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2022 Mini Cooper Hardtop

Cooper Electric HardtopCooper HardtopJohn Cooper Works GPJohn Cooper Works HardtopCooper Hardtop All GenerationsNew202320222021Used20202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082022 $22,900 - $27,900 Price Range (MSRP) Build and Price 2022 Mini Cooper Hardtop For Sale Best Luxury Hatchbacks Best 2-Door Hatchbacks Mini Hatchbacks Mini Small Cars Review Exterior Interior Trims & Specs Performance Safety & Reliability 68 Photos Compare insurance prices: Save an average of $440 Free Quote

2022 Mini Cooper Hardtop Test Drive Review The Go-Kart' s All Grown Up

by Jake Lingeman The story of Mini Cooper goes back to 1959 when it was owned by the British Motor Company, and later British Leyland and the Rover Group. Its claim to fame was that with such a small engine, 80% of its floorplan space was used for passengers and cargo. In 2000, BMW bought the Rover Group and started producing Minis itself. After dozens of variants, the third-gen Mini appeared from BMW, and in 2022 it gets heavily updated inside and out. We were given a Cooper S Hardtop to test drive, which comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 189 horsepower and 206 lb-ft of torque, up from the 134 hp and 162 lb-ft from the base model's 1.5-liter three-cylinder. A six-speed manual is standard across the board while a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is optional. But the Cooper Hardtop range finds itself in an awkward position with no direct rival. From a performance standpoint, the closest you'll find are the much cheaper Volkswagen Golf GTI and Hyundai Veloster N.
But the Cooper has something those don't, though, namely a little British flair, if such a thing exists. Or at the very least, nostalgia on its side. And if you don't want to compete at an autocross or a track day for lap times, a little flair might be all you need.

Read in this review

Exterior Design 9 /10 Performance 8 /10 Fuel Economy 8 /10 Interior & Cargo 7 /10 Infotainment & Features 8 /10 Reliability 8 /10 Safety 8 /10 Value For Money 8 /10 8.0 What is BuzzScore?

2022 Mini Cooper Hardtop Changes What s the difference vs 2021 Cooper Hardtop

Mini has made quite a few changes to the Cooper lineup for the 2022 model year. Already one of the cutest hatchbacks around, the styling has been upgraded. New Minis now get air curtains on the front bumper for improved aerodynamics, although this has come at the expense of front fog lights. The hexagon grille has also been revised, while the Cooper S gets an additional pair of intakes with high-gloss black surrounds. At the back, there's a new rear bumper and a rear apron with the same hexagonal graphic as found in front. Mini has thrown in new wheel designs and new paint colors too. Union Jack LED taillights and LED headlights are standard across the range, and an optional Piano Black exterior extends to elements like the door handles and model badges. Inside, the tiny 6.5-inch infotainment screen has been replaced with a larger 8.8-inch screen on all models. The user experience itself is improved with new configurable live widgets, and SiriusXM is now standard. A new steering wheel, an improved Driving Assistant with standard lane departure warning, and a new digital gauge cluster round out the 2022 model year changes.

Pros and Cons

One of the last small hatchbacks in the USAdorable stylingPin-sharp handlingLots of customization optionsHigh-quality interior Firm rideLimited interior spaceOptions raise the price quicklyNo Android AutoExpensive

Best Deals on 2022 Mini Cooper Hardtop

2022 Mini Cooper S Hardtop 2-Door $33,675 10,369 miles Fair Deal Average price 2022 Mini Cooper S Hardtop 2-Door $29,998 24,489 miles Fair Deal $3,100 below 2022 Mini Cooper Hardtop 2-Door $28,777 27,063 miles Fair Deal Average price 2022 Mini Cooper Hardtop 2-Door $28,777 22,046 miles Fair Deal Average price See All Cooper Hardtop For Sale

2022 Mini Cooper Hardtop Trims

See trim levels and configurations: Trim Engine Transmission Drivetrain Price (MSRP) Cooper 2-Door 1.5L Turbo Inline-3 Gas 6-Speed Manual Front-Wheel Drive $22,900 Oxford Edition 2-Door 1.5L Turbo Inline-3 Gas 6-Speed Manual Front-Wheel Drive $22,900 Oxford Edition 4-Door 1.5L Turbo Inline-3 Gas 6-Speed Manual Front-Wheel Drive $23,900 Cooper 4-Door 1.5L Turbo Inline-3 Gas 6-Speed Manual Front-Wheel Drive $23,900 Cooper S 2-Door 2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas 6-Speed Manual Front-Wheel Drive $26,900 See All 2022 Mini Cooper Hardtop Trims and Specs

Handling and Driving Impressions

The suspension on the Cooper S is stiff. That makes for a tight, reactionary chassis that's probably as fun as the Golf GTI or Veloster N. But the tires are low profile, and this vehicle was on run-flat tires. Those tires are always harsher than the alternative, so you will want to take care to avoid big potholes. It's not as stiff as the old Cooper Coupe, which was downright bone-rattling, but you still should be aware. The trade-off is hyper-accurate steering where you can aim at the inside edge of a turn and hit it perfectly every time. If you get a chance, take a couple of roundabouts at speed to feel the chassis (and tires) working. There's very little vagueness on center and changes of direction happen quickly. There's no limited-slip differential, so you will feel that outside front tire sliding when you're hammering on it. The Cooper S has three drive modes: Sport, Mid, and Green. It always starts in Mid mode, which is a balance of steering and throttle sensitivity. Green mode relaxes the throttle, and in automatic cars allows for coasting, decoupling the engine from the gearbox to slow down less when your foot is off the gas. Sport mode turns everything up, making the steering even faster and throttle more sensitive. In automatic cars, it shifts later and faster too. Now Buzzing Electric Vehicles Tesla Cybertruck Spotted With Production-Ready Rear End Crash Watch A Seventh-Gen Toyota Hilux Truck Launch Into The Air After Losing Control Auctions One-Off Plymouth Barracuda Four-Door Is A Muscle Car Unicorn First Drive 2023 Toyota Crown First Drive Review: A Tale Of Two Hybrids Sports Cars 2023 BMW M2 Coming With Optional Center-Lock Wheels Tuning 700-Horsepower 2023 Nissan Z By AMS Performance Hits Nine-Second Quarter Mile

Verdict Is the 2022 Mini Cooper Hardtop a good car

The Mini Cooper is in a tough spot in the market. It's an enthusiast car for sure, a specialty car probably. It would need to be a second car in a household if there's a family involved - like we said, it can fit four people, but not super comfortably. The engine and transmission are excellent though, as is the brake feel. The throw on the stick shift is a little long, and we wouldn't complain about a limited-slip diff, but this car is extremely fun to drive. The 2-door Cooper S starts at $26,900 MSRP, but with trim upgrades and packages, you break the $35k mark pretty quickly. That makes the base prices of VW Golf GTI ($29,545) and the Hyundai Veloster N ($32,500) look pretty enticing - both have more power and torque than the Mini. You could make an argument for the Mercedes A-Class as a competitor too as it starts around $35,000, although it has less power. Still, the Mini Cooper is a great car, distilled over the past 22 years to be almost perfect, but it's still owned by BMW, and therefore commands a premium. And we'd be hard-pressed to pick this over either the Golf or Veloster.

Check out other Mini Hardtop Styles

Cooper Electric Hardtop Compare John Cooper Works GP Compare John Cooper Works Hardtop Compare

2022 Mini Cooper Hardtop Comparisons

Mini Mini

2022 Mini Cooper Hardtop vs Mini Cooper Countryman

This match-up is quite simple. If the Mini Cooper Hardtop 2-door or 4-door models are too small and impractical for your needs but you still want a Mini, the Countryman is an obvious choice. Bigger in every dimension, the Countryman has substantially more space for rear-seat occupants and can accommodate an extra adult. At over 17 cubes, the trunk is around double the size of the Cooper Hardtop two-door model's one. With the same engines but a lot more weight to lug around, the Countryman is good for a crossover but can't match the hatch for driving fun. By comparison, the hardtop feels lighter on its feet - because it is. The Countryman also starts at around $10,000 more than the price of the Mini Cooper Hardtop. However, you do have the option of an AWD variant. Because the Mini works best as a hatchback and not as a crossover, we'd save the extra cash and go for the former unless we really needed the Countryman's space. See Mini Cooper Countryman Review

2022 Mini Cooper Hardtop vs Mini Cooper Clubman

The Clubman's quirky wagon-like styling and added practicality over the Cooper Hardtop make it an interesting alternative. The twin rear doors give it a unique appearance, and it's got a similar amount of cargo space as the Cooper Hardtop four-door. Unlike the regular Mini Cooper hatch, the Clubman is only available with the more powerful 189-hp engine. This means that it's quite a bit more expensive, starting at just under $30,000. An AWD version of the Clubman is available, so that is the more suitable choice for those living in colder, icier states. Due to its extra weight, the Clubman is a little slower than the smaller hatchback. Both Minis are enjoyable, feisty compacts, and choosing the Clubman for its extra space and unique style isn't a bad decision. See Mini Cooper Clubman Review

Mini Cooper Hardtop News

Special Editions 2 2023 Mini Cooper 2-Door Hardtop And JCW Models Coming To USA With Manual Transmission The entire lineup is pricier, but there's more standard equipment than before. Car Culture 8 9 Awesome Retro Style Cars In 2022 The future won't go well if you don't also look back. Design 5 French Automaker Reveals New Logo For A New Era Citroen is readying itself for the electric age. LoginSign Up Home News Features Car Reviews Car Advice 2021 CarBuzz Awards New Cars Used Cars Future Cars Compare Cars Sell My Car Car Dealerships Buy Here Pay Here Used Car Reviews Popular Tags Cars # Video # TOP # Spy Shots # Reveal # Rumor # Auto Show # Supercar # Tuning # Car Culture # Industry News # Motorsport Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Make Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Car Type SUVs Crossovers Sedans Coupes Trucks Sports Cars Wagons Vans Hatchbacks Convertibles Small Cars Luxury Cars Electric Cars Hybrid Cars Future Cars By Price Up to $15K $15K - $25K $25K - $35K $35K - $45K $45K - $55K $55K - $75K $75K - $100K $100K - $200K $200K - $300K Above $300K Back To Top