2004 MINI Cooper Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

Owners Choice infoOutline
2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
25 -28 City / 32 -37 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
115 -163
Seats
4
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Cheryl M
When air conditioner is on you can not do jack rabbit starts.
I like that it is small It's is easy to park, I can get out of tight jams and since it is so small it keeps me from buying to much stuff when I shop. And even after all these years people tell me that they love my car.
accountCircle Meghan K
Great mpg, needs cosmetic repairs.
My biggest issue is with controlling an oil leak. At the age of the car, outright replacing the parts does not really feel cost effective given it is potential remaining life span. Additionally, I need to do several cosmetic repairs that are not strictly necessary, but make the car less comfortable. Both of the front seats need to be replaced, particularly, the passenger side is stuck in the reclined position from the release to let people into the back seat. . It's a great car, and gets great mileage, which was a huge draw for me, and it is 20 inches shorter than an average 4 door car so it is easier to parallel park.
accountCircle Scot L
It's fun to drive around town.
The mini gets good mileage and is sporty. It has served well on the freeways of Los Angeles. No real complaints for the car that it is.
accountCircle Breanna E
Perfect for a typical young college student
It is amazing in terms of gas mileage despite its old age. It is made to last a long time and I haven't had to replace anything major despite how long I've had it. The small size also allows me to get through traffic easier. I love the seats because of how it seems I'm protected rather than just sitting on a cushion and the fact that I can push the back seats down when I need more space to move things (and trust me, it surprisingly fits a lot). It responds readily and has been the most reliable vehicle ever. Perfect for my college student life and getting around.
accountCircle Ashley S
Small but roomy and fun to drive!
I absolutely love my mini cooper. I don't know a lot about cars, but I know it handles really well. I learn how to drive stick with it (very forgiving for a beginner). Everyone makes comments about how small it is, but believe it or not, it is quite roomy inside.
accountCircle Angela W
2004 mini cooper hatchback.
Excellent gas mileage around 35 mpg hwy and 30 mpg in town. My mini can park anywhere! It is a smooth ride and the gears shift effortlessly (it is a 5 speed manual). Sunroof of nice on a cool day down at the beach. Sporty look with comfortable leather interior. The speedometer is in the middle so it took some getting used to. Minis tend to run a higher rpm, 3000 at 60 miles per hour. The speaker system is excellent, good sound quality. I have not had any problems with her to this point except the cigarette lighter quit working.
accountCircle Taylor V
It's a reliable, versatile, and very convenient car!
I have had no real issues with my car. I love how small it is and easy to drive. It's very comfortable and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a small car.
accountCircle Amber L
Mini Cooper a Little car big surprises!
My mini cooper is the best little car with big surprises . 1st Im 5'11 and I have so much room for my feet and head space. The back seats not being used for people have near been a problem for me because I keep them flipped down and use my hatch back to load everything inside her. She can haul an amazing about of things! With great packaging skills I have loaded so many things people wouldn't believe would fit in the mini. Now in this day in age gas is a worry for most but not me and my mini. With living close to work I would sometimes forget that I needed gas and would go 4 weeks before the light for gas reminded me. If you keep a mini tuned and with regular check ups they will love you back.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Christen R
It's super expensive to fix anything that breaks in it.
It isn't reliable. It shakes and idles rough. The gas mileage isn't great.
accountCircle Lucy H
My Super Expensive Mini Cooper
Its extremely low to the ground scrubs everywhere I have a hard time coming in and out of my driveway. They also aren't cars that you can work on yourself. Pretty much every repair has to be done by a mechanic because everything under the hood is so close together it gets very expensive for even the simplest things.
accountCircle Robert O
I hate driving it around and I feel like a nerd.
Expensive to maintain and not very practical for my situation. It takes premium gas and it is rusting.
accountCircle Anna H
My car great on gas mileage.
My car has a great engine and wonderful on gas. The windows are tinted to enjoy a less hot experience with the leather seats included.

MINI Cooper Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Base
115 HP 33-33 MPG 4 Seats
car
S
163 HP 30-30 MPG 4 Seats
Photos may not match model

2004 MINI Cooper Owner Reviews

4.40
25 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 64%
4 stars 20%
3 stars 8%
2 stars 8%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Michelle W on December 18, 2020
It's not a good winter car.
It's a light blue mini cooper s, Its a 6 speed standard. It gets about 22-23 miles to the gallon in gas. I love my mini! There are a few things I don't like about it though and they are Its only a 2 door hatchback, and It's hard to get in an out of the back seat. It is an awesome little ride for the summer but if you live where you get snow than it does not do good in the winter, Its front wheel drive, but it sits so low to the ground that you rub on the snow or ice. It's got new low profile tires all the way around, It's been sitting for about a year. I've been starting it, oil has been changed and It's even now got a rim less spare tire. It needs the stereo hooked backup, it needs a new bumper also because of the snow. But I really do enjoy my mini, id just like to get a 4 door an a better color.
accountCircle Paul K on December 7, 2020
It has a lot more room on the inside than you would think.
I love the look and style inside and out of my car. It's also very good on gas. I don't like that the parts are expensive when something goes wrong. But I like the attention the car gets.
View All Reviews (25) chevronRightAlternative

Ranks #2 Small Cars by Owners

The 2004 MINI Cooper has an average owner rating of 4.40 out of 5 which ranks it #2 of 22 other Small Cars.

1
car
2004 Volkswagen R32
5
2
car
2004 MINI Cooper
4.4
3
car
2004 Volkswagen GTI
4.29

Ranks #5 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2004 MINI Cooper has a combined MPG of 35 which ranks it #5 of 22 other Small Cars.

1
car
2004 Honda Civic
48 MPG
2
car
2004 Toyota Echo
43 MPG
5
Tie
car
2004 MINI Cooper
34 MPG

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2004 MINI Cooper starter relay location?

Answer: The 2004 MINI Cooper starter relay location can be found by watching: https://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=6reWaKDPxeE You will come into problems with the battery during the life cycle of the vehicle. There can be...

What's the mini cooper r50 wiper blade size?

Answer: The MINI Cooper R50 has used various size wiper blades throughout the years, as well as on various trim levels, so I can just give you some general information. You'll usually have factory fitted blades of 19...

What's the mini cooper brake pads and rotors cost?

Answer: The cost for a brake rotor replacement on the MINI Cooper is between $450 and $620. This is important to make sure You change, as bad brakes and rotors can lead to bad stop time. If You take too long to stop...

What size is a mini cooper steering wheel?

Answer: The MINI Cooper steering wheel size is pretty average at 14 ½ inches in diameter and 4 ¼ inches in grip circumference. Interestingly, the reason most cars have larger steering wheels than race cars is because...

What kind of gas does a mini cooper take?

Answer: The MINI Cooper uses regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 or higher. You will never want to use diesel or E85 in Your vehicle because it can destroy the motor or the fuel system. I recommend...
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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Not Rated

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety