2021 MINI Hardtop

2021 Hardtop Photos
The 2021 Mini Cooper is the latest iteration of a car that manages to be equal parts whimsy and practicality. It taps retro styling to attract shoppers who want to stand out from the usual horde of compact crossovers. The Cooper offers both a hardtop and convertible, can be had with two doors or four, and features a spectrum of powertrains to choose from.

The big news for 2021 is the return of the 6-speed manual. At the very top of the Mini Cooper lineup is a new, limited-edition John Cooper Works GP. The GP is to the JCW what the Z06 is to the Corvette: the ultimate expression of an already potent car. In the case of the JCW GP, this means a 301-hp 2.0-liter turbo-4, no back seat, and massive grafted-on fender flares and a wild spoiler. Despite only being offered with an 8-speed automatic it remains one of the gnarliest front-drive sports cars around.

Most models are a bit tamer than that. The base Mini Cooper works with a 1.5-liter turbo-3 making 134 hp; a 189-hp 2.0-liter turbo-4 is used in the Cooper S. The JCW features a 228 hp turbo-4, which is tuned up to 301 hp in the aforementioned JCW GP.

A 7-speed dual-clutch automatic is offered with the base car, while the rest use an 8-speed automatic. A 6-speed manual is now standard with all models but the JCW GP.

The most efficient choice is the 1.5-liter turbo-3, which returns an EPA-rated 28 mpg city, 37 highway, 31 combined in both convertible or hardtop form. The 189-hp turbo-4 gets 26/35/30 mpg. A manual-transmission JCW is good for at 23/33/27 mpg; the auto-only JCW GP is a touch worse at 26/24/30 mpg.

Also on offer: an all-electric SE that uses a single 184-hp electric motor. It returns only 110 miles of range, a far cry from the 250 or so miles of range available in electrics like the Chevrolet Bolt EV or Hyundai Kona Electric.

The government only gave the Mini Cooper four stars out of five for overall crashworthiness, but the IIHS was more generous, bestowing their 'Good'? rating for each of their tests. Automatic emergency braking comes with each Cooper, but you'll pay extra for adaptive cruise control and parking sensors.
Full Review

The 2021 Mini Cooper is the latest iteration of a car that manages to be equal parts whimsy and practicality. It taps retro styling to attract shoppers who want to stand out from the usual horde of compact crossovers. The Cooper offers both a hardtop and convertible, can be had with two doors or four, and features a spectrum of powertrains to choose from.

The big news for 2021 is the return of the 6-speed manual. At the very top of the Mini Cooper lineup is a new, limited-edition John Cooper Works GP. The GP is to the JCW what the Z06 is to the Corvette: the ultimate expression of an already potent car. In the case of the JCW GP, this means a 301-hp 2.0-liter turbo-4, no back seat, and massive grafted-on fender flares and a wild spoiler. Despite only being offered with an 8-speed automatic it remains one of the gnarliest front-drive sports cars around.

Most models are a bit tamer than that. The base Mini Cooper works with a 1.5-liter turbo-3 making 134 hp; a 189-hp 2.0-liter turbo-4 is used in the Cooper S. The JCW features a 228 hp turbo-4, which is tuned up to 301 hp in the aforementioned JCW GP.

A 7-speed dual-clutch automatic is offered with the base car, while the rest use an 8-speed automatic. A 6-speed manual is now standard with all models but the JCW GP.

The most efficient choice is the 1.5-liter turbo-3, which returns an EPA-rated 28 mpg city, 37 highway, 31 combined in both convertible or hardtop form. The 189-hp turbo-4 gets 26/35/30 mpg. A manual-transmission JCW is good for at 23/33/27 mpg; the auto-only JCW GP is a touch worse at 26/24/30 mpg.

Also on offer: an all-electric SE that uses a single 184-hp electric motor. It returns only 110 miles of range, a far cry from the 250 or so miles of range available in electrics like the Chevrolet Bolt EV or Hyundai Kona Electric.

The government only gave the Mini Cooper four stars out of five for overall crashworthiness, but the IIHS was more generous, bestowing their 'Good'? rating for each of their tests. Automatic emergency braking comes with each Cooper, but you'll pay extra for adaptive cruise control and parking sensors.
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Retail Price

$22,400 - $32,400 MSRP / Window Sticker Price
Engine 1.5L I-3, 2.0L I-4
MPG Up to 26 city / 37 highway
Seating 4 Passengers
Transmission 6-spd man w/OD
Power 134 - 228 hp
Drivetrain front-wheel
Curb Weight 2,707 - 2,948 lbs
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