The Mini Cooper is a unique subcompact car with unmistakable styling. It wears its British heritage well, and its boxy shape yields a more spacious interior than you might expect.
The unique Mini has few direct rivals, but possible competitors include the entry-level Chevrolet Spark, the Kia Soul and Fiat 500X SUVs, and the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ coupes. There’s nothing else on sale today quite like the Mini Cooper.
There are four trims and three body styles available in the Mini Cooper lineup. You can get the Mini Cooper as a 2-door hardtop, 4-door hardtop, or 2-door convertible. The four trims are mechanically different, and we’ll dig into those details below.
Additionally, a few sub-trims are available for the Mini Cooper: Classic, Iconic, and Signature. The sub-trim determines the feature content in the car. For example, the Signature sub-trim has standard features like leatherette seating, Apple CarPlay, and a panoramic moonroof. Upgrading to the Iconic sub-trim brings leather seating, a head-up display, navigation, further customization options, and more.
Luckily for driving purists, you can still get a Mini Cooper with a manual transmission. However, the electric SE model is automatic-only since it uses a single-speed transmission.
Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard on all Mini Cooper models. If you like the idea of a Mini with all-wheel drive (AWD), consider the wagon-like Mini Clubman or the Mini Countryman SUV.
When looking at the prices below, keep in mind that they’re for the base model of each respective trim. Upgrading to a higher sub-trim or adding options will raise the prices.
Without further ado, let’s look at the many different variants of the Mini Cooper available and find the right one for you.
2023 Mini Cooper (starting at $23,400 for 2-door, $24,400 for 4-door, $28,400 for convertible)
The 2023 Mini Cooper 4-door starts at $24,400.
The standard Mini Cooper comes powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-3 engine rated at 134 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. This engine is good on gas, returning up to 29 city/38 highway mpg with the automatic transmission and 27 city/37 highway mpg with the manual.
Classic sub-trim versions feature leatherette seating, cruise control, air conditioning, LED headlights and taillights, a digital instrument display, and an 8.8-inch infotainment system with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay.
Standard safety features in the Mini Cooper include the Active Driving Assistant with forward collision warning and lane-departure warning, a backup camera, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, rear parking sensors, and eight airbags.
The Signature sub-trim of the Mini Cooper has 16-inch alloy wheels, more paint color and contrast roof/mirror options, a panoramic moonroof, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a folding cargo floor, and ambient interior lighting.
Upgrade to the top Iconic sub-trim, and you’ll enjoy even more visual customization options, a choice of 16-inch or 17-inch wheels, a head-up display, wireless charging, navigation, a heated steering wheel, and premium leather upholstery.
Newly added for the 2023 model year, the Resolute Edition adds a Rebel Green paint job, Pepper White roof (substituted by a black soft top on the Convertible), bronze exterior accents, 19-inch black-painted alloys, along with black leatherette and cream-colored tweed seats. It’s available on Cooper S versions of the 2-door Hardtop, 4-door Hatch, Convertible, and SE Electric Hardtop. Pricing for the Resolute Edition starts at $35,900.
After adding the $850 destination fee that applies to all Mini models, the base price of the Mini Cooper comes to $24,250. With a 60-month loan at 3% interest, a base Mini Cooper would cost about $436/month. See 2023 Mini Cooper models for sale near you.
2023 Mini Cooper includes:
Apple CarPlay — Apple CarPlay comes standard in every Mini model for 2023.
Active Driving Assistant — This includes a forward-collision warning and lane-departure warning.
Rear Parking Sensors — This handy feature makes backing up safer and easier.
2023 Mini Cooper S (starting at $26,900 for 2-door, $27,900 for 4-door, $31,900 for convertible)
The 2023 Mini Cooper S 2-door starts at $26,900.
The S model is in the sweet spot of features and value for most drivers. It delivers a more exciting drive with its energetic 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine producing 189 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. It returns up to 28 city/38 highway mpg with the automatic transmission and 23 city/33 highway mpg with the manual.
On top of the engine upgrade, a few extra standard features over the non-S model include more heavily bolstered front seats, heated mirrors, and three drive modes (Sport, Mid, Green). It also has an appearance package with a hood scoop, a sporty grille, and a different rear fascia with a center-exit exhaust.
Other than those details, the features and content of the Signature and Iconic sub-trims are very similar to the base model.
With a 60-month loan at 3% interest, the Mini Cooper S has a starting monthly payment of about $499. See 2023 Mini Cooper S models for sale near you.
2023 Mini Cooper S includes:
Turbo-four engine — This eager engine makes the Mini Cooper a blast to drive while returning good fuel economy and keeping the price reasonable.
Sport seats — These seats have just the right amount of bolstering to be sporty yet comfortable.
Drive modes — The Sport, Mid, and Green drive modes let you customize your drive to your liking.
2023 Mini Cooper SE (starting at $29,900)
The 2023 Mini Cooper SE starts at $29,900.
The Mini Cooper SE is an all-electric hatchback and one of the most affordable EVs. Its electric range is only 114 miles on a full charge, but that’s plenty if you’re only using your Mini for city driving. It’s rated at 181 hp and 110 combined city/highway MPGe.
It’s worth noting that the SE model is only available as a 2-door hardtop. You can’t get an all-electric 4-door or convertible Mini. The plug-in hybrid Mini Countryman SE SUV is another electrified option in the Mini family.
The standard and available features of the SE model are pretty similar to the S model. However, the SE has a unique Signature Plus sub-trim available with a panoramic moonroof, Harman/Kardon premium audio, and an auto-dimming mirror with a universal garage door opener.
If you get the electric Mini Cooper SE with a 60-month loan at 3% interest, a monthly payment starts at about $553. See 2023 Mini Cooper SE models for sale near you.
2023 Mini Cooper SE includes:
Electric motor — The all-electric Mini makes 181 hp and goes up to 114 miles on a full charge.
Signature Plus sub-trim — This adds some premium features like a panoramic moonroof, premium audio, and more.
Yellow trim — Unique yellow “S” badges indicate that this Mini is sporty but eco-friendly.
2023 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works (starting at $32,900 for 2-door, $38,900 for convertible)
The 2023 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works starts at $32,900.
The John Cooper Works (JCW) model is the sportiest variant for the Mini Cooper, and it’s only available as a 2-door hardtop or convertible. Power comes from a sportier version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine making 228 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. It’s also the least fuel-efficient Mini Cooper getting up to 25 city/34 highway mpg with the automatic and 22 city/31 highway mpg with the manual.
Additional standard features over the S model include a more aggressive appearance package, JCW suspension, Brembo front brakes, a sportier interior with more lateral support in the seats, and a unique steering wheel.
The JCW model also has the Signature and Iconic sub-trims available, essentially the same as on the lower trims.
The high-performance Mini Cooper John Cooper Works has a starting monthly payment of about $606, assuming a 60-month loan at 3% interest. See 2023 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works models for sale near you.
2023 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works includes:
228 hp — This turbocharged engine gives the Mini a tremendous power-to-weight ratio.
Aggressive appearance package — The JCW model has a look to match its performance with red trim, a big grille, and a prominent rear spoiler.
Sport suspension and brakes — The performance-tuned suspension and Brembo front brakes are unique to the JCW model.
