Best MINI Cars & SUVs

As sporty coupes go, there's nothing quite like the Mini Cooper. It has one-of-a-kind styling inside and out and performance that makes it a thrill to drive. Fully redesigned this year, the 2025 Mini Hardtop gets revised styling, new features, and an upgraded cabin with a more premium feel.

With every new generation, Mini rolls out its new models in phases, so the two-door hardtop is the first to show off the new styling. It's still very much in tune with its predecessors, with round headlights sunken into a steeply raked front end and a two-tone roof, but new triangular taillights help distinguish it from older models.

There will be two models sold in the United States: the base Cooper hardtop and the higher-performance Cooper S hardtop. Both are powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that sends power to the front wheels. The Cooper S is rated at 201 horsepower, which is slightly more than the previous version. Mini says everything about the suspension is geared toward agile handling, so sharp steering, minimal body roll, and excellent stopping power remain part of the package.

The new interior design is dominated by the 9-inch, circular touchscreen that sits front and center in the dashboard. Mini says it's the first OLED display in the industry so the readability and colors are exceptional. The rest of the interior is a mix of soft-touch materials and metallic accents that contribute to the premium feel. There's also a variety of driver-selectable "Mini experience modes" that adjust the graphics and ambient lighting in the cabin to reflect different themes.

Given the Mini's unusual characteristics, there aren't many direct competitors. The Audi A3 has similar levels of performance and luxury but a more conventional hatchback design. The BMW 2 Series is a traditional coupe with great performance, but it has a substantially higher price. Additional versions of the new Mini, such as a four-door model, are expected to follow later in the year.

It’s difficult to keep a straight face while calling the 2025 Mini Countryman SE All4 a Mini. The largest-ever model from Mini, the 2025 Countryman crossover EV is more than a foot longer and nearly 6 inches wider than the original. It is longer, wider, taller, and heavier than the Volvo EX30.

But that’s probably a good thing for a Mini that wants to make it in the U.S., where bigger still seems to be better in the automotive world. The two-row, five-seat Countryman SE All4, despite its scaled-up dimensions, is a subcompact, competing in size with other small electric crossovers such as the EX30, Kia Niro EV, and Hyundai Kona Electric. The Fiat 500e might compete on cuteness, but is much smaller, and not in the same class for range, power, or people and cargo capacity.

The Mini Countryman SE All4 comes only with a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain. Among likely subcompact competitors, only the EX30 offers that option.

For the same or even lower cost, though (thanks to federal EV tax credit eligibility the Mini doesn’t share), shoppers can get into several all-wheel-drive versions of roomier compact crossover EVs such as the new Chevrolet Equinox EV, Volkswagen ID.4 Pro, and Tesla Model Y. All have more range and power than the Mini.

Range is a big thing for EV buyers and that’s the one area where the Countryman SE All4 falls substantially short of likely competitors, with an EPA estimate of 212 miles per charge. That’s more than most people will drive on any given day, and the Countryman probably isn’t the ideal EV for a cross-county jaunt anyhow, but it is less than impressive up against the Model Y’s 308 miles, Equinox EV’s 285 miles, or the EX30’s 261 miles.

None of those potential competitors, however, has the Mini’s distinctive design or quirky interior, and among the subcompacts only the Mini and the Volvo can truly be classed as premium models.

If you live in a city or suburb and can access EV charging at your home or in your apartment's garage, it is hard to imagine a more appealing everyday vehicle. All Minis have their own special charm, and the 2024 Mini Electric Hardtop epitomizes that while mixing in zero-emission electric propulsion. Who said saving the planet couldn't be fun? While it is true that the Mini EV doesn't offer the 200+ mile range on a charge that some of its competitors do, overall range might be getting too much attention. With its total claimed range of 114 miles, the electric Mini will suit you just fine if you drive fewer than 90 miles a day and have easy access to charging at night. With an entry price of just over $30,000, it will keep money in your pocket versus EVs that offer 200 miles of range — range that you might not need. Unfortunately, unlike some other EVs, the Mini EV doesn't qualify for the $7,500 federal income tax credit.

Its status as a battery-electric zero-emission vehicle is the prime reason to put the Mini Cooper EV on your shopping list. But for urban dwellers in particular, there is a lot to like about the car beyond its propulsion system. Small and nimble, it delivers intuitive handling, satisfying acceleration, and the special joy of driving a car that isn’t like every other car on the road. Substantially shorter in overall length than its most direct competitors — the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Nissan Leaf — it still offers a roomy driver's seat and good overall interior space. Its short length makes it easy to park, and its distinctive shape and bright colors make it easy to find in a crowded lot.