2025 MINI John Cooper Works Convertible: A New Generation Of Iconic Subcompacts

 

Highlight: The reimagined iconic MINI was led by Olive Heilmer, who was MINI’s first and only Black person to head of design.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $50,225 (Base Cooper Trim MSRP): $35,125 

Seating Capacity: 4

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; rear view monitoring; stability control; a tire pressure monitoring system; parking assistant and front sensors; rollover safety protection; and mobility kit

Standard Equipment (Cooper Works): 17-inch wheels; black power operated soft top; piano black exterior accents; non metallic paint; floormats; cloth/Vescin cloth seating; front center armrest; 2-D knit fabric armrest; a heated steering wheel; a radar activated cruise control; a heads up display system; wireless charging; a navigation system; a keyless entry system; an automatic dimming rearview mirror; a dual zone automatic; dual zone auto climate control; a manual operated tilt/telescopic steering wheel; power heated mirrors; heated front seats; power front sport seats including memory system for driver’s seat and exterior mirror positions;   

Options: Iconic trim; stop and go active driving assistant; power front seats; comfort package; perpendicular and parallel parking self-driving assistant; and signature plus trim

Other Trim Levels:

Cooper S

Standard Audio On Test Vehicle: a Harman Kardon AM/FM audio system with SiriusXM

Android/Apple CarPlay: Yes

Bluetooth Connectivity: Standard

USB Connectivity: Standard

Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 miles

Powertrain Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 miles

Engine/Horsepower (Test Vehicle): 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder twin-power turbo engine/228-hp

Standard Fuel Mileage: 26-city/35-hwy (test model)

What’s New: This year’s 2025 MINI Cooper Convertible wears an all-new design.

Why:

A power operated convertible drop top or sunroof

A heads up display (HUD) system

18-inch wheels available

A radar-activated cruise control system

A Harman Kardon and premium audio system

Wireless charging

A zippy smooth shifting transmission

Agile handling and a tuned-suspension

A keyless entry system

A navigation system with augmented reality

Convertible wind deflector

Parking assistant with sensors

When parked, built-in gaming applications available for entertainment

Heated front seats

A host of driving safety aids available

Rollover safety protection

Anti-theft recording available

Red brake calipers

Voice-activated infotainment system

But:

The traditional instrument cluster has been repositioned and integrated into the center infotainment system

Limited rear seating

Limited cargo area

Manual transmission discontinued

No electrified convertible or plug-in

Can become pricey when adding on options

Verdict: At the time the current generation MINI was reimagined, Oliver Heilmer, the first and only Black person at MINI to wear the title as head of design, was leading the iconic brand.

Without veering away from the brand’s roots, under Heilmer’s leadership, his team managed to artfully craft a modernized portfolio of MINIs, including adding electrification, without alienating its massive loyal fanbase.

While the MINI wears a new design, through and through the spirited and quirky German infused vehicle, with an emphasis on minimalism, still feels, looks and drives like a premium class car.

This year’s models, with its bugged-eyed round headlamps and new grille, is available in a hardtop or soft top convertible in a variety of trims. At a starting price near the $37,000 the vehicle seems like a bargain, until we started adding-on options. With options, our vehicle broke the $50,000 barrier. 

We spent time behind the wheel of the two-tone racing inspired performance-oriented John Cooper Works trim. The spunky subcompact was powered by a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder twin turbo, which zipped out 228-horsepower.

Moreover, our John Cooper Works convertible, which was sent to us near the tail end of Georgia’s pollen season, offered a unique feature. Unlike most open-air vehicles, this one could be converted to a fully retractable convertible or a power sunroof in a matter of seconds. And the power operated top can be open or closed while driving, too. In fact, the partial power operated sunroof could be opened and closed at any speed.

Furthermore, our MINI, with car like seat colors, was infused with a host of features. They ranged from the centralized driver’s and infotainment cluster to the latest safety driving aids.

And, while it did take a moment to adjust to not having a driver’s gauge positioned directly in front of our eyes, we were thankful for the heads-up display system which we relied upon heavily.

Overall, the current generation MINI retains the magic that separated this iconic brand from other makes.

Non Premium Competition: N/A