2011 MINI Cooper Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
25 -29 City / 33 -37 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
121 -208
Seats
4
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle savannah s
I love my car! It's small & fast. I can park anywhere & it has great gas mileage. I get compliments on how cute it is all the time.
That it gets great gas mileage, is fast, small, can fit almost anywhere, has a great sound system, still roomy enough to transport large items.
accountCircle Holly M
Cute, curvy and a blast to drive!
This car is cute, fun to drive and gets great gas mileage. The large sunroof is so much better than a convertible as it has a bug screen and a shade, so you can enjoy fresh air and sunshine and still be shaded. It is small, but I can still fit 4 people in it comfortably.
accountCircle Joe T
Great driving cars, a driving experience.
Fun car to drive, great handling, fantastic gas mileage. Drawbacks are the cost to repair. Maintenance can be expensive and should be done by dealer or a mini trained technician. Very safe cars with full cabin air bags. Technology in car is advanced.
accountCircle Kathleen S
Mini cooper secrets that the dealership does not tell you.
Fast car European made steel frame unfortunately it burns oil extremely fast and therefore requires oil changes every two months. Also there is synthetic oil required which typically is more expensive. This car has okay mileage and a 14. 2 tank which means lots of gas money needed.
accountCircle Emma B
Fun to drive car that is very reliable!
Very reliable car! Never had any mechanical problems with it and it is great on gas mileage. Does require premium gas to ensure the car withholds over time, but because the mileage is so good it evens out. Only downfall about the car is that it is super low to the ground, so if you hit a bump you definitely feel it!
accountCircle Jessica M
Put the highest octane gas in it for optimum performance.
I love that it is small and that I get good gas mileage. The only complaints I have is the repairs that I have had to put in it already. It is a high maintenance car and expensive.
accountCircle Elise D
2011 mini coopers are the greatest.
The mini cooper is made for drivers! Smooth and flat out seamless handling, phenomenal gas mileage and all around fun to drive. I love the color of it and the stereo system is top of the line, it is far more spacious than people realize, there are no real blind spots, the size make parking much easier.
accountCircle Jenna L
Others should know that my car is not too great on gas!!.
It is fast and reliable; the gas mileage is fantastic. It came with bad tires though so that was an added cost. It has some annoying beeping features for when you turn it on and you do not already have your belt on.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Richard Warren
Reliability of the mini
I had nothing but problems since getting this mini cooper plastic parts on cooling system cracked causing engine over heating and cracked head 4500.00 dollars later its back on the road will never buy another one
accountCircle Alexis M
Love the turbo! Makes driving super fun.
Really expensive to maintain. Great car outside of that though. Love the handling and driving. Great gas mileage.
accountCircle Katie N
Reliable compact car with upgraded features, great gas mileage, & parkability.
I like numerous things about my Mini Cooper including how easy it is to park, the speaker sound system, heated seats, gas mileage, and the sport mode feature. I would actually prefer to have a four door vehicle with more space. The other challenge I have realized is the difficulty I experience as far as smoothness of ride especially on roads with potholes like Chicago or Detroit. I have had to have the air conditioning fixed on the vehicle so far and a tire replaced due to hitting a pothole. The heated seats are almost too warm on the highest setting and there is not really any type of center console space. I do like the mood lighting feature in the cabin however and the ability to put the rear seats down to gain extra room.
accountCircle Kylie E
Constant hesitating while accelerating and especially while going uphill.
Performance is great! But it bogs out a lot. And I've had issues with the timing chain. When accelerating sometimes especially when going uphill it hesitates and smoke blows out if the exhaust.
accountCircle Tori D
It is small, and easy to find a parking spot.
Didn't have much umph to it. You will have to watch the oil. Keeping it topped off with oil every 2 months. You will want to keep up with this car because it is a branch from the BMW brand. As we all know BMW is more in the expensive side. Get the sports version if you want a little umph.

MINI Cooper Models

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

car
Base
121 HP 31-32 MPG 4 Seats
car
S
181 HP 29-30 MPG 4 Seats
car
John Cooper Works
208 HP 28 MPG 4 Seats
Photos may not match model

2011 MINI Cooper Owner Reviews

4.52
65 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 63%
4 stars 29%
3 stars 6%
2 stars 0%
1 star 2%
accountCircle Jessica N on May 1, 2021
The car may be mini, but it definitely very mighty!
My car is absolutely phenomenal! I really appreciate the gas mileage most of all. I drive around so much that it is incredibly beneficial. The leather interior is lovely and very easy to clean. The air conditioning is strong and I never had a problem being too hot. The seat warmers manage to make me perfectly warm during the colder seasons.
accountCircle Teagan R on March 21, 2021
Amazing! I couldn't find a flaw.
I have had my car for a little over two months and after really getting to know the vehicle, I feel confident in that my only issue with it is my clutch. I am a short person and in order to push my clutch in all the way, it takes a lot. However, apart from that, I have had no other issues with my car!
View All Reviews (65) chevronRightAlternative

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Kat G.

Cute look. Offers a lot of visibility on the road. The car feels safe and well protected. The car is small but offers a lot of space inside. Large trunk space. Reliable car. Great sound quality and has the ability to connect phone via Bluetooth and aux cord.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Kat G.

Hard in drive in winter because.Of.Jets lightweight and small size. Headlights are dim. Cup holders are small and do not hold large drinks. The back seats of the car and small and do not offer a lot of legroom. Lights on the inside of the car you cannot turn off.

Ranks #3 Small Cars by Owners

The 2011 MINI Cooper has an average owner rating of 4.52 out of 5 which ranks it #3 of 29 other Small Cars.

1
car
2011 Subaru WRX
4.68
2
car
2011 Volkswagen Golf
4.58
3
car
2011 MINI Cooper
4.52

Ranks #5 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2011 MINI Cooper has a combined MPG of 37 which ranks it #5 of 29 other Small Cars.

1
Tie
car
2011 Volkswagen Golf
42 MPG
1
Tie
car
2011 Volkswagen Jetta
42 MPG
5
Tie
car
2011 MINI Cooper
36 MPG

Is The 2011 MINI Cooper A Good Car?

Yes, overall, it is a good vehicle. It generally drives really well, handling really well around corners and can park easily in cities or right spots. It can carry more than people think in the back... Read More
Heather M.
Yes, it is a great car. It is fun to drive and gets great gas mileage. Very reliable and the perfect size for my downtown lifestyle. It is also great for road trips with my family.
Aaron K.
Yes, but maintenance and repair can be costly. The car gets great gas mileage, it is recommended to use higher octane gas.
Joe T.
Yes and fun to drive, like driving a sports car, and gets good mileage. Innovative options with quality workmanship,
Ethan F.
Yes, good speed, handy for parking because of the small size, fun, cute, and rarely has mechanical issues
Alex D.
Yes. It’s fun to drive, easy to operate. Small size good for new drivers. Easy to park to escape from other cars blocking you.
marc N.

How Reliable Is The 2011 MINI Cooper?

Overall very reliable. Minor repair problems especially for the first few years. Had a few issues with sensors breaking about 3 years in, but overall the vehicle runs very well and has been easy to... Read More
Heather M.
The 2011 mini cooper is very reliable. I have never had an issues with starting or performance. It has a great build quality.
Aaron K.
Reliable, no recalls on my vehicle. If you keep up with maintenance shouldn't have to many issues with car.
Joe T.
It is reliable, if maintaining is followed shouldn't have problems. The maintenance program offered by manufacturer is worth the extra cost.
Judith F.
Yes, it is very reliable. Only minor issues have arisen that have never been dangerous or an immediate issue that has left me without a car unexpectedly.
Leann P.
It’s pretty reliable. No issues at the moment. It’s low mileage just 40k on it. Just changed wipers and one tire.
Michelle W.

Is The 2011 MINI Cooper A Good Value?

Not sure if this question means what it cost when I bought it or what it is worth now. I cannot recall what I bought it for since I bought it so long ago (new), but it is worth about $2000 now. It is... Read More
Heather M.
My used 2011 mini cooper cost $10,000. I consider this a great value. I looked at several vehicles at this price point before choosing the mini cooper and I am very happy with the decision I made.
Aaron K.
I bought mine used and it was about $19,000. That was 5 years ago, not sure what the going rate of a used one is currently.
Joe T.
New the car was around $26000 and used it would vary on condition and appearance. In 2019 one could probably be acquired for under $10000.
Kay H.
$17,600. For the value of the car it is a great car. The car does have limitation, such as the number of passengers and the amount of space for loading stuff.
Gladys S.
I bought it used for 4700. It’s very cheap compared to its low mileage. The condition is good too. Nothing to complain.
Tristan N.

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Delving Into the 2011 MINI Cooper S Trim

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Not Rated

Rollover

Side

Not Rated
*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety