New Mini Cooper review -- Petrol (ICE) 2025 Cooper S and Cooper SE electric hatc
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00:00They don't get much more iconic than the Mini Cooper and this is the new generation version which is available with petrol or electric power
00:06I'm going to tell you all about the new model range
00:09Including the different variants available and the costs you need to consider and also the best
00:14Alternatives to the petrol and electric versions of this car. So if you haven't already please like and subscribe and let's get to it
00:20This is a pretty complex model range. There's the Mini Cooper C
00:29Which is a petrol powered entry-level version and it's available with three different trim grades. There's core
00:35There's classic and then there's favored and there is a bit of difference in terms of the standard spec across those three models
00:42and then there's the petrol powered Cooper S which gets a more powerful engine and
00:46Plenty more torque and also it's available with three different grades as well. There's classic there's favored and JCW sport
00:54So if you are after a petrol model of a Mini Cooper
00:57There are a few different choices for you. And then there's the electric versions as well, which are a little bit more expensive
01:03There's the Mini Cooper E and it is a more sedate model
01:08And then there's the Mini Cooper SE which has a bit more power a bit more torque and also a bigger battery
01:15But also a bigger price point now
01:17I'm not going to go through all the standard equipment inclusions because it would just take too long
01:21But there are a few things I want to call out you get alloy wheels in all grades
01:24You also get LED headlights and daytime running lights and LED taillights as well
01:29And on the inside you get a twist starter rather than a push button
01:33You've also got a 9.4 inch touchscreen media system and that's a circle
01:37of course it is and there's Apple CarPlay Android Auto and
01:41Plenty more features as well as that wireless charging is standard and you also get a head-up display as standard and a heated steering wheel
01:48Standard too. Now if you spend a little bit more you get things like electric seat adjustment with massaging and different interior trim
01:55But I reckon that it is still pretty good value in the entry-level models
01:58And in fact, I reckon across the range there is a decent amount of value to be had in this Mini Cooper lineup
02:04But I've got some great alternatives that you might also want to consider
02:07Okay, so if you're looking for an electric alternative to the Mini Cooper
02:10Well, what about the tiny little Abarth 500e if you're after the sporty version or the standard Fiat 500e?
02:18Both of which are a lot of fun
02:20They are full of character full of charm and have wow factor interiors
02:24which make them stand out from some of the rivals out there and so does the pricing and so does the EV driving range because
02:30Well, you're not necessarily getting huge value for money if that is your metric
02:34But if you are looking for something with charm and a tiny footprint it could be a really good choice for you
02:41And if you're looking for a petrol car that has a tiny footprint and plenty of charm and costs a whole lot less
02:48Then you might want to go and check out the Kia Picanto
02:50It's available in a few different trim grades and the GT line version makes a lot of sense for someone who is looking for a
02:56Stylish little car that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. It is petrol powered
03:01It's got manual or automatic transmission options and I reckon it stands out as a really good option if you are after something
03:08That's just tiny and city friendly. It could be the right car for you
03:11Oh and another really good petrol alternative you might want to consider is the Skoda Fabia
03:16It's now available with a more affordable select version
03:19But there's also the sporty Monte Carlo one
03:22Which actually does seem pretty good value for money compared to the petrol versions of the Mini Cooper
03:27But tell me which one you would pick in the comment section below
03:32So this is the petrol version of the Mini Cooper and it's not that much different to the existing version
03:37It's just under 3.9 meters in length and it still has a 2.5 meter wheelbase or thereabouts and
03:44The electric versions. Well, they're actually different
03:47they've got a longer wheelbase and that's because they're built on a different platform and
03:52They're actually a little bit shorter nose to tail
03:55So the proportions are just ever so slightly different but all versions are very very tiny
04:01So that's the whole point of a Mini, right?
04:03So let's have a look in the boot and see what we are dealing with
04:07Now all versions electric or petrol have the same boot capacity. You'll see the number on your screen now. And yes, that is small
04:13It's actually quite a compact boot and there's not a whole lot to talk about in here
04:18Except for the fact that you do have a false floor and you've got a tyre repair kit and a first aid kit underneath there
04:24but otherwise, you've got a light and
04:27That's kind of about it when it comes to what's happening in the boot
04:31So look, I think it's going to be practical enough for singles or maybe as a second or third car for your family
04:37but if you have a family you might be better off looking at the Mini Countryman as
04:41Your only Mini if you're only going to have one
04:46All right, so this is the interior of the new generation Mini Cooper
04:50This one here is the petrol model and I reckon it looks absolutely fantastic
04:54Just have a look at some of the finishes on offer in this version. Now. This is a Cooper S favored edition
05:01So you're getting a few elements that are a bit different to the other trim levels things like this
05:06Coppery look finish on the trim elements of the steering wheel and on the badge
05:10You've also got different design elements up here on the dashboard
05:14You can see the ambient lighting coming through there underneath on the dashboard, which is a fabric finish
05:20And it looks absolutely amazing looks even better at night
05:24Down here is a bit different to the versions with the electric powertrain. And look, I don't think that it's necessarily
05:32That big of a deal. It's just a little bit different because well, this one is the petrol one
05:37So you do have a few elements to this cabin, which are a little bit peculiar
05:41So this is your twist dial key essentially for your engine starter
05:48Look I won't turn it on because it'll be too noisy
05:51But look there's also your park button there your gear selector is there that button right there is your experiences button
05:57So, let's see what happens when you hit that button
05:59You can go through different modes that you might want to drive in you can personalize things as well
06:05so there is a personal mode there so you can set a photo on the screen if you want to and go-kart mode, which is
06:12The fun one. Yes, so
06:14Depending on which experience mode you're in it will determine what the screen looks like and how you interact with it
06:21But it is a pretty in-depth and interesting design element to this car
06:26Which makes it even more characterful so you can see the ambient lighting has changed because we've changed drive modes and when you're driving
06:33It changes the way the car drives as well to a degree at least right. So this screen is very complex
06:39There's a lot going on here. I'll just go into one of the menu screens here or you've got sat-nav. So
06:46Here just have a look at how many menus you've got to play with on this screen. It is
06:52Intense. This is a tech heavy car and they haven't missed the mark there
06:57So look, there's other elements to the screen which do take a little bit of learning sat-nav
07:01Look, you've got your climate controls there
07:04So you don't have to dive through screens to jump to those quick controls like your climate control
07:09And I love that. I think that it adds something to this experience
07:13And yes, you do have a heated steering wheel as standard, which is really cool
07:17This version also comes with heated seats and also they have electric seat adjustment and massaging as well
07:24So look you're not missing out when it comes to the gear and I reckon that it is an interesting design
07:30There's no doubt about that
07:32It will take a bit of learning to get used to this screen
07:34And it'll also take a little bit of learning to get used to the fact that you don't have a traditional
07:39Instrument cluster in front of the steering wheel, but you do have a head-up display
07:43And it is standard on all grades and that is a good thing because if it was just the Speedo
07:48Which shows up here when you're driving it wouldn't be ideal
07:51I don't think. Now I want to show you a couple of other things about the cabin
07:55So you've got some cup holders down there. That is your wireless phone charger and there's a little I guess
08:01Attachment strap there so you can put it in place and it won't move around
08:04There's a little cubby between the seats here where you can put your key if you want to
08:08And you've also got a center arm rest, but it doesn't actually open and it doesn't move
08:13So it's sort of just a static armrest underneath there
08:16You've got some USB ports and a 12-volt and in the doors
08:20There are well pretty small pockets, but you can fit a bottle in there
08:24If you really need to it just might rattle around so maybe get used to that
08:28There's also these beautifully designed seats, which might look like leather, but they're not they're a fake leather trim because that's the eco-credential thing happening
08:36in the new generation mini range
08:39There's no cows harmed in the making of this car and there's lots of recycled materials as well
08:44Now this version also comes with a dual sunroof
08:49So you've got an opening section at the front and another glass section at the back with a shade which is kind of cool
08:55So let's take a look in the back and see what the comfort is like if there is any
09:00So this seat I've set to a position where I could drive right and it's not necessarily super comfortable
09:06My knees are hard up against the seat ahead and you can see for yourself that headroom is tight
09:11I'm six foot tall and anyone my height or taller will struggle back here
09:16But it's not a family car. And if you have tall teenagers, well, there is the countryman and it is a much more spacious
09:23SUV so that's what you need. It could be a better choice for you. Now, let's have a look at the backseat itself
09:28Look, there's only two seats two seat belts and ISO fix points in the window seats
09:33And also, of course, you've got top tethers as well
09:36But look this middle section here is just sort of a hump to keep you in place
09:40I guess you don't get directional vents. You just get a bottle holder there. You've got armrests on the side
09:46But they're a scratchy plastic. There's no map pockets. So it is a pretty bare-bones
09:52Experience back here. But like I said, if you are looking for a more luxurious experience in your Mini
09:58Well, there's the countryman and there's going to be the Aceman as well
10:02Make sure you've hit subscribe and rang the bell to keep up to date with all of my reviews and that'll notify you when I drive
10:09The Mini Aceman. I'll also probably be driving the five-door version of the Mini Cooper as well
10:13So if you are interested in Minis, make sure you subscribe
10:17Okay, let's talk about the petrol versions of the Mini Cooper first
10:20So the Cooper C has a 1.5 litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine with a seven-speed dual clutch auto and front-wheel drive
10:27You'll see the outputs on your screen now
10:29It's a little bit less powerful and a little bit slower than this one
10:32Which is the Cooper S with a 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbo petrol more power more torque
10:36still with a seven-speed dual clutch auto and front-wheel drive
10:39But a much faster 0-100 time and let's talk about the Aceman
10:43So the Cooper E has a single front-mounted electric motor with 135 kilowatts and 290 newton-meters
10:500-100 in 7.3 seconds and it's front-wheel drive with a single-speed transmission
10:55This one here is the Cooper SE and it also has a single motor front-wheel drive layout
11:00Its electric motor produces 160 kilowatts and 330 newton-meters
11:05and a 0-100 time of 6.3 seconds
11:08Its electric motor produces 160 kilowatts and 330 newton-meters
11:12and a 0-100 time of 6.7 seconds just a smidge slower than the Cooper S petrol
11:19The Cooper E, the base model one, has a smaller battery pack, a 41 kilowatt-hour battery
11:24You'll see the range for it on your screen now
11:26That's the WLTP rated range
11:28And the Cooper SE, which is this one here, gets a bigger 54 kilowatt-hour battery pack
11:34with more EV driving range
11:36Let's talk about charging
11:38Charge port is on this side of the car
11:40Just pop it open
11:42So, 11 kilowatts for your AC charging
11:45That's the one at the top
11:47And that is pretty decent for an electric car at this price point
11:51So, if you can get access to an 11 kilowatt AC charger
11:55you will be able to do a recharge to 80% in 4.5 hours for the E
12:00and 5 hours 15 for the SE
12:03Yes, there's also DC charging
12:05which is the bottom one
12:07so that's for your rapid charging
12:09and the DC rate for the Cooper E is 75 kilowatts
12:1295 kilowatts for the Cooper SE
12:15and it should take about half an hour
12:17no matter which version you pick when it comes to charging
12:20So, look, those numbers are pretty good, I reckon, for a car like this
12:24and let's go and see what it's like to drive
12:27but actually, we're going to start in the petrol model first
12:33You've probably already come to the realisation, if you've made it this far in the video
12:36that today, it's gross outside
12:38It is cold, it is raining
12:40It is a Melbourne winter day
12:42par excellence
12:44and yes, it's not necessarily the sort of day that I longed to have
12:49while driving this new generation MINI
12:51but we're about to go away from the suburbs
12:53away from the industrial area where we were
12:56to see what it's like on more of an open road section
13:01Look, to this point, I've driven across a few different scenarios
13:06a bit of urban stop-start, that sort of thing
13:08and just been leaving it in one of the more sedate drive modes
13:12and I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with the comfort and drivability of this car
13:16in the normal drive mode
13:18but, like, a MINI should be fun, no matter what the day is
13:22Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday
13:24no matter what the weather's like, horrible or lovable
13:27and let's see if it can live up to that
13:29when we put it into go-kart mode
13:31because that's the mode that you want to be in, right?
13:34you'll hear it go, woo-hoo!
13:36and what that means is
13:38yes, the fun factor has been upped
13:40the steering gets more direct
13:42the suspension gets firmer
13:44and the powertrain gets far zestier
13:47in terms of its responsiveness
13:49so, the throttle response is much more assertive
13:53and the gear shifts change as well
13:55strangely enough, there are no paddle shifters
13:57which might actually be a bit annoying for the real enthusiasts out there
14:01but, look, I still think that this is a fun car to drive
14:05and that sounds fantastic too
14:07I guess the biggest issue with the petrol version in particular
14:10and also the EV, but I'll get to that in a sec
14:13is getting the power down to the ground
14:15because front-wheel drive plus heaps of power and torque
14:18sometimes that means lots and lots of tyre squeal
14:22and a lack of traction or grip at the front
14:26so, yeah, it can be a little bit perilous at times
14:31when you are putting your foot down in the wet
14:33but it's still fun
14:35I'm not saying that it's not fun
14:37just that it maybe could be better in terms of managing
14:40getting the grunt down to the ground
14:42it's more noticeable when you are taking off from a standstill
14:45or something like that
14:47when you are powering down at pace
14:49you're not necessarily going to spin the wheels all that often
14:52but it's still something you want to keep in mind
14:54because it does keep you on your toes a little bit
14:56and I guess that's the fun factor element of this car
14:59you do feel like you are on your toes a little
15:01and I like that about it
15:03I like that a lot
15:05now I also drove the Cooper SE electric version
15:09and, look, it's the more powerful model
15:11and let me say that I reckon
15:13you'll have to rotate your tyres fairly regularly
15:16because it does struggle to get the power down a little bit at times
15:19it's still fun to drive
15:21but it does feel a bit more fidgety and firm
15:24over most surfaces
15:26so I reckon if you are after something
15:28that's maybe a little bit more subtle
15:30and likeable on a daily driving basis
15:33maybe the petrol model might be a bit better
15:36but the EV, it's heavier
15:38and it does have a little bit of an impact on the drive experience
15:41even though it does have a longer wheelbase
15:43it is still pretty firm
15:45there are a few other considerations you might want to keep in mind
15:48there is a bit of tyre roar that comes into the cabin
15:51and yes, there is also some engine noise in the sportier driving modes
15:55now, engine, that's in the petrol versions
15:58in the EVs there's also a bit of a soundtrack
16:01when you are driving in go-kart mode in particular
16:04you will notice that it is pretty vocal
16:07and kind of fun
16:08I actually really like the soundtrack to it
16:11here's a little clip from when I was having a bit of fun before in some corners
16:19yes, that's an overrun simulation
16:22so yes, it is a fun experience
16:26let's go again
16:35I can see why you might choose the EV
16:38instead of the petrol version
16:40this is
16:45it's character in a different way
16:47I really think that MINI has absolutely nailed it
16:51when it comes to trying to encapsulate the fun factor that you get in a MINI
16:56so yes, it does make you laugh
16:58and I do like the drive experience in this car
17:02and I reckon you will too
17:03if you're looking for something
17:05so yes, it is a bit of a laugh
17:07I had a lot of fun driving the EV
17:09in some pretty treacherous conditions I have to say
17:12and
17:15yes, this is the sort of car that eggs you on
17:18and makes you want to have a bit of fun
17:20so if that's the sort of car you're looking for
17:22TICK!
17:24another thing I didn't call out in the petrol model
17:27but I will call out now
17:28is this steering wheel is too fat
17:31there is like no grippability to it
17:35because the hand grips, they're too big
17:37and I don't have tiny hands
17:39but you know, I'm not Donald Trump
17:41but I reckon I'm not Kawhi Leonard either
17:44so I don't think you're getting the ideal grip factor on the steering wheel
17:49it's a pretty slippery material as well
17:51it's a fake leather trim
17:52so yeah, that is one thing that doesn't light my fire
17:56in terms of the urban drive experience
17:58I'll just also add that I do think that the petrol model
18:02does feel more nimble
18:04lighter
18:05and a little bit more
18:08let's say chuckable and enthusiastic in corners
18:12when you are having a bit of a fun punt
18:15you will notice that it is just a bit easier to throw around
18:20and if that's what you like
18:21cool
18:22but the EV model does feel just a bit more weighty
18:25and I have to say
18:27a touch more unwieldy as a result of that
18:31OK, on your screen you'll see the official combined cycle fuel consumption figure
18:35for the Cooper C models
18:38and they are the less powerful models, remember
18:41and then there's the Cooper S
18:43which gets the bigger, more powerful engine
18:45you see the number for it on your screen
18:47that's the official combined cycle fuel consumption number
18:49so what you should be able to achieve across a mix of driving
18:52and if you're wondering what I've achieved over this launch drive
18:55across a mix of driving
18:58including a fair bit of horrible slow speed
19:02traffic and raininess
19:04but also a couple of spirited stints
19:07you'll see the number on your screen now
19:09and look, daily I reckon that is an achievable figure
19:13provided you aren't finding the twistiest way to get everywhere you want to go
19:17and you're not planting your foot all the way it will go down as well
19:21so look, I think that's pretty good, don't you?
19:24Right, so that's the petrol models covered
19:26let's talk about the EV efficiency
19:28and just like petrol, the lower the number the better
19:31we're talking kilowatt hours per 100km, not litres
19:34and you'll see on your screen the official Cooper E number
19:39and that is a pretty decent number
19:41the Cooper SE, it's the more powerful version
19:44you'll see that on your screen now for the official claimed number
19:47and that is, like I said, decent for a little car like this
19:51and if you're wondering what I saw across a mix of driving
19:53including some pretty spirited driving over a longer stint in that car
19:57you'll see it on your screen now
19:59and I was okay with that
20:01if I could achieve that every day while driving it like I was
20:05I will say that I would be a pretty happy Mini Cooper SE owner
20:12There is no ANCAP or Euro ANCAP rating just yet
20:15for the new generation Mini Cooper range
20:17but across the range there is a decent amount of standard safety tech
20:21in the base model grade you're getting things like
20:23autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert
20:27a reversing camera and parking sensors as well
20:30if you spend up to one of the higher grade versions though
20:33you are getting a few extra features
20:35adaptive cruise control, a surround view camera system
20:38and a few other things like speed limit assistance
20:41and also lane keeping assistance for traffic jams and stuff like that
20:45so it might make a bit more sense to spend just a little bit more
20:49to get into something above the core grade
20:54Alright, let's talk about ownership when it comes to the Mini Cooper range
20:57so you've got a 5 year unlimited kilometre warranty for the car itself
21:00and if you choose one of the EV models
21:03you also get an 8 year battery warranty too
21:05roadside assistance, well you get a bit when you choose the petrol model
21:09but you get more if you choose an EV
21:11and when it comes to the electric versions
21:13there's also better service options available
21:16you can either prepay a 4 year or a 6 year service plan
21:20and it is a much more affordable ownership option
21:24compared to the petrol version
21:26so it might stack up to you to choose the petrol one
21:29if you are looking to save a little bit of money on the initial outlay
21:32but the ongoing costs for the EV are pretty appealing
21:38The new generation Mini Cooper definitely lives up to the existing models
21:41it is fun, it makes you smile
21:44and you will love it if you are into the whole go-kart feeling thing
21:48it is a firm riding thing, it's not the most practical car you could choose
21:51but there is a lot of value depending on which version you pick
21:55now would you go for a petrol or electric model?
21:57let me know in the comments
21:58and if there's any other cars you'd like me to review
22:00hit me up and I'll see if I can do it for you
22:02thanks for watching, I'll see you in the next one