MINI Cooper review - Reliability & safety

It’s too early to give a full appraisal of the MINI Cooper’s reliability, given that the electric Cooper E and SE models in particular use all new building blocks, and a new motor and battery pack. MINI had been making strides in ownership satisfaction coming in a respectable 15th out of 32 manufacturers in our 2023 Driver Power survey results, however, this seems to have slipped again slightly, with MINI coming 20th in 2024. At least only 12.7% of owners reported a fault within the first 12 months, which beats the likes of Honda (13.6%) and Peugeot (20.8%).

How safe is the MINI Cooper?

The MINI Cooper Electric was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in March 2025 and achieved a full five-star rating. Adult occupant and child occupant crash protection were rated at 89% and 87%, respectively, which are reassuring figures. The lowest score the Cooper Electric achieved was a still-impressive 77% in terms of protection for vulnerable road users, while its safety-assistance tech was rated at 79%.

Euro NCAP says the crash-test results apply to the Electric version of the Cooper only. While the latest petrol-powered Cooper is yet to be tested in the latest regime, it’s essentially a very heavy facelift of the previous-generation car, which received a four-star rating way back in 2014. Testing has become much stricter since, so it’s hard to say how the latest petrol Cooper would fare now.

The Cooper is now fitted with more standard safety features than ever before. That includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist and traffic-sign recognition. Even the entry-level Classic trim gets a rear-view camera to make reversing easier and safer, but it’s also possible to add a 360-degree camera system for a better view of obstacles around the car. A safe exit warning is also available, to help occupants avoid opening their door into traffic and cyclists.

What are the MINI Cooper service intervals?

MINI offers a few servicing plans to make things simpler for owners, and also help to keep costs down and make budgeting easier. There’s an electric service plan for £10 a month, which is fixed for its duration, so you shouldn’t get stung by inflation or other price rises. There’s also a four-year deal, including service checks, brake fluid replacement, filter changes and the first MoT that covers the car until its fourth birthday.

What is the warranty on the MINI Cooper?

As standard, MINI Cooper owners will get a three-year unlimited mileage warranty, which also includes MINI Roadside Assistance. Along with this, the electric Cooper SE also has its battery pack covered for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is similar to the warranty offered with the Peugeot E-208 and Vauxhall Corsa Electric, but considerably shorter than the six-year warranty provided with the BYD Dolphin.