Overview

While MINI has broadened its line-up to include more practical cars and even SUVs in recent years, the British firm’s bread and butter has always been the simple three-door Hatch, which has often been among the best superminis on sale. 

For 2024 and a new generation, the Hatch now has a new name – it’s simply called the MINI Cooper, the latter word no longer referring to the engine as it did previously. There are also two versions of the Cooper available – a petrol and a separate electric MINI Cooper E. 

Though they look almost identical, minus the EV not having MINI’s usual grey plastic wheelarch surrounds, the two cars are very different underneath. The petrol model retains largely the same underpinnings to the previous MINI Hatch whereas the new EV is based around a new platform This aims to bring minimal compromise in terms of range and packaging to the EV, especially compared to the previous MINI Electric.

We’ve covered the MINI Cooper E review seperately, so here our focus is on the petrol MINI Cooper after extensively testing it in the UK. You can read more about how we test cars on Parkers. 

Like its predecessor, the petrol MINI Cooper is produced at the firm’s factory near Oxford and while still clearly a ‘MINI’, it gets a new front-end design and more striking rear lights that are even customisable. But the biggest changes are inside, with the Cooper getting a new, simplistic interior that is centred around a new circular OLED touchscreen. It’s the same as we’ve seen on the new MINI Countryman SUV. A range of new recycled materials are also introduced to improve the sustainability credentials. 

Engine choice consists of two petrol engines, each with more power than before, with a sportier John Cooper Works hot hatch will follow. There are three versions of the Cooper – or ‘styles’ as MINI calls them – Classic, Sport and Exclusive, each getting a slightly different look and interior trim. 

Standard equipment is fairly generous across all models, including a full suite of driver assistance technology, dual-zone climate control and a reversing camera. There are three options pack available, too which group a number of extras together. The only one we recommend is the £2,000 Level 1 pack, which brings heated front seats, a head-up display and wireless smartphone charging. 

Click through the next few pages to read everything you need to know about the new MINI Cooper, including its practicality, how much it costs to run, what it’s like to drive – and ultimately whether we recommend buying one.