MINI Cooper S (02-06) - Review

Review by Parkers on
Strapping a supercharger to the MINI Cooper has elevated performance to a level that most other road users don’t expect. Those cutesy looks suggest a funky shopping car. This rather rubs salt into the wounds of other performance car drivers when they get left for dead on a twisty road. It takes a keen eye to pick out the bonnet scoop that is the only reliable visual indication the this is the hot Mini rather than just a tarted-up One. John Cooper can add a ‘Works’ performance pack that makes the MINI virtually untouchable on a country road.
4.5 out of 5

Other MINI reviews

4 out of 5

Safety

Makes the grade as a four star car in the Euro NCAP crash test which makes it a million times safer than an original mini. Four airbags are standard and curtain bags are optional. Electronic safety aids are also standard and it gets the usual alarm, immobiliser and deadlocks.

NCAP Test

Euro NCAP logo Euro NCAP

Provides motoring consumers with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe.

Visit Euro NCAP for more info

  • Adult Occupant Rating

    4 out of 5

  • Pedestrian Test Rating

    1 out of 5
3.5 out of 5

Reliability

Built to BMW standards, so should be very good, but there were quite a few recalls with early ones, and it is not unheard of to encounter the occasional problem.

Car check problem points

Body

Watch out for paintwork as there have been some problems with its durability. Also watch out for discolouring of the plastic wheelarches.

Engine/Gearbox

Initial gremlins saw replacement engines and gearboxes in early cars. Shouldn't be a problem now.

Other

Faulty audio equipment can drain battery; rattling trim, early models suffered more problems particularly with trim and electrics, but most issues have been resolved.

Spot car problems with a Parkers Car Checklist