Mini Coopers are just such a cool little city car. They’re not exactly built for long highway trips, and you can forget off-roading in them, but if you want a neat little auto that zips in and out of city traffic, the Mini‘s got you covered.
Do Mini Coopers hold their value?
Based on comparable Minis, the Cooper will lose about 72.99% of its value over the first 10 years (MSRP of $36,330 for a Mini Countryman). The MSRP ranges between $22,400 for a base Cooper to $40,000 for a John Cooper Works All4 edition.
This means that Mini Cooper holds up better than, say, a BMW X7, and is roughly on par with similar city cars. Almost no car is a good investment. A house might sell for more than you bought it for, but a car probably won’t. Here’s what you should know.
How Much Will a Mini Cooper Depreciate?
While a 72.99% depreciation over a decade sounds pretty steep, it’s not so unusual for a car in the Mini Cooper’s class. To show you what we mean, let’s take a look at some of its nearest competitors.
Mini Cooper
- Starting MSRP: $36,330
- 10-year retail: $9,813
Fiat 500L
- Starting MSRP: $24,888
- 10-year retail: $5,838
Volkswagen Golf
- Starting MSRP: $27,083
- 10-year retail: $8,526
Mazda MX-5 Miata
- Starting MSRP: $31,170
- 10-year retail: $11,605
Across the board, this class of vehicle is only likely to hold about 25% to 35% of its value after the first decade. The Mazda MX-5 Miata is an outlier, holding 37.23% of its value, but it’s a fairly narrow lead.
The bottom line is that if you’re buying a subcompact city car, you have to expect to lose some money on the deal over the next ten years.
Jeep Wranglers, Porsche 911s and Toyota Tacomas tend to maintain most of their value. Just about everything else, Minis included, will wind up at well under half its sticker price in a decade.
What are the Drivers Saying?
By far the most common complaint you’ll read with Mini Coopers: They can be expensive to maintain. They’re reliable, but when you do have a part that needs replacing, you can only fix it with Mini parts, and Minis are sort of a niche brand.
If something breaks on your Chevy Silverado, you can probably find a spare part within walking distance. A Mini might have you waiting for that part to ship from Germany.
What’s the Price for a Mini Cooper?
Cooper
The $22,400 base Cooper model comes with a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission, or you can upgrade to 7-speed dual-clutch for $1,250.
Trim levels include the Classic at $22,400, the Signature, which adds a panorama roof, heated seats and LED fog lights, among other features, for $26,400, and the $30,400 Iconic, with digital instrument cluster and premium leather interior.
The main package you may want to consider would be the four-year maintenance deal for $2,199. These cars can be expensive to maintain, and you’re probably going to save some money spending a couple grand upfront.
Cooper SE Hardtop 2-Door
The $29,900 180 horsepower SE Hardtop is Mini’s entry into the all-electric market. The car comes standard with high-tech conveniences like Apple CarPlay and MINI Connected Services.
Trim levels start at the $29,900 Signature level here, with heated seats and fog lights, then you have Signature plus for $33,900 with power-folding mirrors and park distance control, and the $36,900 Iconic with parking assistant, Sirius XM, Mini Head Up Display and premium leather interior.
Not a lot of packages and add-ons here, but you can add an alarm system for $500.
John Cooper Works All4
The $40,000 301 horsepower John Cooper Works All4 is what you’re after if you want a city car with just a dash of Dodge Challenger to it. Trim levels start at Classic, then you have the $45,400 Signature, and the $48,500 Iconic.
The car comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission and dynamic damper control. For $1,250 you can add the Driver Assistance Package with front park assistance, active cruise control and parking assistant.
Some other add-ons for these Coopers:
- Premium Package with Harman Kardon sound system and auto-dimming rearview ($1,750)
- Convenience Package with alarm system and power tailgate ($700)
- MINI Maintenance Package (starting at $899 for 1-year upgrade)
Buy the Right One
The Mini Cooper may not hold its value forever, but you’ll definitely get some good years out of it. Before buying a Mini Cooper, make sure that you do your research. Read the Vehicle History, compare it to other compacts, and buy what suits you.
