the sole option for most of 2022 and 2023. Only a two-door model, the JCW features a six-speed manual or an eight-speed conventional automatic transmission.
We’ve driven every variation of this generation, most recently a stick-shift 2023 JCW Hardtop. The engines based on BMW are unbeatable. They feel pretty responsive across the rpm range and are smooth and vibration-free. Only a gear that is too tall will show turbo lag.
Dual-clutch automatics change quickly, but clutch-pedal automobiles are the most exciting. The shifter is uncomfortably lengthy since it is low on the floor, but who cares? In 2023, this is a handbook. Driving at any pace is fun, but the Cooper is happiest in third gear on rural roads.
The JCW has outstanding braking performance and a solid pedal feel. The tight springs prevent body lean, but the ride is more challenging due to the short wheelbase and the inability of the dampers to soften hard impacts. Any Mini Cooper will make you feel moist, but the JCW makes the sensation particularly strong.
The benefit is an automobile that can squeeze into any space through minor gaps. If the steering had the same level of communication as the chassis, handling would be even better. The steering feels numb off-center and filters too much road surface as it is tweaked. It seems strange to overcorrect your line in such a little vehicle, and the Mini appears more significant than it is.
Fuel efficiency: Mini Hardtop
The standard Cooper should be pleased with its EPA-rated 29 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, and 32 mpg combined estimations since compact vehicles should have low fuel usage. The Cooper S is just slightly slower than average in both city and combined cycles, and four-door vehicles are almost comparable to their two-door counterparts in every way. Manual cars perform somewhat worse since they have one less gear, achieving the Cooper S 23 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined.
With a manual transmission, the JCW performs poorly, achieving 22 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the interstate, and 25 mpg overall (and three to four mpg more in each test with an automatic). Unlike the engines used by Mazda, every Mini needs premium gas, and its engines aren’t built to operate normally at a lesser power.
The Cooper gets 29 mpg on average across all grades, which puts it above the Kona N, Volkswagen GTI, and Golf R and roughly in line with the Hyundai Kona and Kia Soul. It’s important to note that the JCW only has front-wheel drive, but the Golf R and Kona (non-N) provide all-wheel movement.
Safety and driver support technology:
Eight airbags, including two front knee airbags, front emergency braking, and lane departure warning, are all standard on the 2023 Mini Cooper. In testing conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2023 Hardtop received four out of a possible five stars, with the rear seat receiving a lower rating (three stars) for side impacts. Compared to the other small-car segments, their outcomes are poor.
Although there haven’t been any significant structural modifications since the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) last tested a Hardtop 2 Door in 2016, the organization’s more difficult small-overlap frontal collision test lacks data. The Hardtop, however, received the highest “good” grade in four crash tests.
Additionally, Mini lacks active safety measures. Automatic emergency braking, frontal collision warnings, and lane departure alerts are standard; however, adaptive cruise control, parking assistance, and blind spot monitoring are only available as part of a driver assistance package that is now seldom available.
Comfort and Space
The two-door Mini has just 30.8 inches of back legroom called a “mini.” That is tiny by any standard and makes its three rivals, the GTI (35.0), Kona (35.2), and Soul (38.8), seem more significant than they are. Even the BMW 2 Series coupe has somewhat less rear legroom (32.2 inches), and climbing back into it is precisely as difficult as getting into the back seats of the two-door Mini.
With tiny rear door apertures and just 32.8 inches of back legroom, the four-door Hardtop is only somewhat more spacious but is still relatively small. This half-measure seems less satisfactory for those who genuinely want the space than the Clubman wagon, which is almost the same to drive but more significant enough to feel pretty comfortable and practical (34.3 inches of back legroom).
Supportive seats, cushioned surfaces, and high-quality switches are provided for the driver and passenger up front. Since the canopy is high and the seats are low, there is enough headroom for people six feet tall. A standard panoramic moonroof increases the feeling of openness.
Infotainment: Mini Hardtop
The Mini’s rebranded BMW iDrive software operates on a standard 8.8-inch touchscreen. It sometimes has fun features, like when you put the vehicle in sports mode and a massive pair of cartoon sunglasses emerge. Still, most of the time, it looks outdated since it lacks a 360-degree camera view, the ability to configure driving modes, and the ability to run wireless Apple CarPlay. Until recently, CarPlay was an optional accessory; however, it is now included on the de facto entry-level Signature trim. Android Auto is absent on the standard Cooper and Cooper S, and navigation is an additional expense.
Mini’s most unique and finest feature is the LED mood ring that surrounds the screen. When you adjust the volume, the round changes color and replicates your actions by lighting up in a coordinated pattern. When you see it in operation, it may function as a tachometer, flash alerts for the built-in rear parking sensors, and surprise you. It is quirky yet practical for daily driving.
Since the matte-finish cover that protects the oval-shaped digital instrument panel from glare does not cover the display, it looks fuzzy. Working quickly at a glance is challenging. The shortcut buttons for the primary infotainment display are also uncomfortable since they are too close together and too low to the armrest.
Storage & Cargo Space:
Although it may seem unjust, criticizing the Mini for its constrained load capacity is accurate. There are just 8.7 cubic feet behind the back seats of the two-door, hardly enough for a medium-sized shopping run, and 34.0 cubic feet when the heart is folded. With a healthy 13.1 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 40.7 with it folded, the four-door version, which is 5 inches longer overall, does better, but it’s still not a large hold.
The Mirage Hatchback, the smallest automobile on the market, offers 17 cubic feet of space behind its rear seats and 47 with the seats folded. The Hyundai Kona is one of the minor crossovers, but compared to the Mini, it’s enormous at 19.2 and 45.8 cubic feet. The Soul offers up to 62.1 cubic feet using its even higher, boxier frame. The inside of the GTI is smaller than it ought to be, and the maximum load capacity of the two-door Cooper is comparable. The Mini does, at the very least, provide more room than most typically designed trunk-equipped vehicles, like the 2 Series or Mirage G4 sedan.
Additionally, interior storage is scarce. The central cubby is cramped, while the door pockets are shallow and narrow.
Design: Mini Hardtop
For aesthetic reasons, Mini exists. Any model may be recognized as a Mini immediately, but only the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door can trace its origins to the original 1959 design. Due to its low, squat stance, short wheelbase, lofty roof, and stubby overhangs, Mini refers to the Cooper as a “bulldog.” It maximizes its bulk without seeming too heavy. The substantial LED rings on the headlights and the Union Jack brake lights are cute without being tacky.
Another feature of the Mini is personalization. The fun quotient is enhanced with racing stripes, contrasting paint on the top and mirrors (including a multi-color gradient finish), quirky wheels, and distinctive materials. The Cooper doesn’t undergo much alteration from one generation to the next for a reason. The design touts its uniqueness and simplicity.
Is the 2023 Mini Hardtop Worth it?
The two-door and four-door 2023 Mini Cooper Hardtop versions feature the three-cylinder engine, with the two-door starting at $29,595* and the four-door costing $30,695, respectively (both prices include a $995 destination charge). The starting prices for the 2.0-liter Cooper S models—$33,195 for the two-door and $34,295 for the four-door—are higher than those for the JCW ($38,795).
Beyond those ranges, there are trims and choices. Since adding extras might rapidly elevate the Hardtop into the luxury vehicle category, we suggest sticking with the Cooper S, which is in the middle, the standard Signature package—and the two-door version.
Although the four doors increase practicality, the Clubman Cooper S, which costs just $1,300 more and has a far more helpful rear seat, has a much larger back seat. The $3,925 Iconic trim (which adds navigation, premium sound, parking sensors, and wireless charging) is the only way to get more options and gear than the adequately equipped Signature trim.
If you get the $500 Multitone roof on the Cooper S and forego the other options, your final price will be $33,695. The fact that Mini doesn’t charge extra for colors or most wheel options is beneficial. In addition, Mini offers three maintenance appointments (three years or 36,000 miles), one of which includes a brake cleaning.
The JCW isn’t worth the price at the top end since every rival can outdrive it on straight lines and curves, with the Kona N, in particular, outgunning it by a significant margin at a lower price. The sweet point is the Cooper S. If you want a two-door hatchback among compact vehicles, there is virtually no other choice.
How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Mini Hardtop?
The Mini Hardtop is generally less costly to insure than its rivals. Our statistics show that the national average yearly premium for a Cooper S two-door for a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record is $1,999. JCW customers may anticipate an additional $100 in yearly premiums. Comparatively, the Hyundai Kona N costs $1,938, the BMW 230i Coupe costs $2,584, and the Volkswagen Golf GTI Autobahn costs $2,217.
Verdict
After receiving a minor update last year, the well-known Mini Hardtop continues to march to its blend of eccentric style and small-car fun. It offers a distinctive alternative to crossovers and other small four-door vehicles that can’t match its personality, style, and variety of color, engine, and trim choices since the base version is now the sole classic two-door hatchback still for sale in the U.S. The four-door model, however, doesn’t appear as appealing as the bigger Mini Clubman, and problems with the supply chain have hurt the cost, the specifications, and the availability of manual transmissions.
