2020 Mini Cooper review

What We Like

Driving: The Mini Cooper has a reputation for fun driving dynamics, and it is well deserved. Even the base-level engine provides reasonable acceleration—quicker than many of its competitors—and sharp and direct steering makes the Mini quite enjoyable on a twisty road. The Mini's small size also makes it easy to maneuver around town.

Interior: The cabin of the tiny Mini Cooper is surprisingly roomy, at least up front. There's good headroom for tall drivers, and while rear passengers may be cramped in the two-door model, the space is livable in the four-door Mini. Materials are higher-quality than in many other vehicles in this class, and optional sport seats look good and provide excellent support.

Technology: Mini combines styling cues and features from its storied past with the latest high-tech features. The available 8.8-inch touchscreen display with navigation is located in a circular frame in the center of the dashboard—the original models had a round speedometer in this location. A smaller digital driver display features a non-glare screen for a clean, open design, while classic toggle switches and dials honor the original classic Mini.

What Needs Improvement

Comfort: One of the costs of Mini's fun-to-drive dynamics is the ride can be a bit harsh. Customers could find rough roads to be quite jarring, especially with the harder run-flat tires. At idle, the engine can be a bit noisy. And once up to speed, there is a noticeable amount of road and wind noise, which can be annoying on a long drive.