When the first modern MINI Cooper came out in 2000, it was an instant hit. Although the MINI Cooper was never competitive in terms of practicality, economy, or pricing, Frank Stephenson's design still looked amazing and it didn't look out of place even when parked next to six-figure vehicles. The design was so successful in fact that even the 2025 MINI Cooper closely resembles the original. Furthermore, all MINI Coopers were extremely fun to drive which meant they appealed to car enthusiasts just as much as they did to the average driver. At first glance, the 2025 MINI Cooper won't be much different as the 2-liter ICE engine will remain on offer in two different trims or power levels. An all-electric MINI will also be available for the 2025 generation. Other novelties include a completely redesigned interior that features an industry-first, round infotainment screen. And while the exterior still looks very much like a MINI Cooper, it's miles more modern than before, plus the designers had much more courage when it comes to straying away from the traditional design. Unfortunately, MINI has yet to reveal more details about the 2025 Cooper but join us as we explore all the information we have at this time. However, if you are looking for any of the older MINI Cooper generations, you can always find a few examples at Exotic Car Trader.
The fundamental design of the 2025 MINI Cooper's face looks almost identical to the 2023 model, or the previous generation. However, the 2025 MINI Cooper looks much cleaner and more reserved. Even the Sporty S version looks more like an EV than a hot hatchback. Gone are the big intakes for brake cooling, the side intakes, and even the hood intake. That said, it does look much classier than before, but such a radical design change will definitely alter the customer base to a certain degree. The side profile also looks much cleaner with fewer plastic trims and no fender vent. At the same time, the 2025 MINI Cooper has much more pronounced fenders and rear quarter panels which almost make it resemble a Delta Integrale or an Impreza 22B. And that's always a good thing. It also means a more aggressive front end would really compliment the rest of the design better than before, but it's unfortunately something we won't get to see. In the rear, the MINI gets an entirely new shape for the tail lights that are connected with a trim that features the model name. That design cue makes the MINI look much more upscale than before.
The interior of any MINI Cooper generation always looked miles different from anything else on the market. That's largely thanks to a huge tachometer mounted in the middle of the dashboard and a small rev counter right in front of the driver. MINIs also feature attractive toggle switches, seats, and more. The basic design is still the same for the 2025 generation, although it's much more modern. The tachometer is now a huge round display that doubles as the infotainment system, and the climate controls. The rev counter is unfortunately no longer there despite ICEs still remaining in production. But there is a cut-out in the dashboard in front of the steering wheel which leads us to believe the 2025 MINI will have a heads-up display at least as an option. There are still a few toggle switches but now they are only used for starting the engine, the hazard lights, and infotainment shortcuts. On top of everything, the 2025 MINI uses futuristic and unconventional materials with some amazing color/design patterns which add a ton of character to an already interesting hatchback. Interior lighting is also standard and includes pattern projectors that shine on top of the dashboard and we believe that's another industry first. Overall, the 2025 MINI will definitely have one of the most interesting interiors ever made, especially for a car of its size and price point.
The new 2025 MINI Cooper ditches the old 1.5-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine in favor of the 2-liter four-cylinder. Previously, the 1.5 made 134 horsepower while the 2-liter made 189. For 2025, MINI only gets the 2-liter engine with 201 horsepower for the S trim and a less powerful version of the same engine for the C trim. In the C trim, the MINI makes 154 horsepower. That means both engines will be more than powerful enough to make the MINI a fun car to drive, and with a 6.6 second 0-62 time in the S trim, it's also fairly competitive as a hot hatch. Naturally, an EV version will also be available at a later date. Interestingly, the John Cooper Works might just be a full EV, if we get one at all. As for transmission options, MINI brought back manuals from the last generation, but it's unknown if they will be available for the 2025 generation. What we know for sure is that the old 7-speed DCT automatic remains.
The previous generation, the 2024 MINI Cooper started at $25,800 for which you received the 1.5 three-cylinder engine and two doors. The entry-level MINI Cooper 2025 now starts at $29,945 which is largely thanks to the fact you are now getting a four-cylinder engine with noticeably more power and flexibility. On a positive note, the MINI Cooper S now starts at $33,195 which isn't a huge difference over the C trim, and it's even less of a difference when compared to the previous generation S trim which started at $30,900. All this means you won't get the chance to spend less on a MINI Cooper, but you will get your money's worth. At the same time, buyers will likely get more standard equipment to further justify the price increase, but even without it, Cooper now looks like a much more expensive car than before.
MINI, similar to its parent company BMW, emphasizes engaging the driver by supporting manual transmissions and traditional internal combustion engines. However, it also embraces modernity, as evident in its futuristic exterior and interior designs. This blend makes it unique, offering the best of both traditional and contemporary automotive worlds, especially with an internal combustion engine (ICE) powertrain. This dual approach distinguishes the MINI Cooper as particularly relevant in 2025, even before considering its highly appealing design, both inside and out.
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