Twenty-two years ago, several years after it acquired the naming rights, BMW reintroduced the Mini. It was different but with a heritage still affixed to the original two-door compact city unveiled by British Motor Corporation in 1969.
The traditional Mini became an icon of British automotive culture. It’s the best-selling British sports car in history. It’s had starring automotive roles in movies and a successful racing career. Its sporting cuteness and unabashed driving fun defined its popularity.
Key Takeaways
- 1.5-liter turbo inline three-cylinder with 134 horsepower, a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic.
- $22,900 starting MSRP for the two-door hardtop; Signature starts at $26,900 and Iconic at $30,900.
- 27 mpg city and 37 highway.
- Four-door hardtops cost $1,000 more than the two-door models.
- Driving: True to its legacy, driving the 2022 Mini is all about fun.
- Space: Seating is tight for front-seat occupants; the back seats are afterthoughts, with space only for the smallest of the petite.
The 2022 Mini Cooper is mechanically nearly the same as recent years’ models. Its variety of styles is its appeal as a niche offering for drivers willing to exchange comfort and practicality for driving fun and for reasons not-to-dissimilar from the reason people enjoy tiny houses. Less is more.
Many Styles, Trims
Available as Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works (JCW) and Cooper SE electric models, all Mini are also available Classic, Signature and Iconic trims. Four-door hardtops cost $1,000 more than the two-door models.
With options as a brand signature trait, the two-door hardtop is powered by a turbo 1.5-liter inline three-cylinder with 134 horsepower has a start MSRP of $22,900. The Signature and revised Iconic versions respectively start at $26,900 and $30,900.
The 2022 Mini Cooper has further options, a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed automatic. Also featured are 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps with black inner housings and Sirius satellite radio.
Interior changes are minimal for 2022. The 8.8-inch digital screen is now centrally located and standard on all models. It’s complemented by standard Sirius satellite radio and a revised interior environment with two available color schemes (Lounge & Sport) and ambient lighting in six colors. A leather-covered, heated steering wheel with horizontal spokes and prominent thumb pads is also new as an option.
Tiny House on Wheels
Remaining the same is the Mini’s homage to racing, with plenty of toggle switches and an oversized oval infotainment screen. Gas mileage averages are 27 miles per gallon in city driving, 37 mpg on the highway. There’s room for four grocery bags or one carry-on suitcase and a small backpack in the rear compartment. Seating is tight for front-seat occupants; the back seats are afterthoughts, with space only for the smallest of the petite.
While still bearing the classic Mini look, the 2022 Mini Cooper has a new hexagonal grille bisected by a body-color panel covering called the “safety bar.” The new bumper has air curtains for better aerodynamics. The fog lights are now within each headlight assembly.
The new look is further trendy with side lighting and LED turn signals. There’s also a new rear bumper with a wider presence. A small, new traditional touch: taillights with the Union Jack motif are now standard. And adding to the modernization theme: the Mini’s exterior paint choices now include Island Blue, Rooftop Grey and Zesty Yellow.
Lane-departure warning and Driving Assistant (combines a forward-collision warning system with automatic emergency braking) is new. Apple CarPlay is also standard on new models with navigation systems. Run-flat tires, black, white, or silver hood stripes, a Harman Kardon premium audio system and a touchscreen navigation system with a wireless smartphone charger are first-time options.
Drive it, Park it
True to its legacy, driving the 2022 Mini is all about fun. The six-speed manual transmission isn’t the smoothest, but the sporty compact is smooth at freeway speeds. The Mini embraces driving. It maneuvers on twisting mountain roads as is the driver is alpine skiing on wheels. Tight parking lots? Bring ’em on.
The Mini, like other niche vehicles, has suffered from the popularity of SUVs. The British automotive icon reached its peak with 71,000 sales in 2012. The tally slipped to 28,000 in 2020.
2022 Mini Cooper Verdict
There’s plenty to say for fun when driving. The Mini provides it, logic removed.
Facts & Figures: 2022 Mini Cooper
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Starting Price (two-door hardtop) | $22,900 |
| Engine | 1.5-liter turbocharged inline 3-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 134 hp |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive |
| Fuel Economy (manual) | 27 city / 37 highway / 31 combined mpg |
| Fuel Economy (automatic) | 29 city / 38 highway / 32 combined mpg |
| Fuel Type | Premium |
| Seating | 4 |
| Cargo | Four grocery bags or one carry-on suitcase and a small backpack |
James Raia
A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.