2015 MINI Cooper

U.S. News (opens in a new tab) says the Cooper was fully redesigned for 2014 and that the changes for 2015 include standard automatic climate control and rain-sensing windshield wipers and the introduction of the four-door Cooper hardtop. Consumer Guide (opens in a new tab) adds a revived John Cooper Works model, and lists a 134-horsepower turbocharged 3-cylinder in base Coopers, a 189-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four in the S and 228 horsepower in the John Cooper Works. It calls the four-door versatile but notes its stingy door openings make entry and exit tricky, and says Coopers are pricey against the compact hatchbacks they are shopped against once options are added.

The 2015 Cooper convertible carries over from the previous generation, according to U.S. News, and gets its redesign for 2016. EPA rates the 2015 Cooper at 27 to 32 mpg combined and $2,400 to $2,850 a year in fuel, all with front-wheel drive.

NHTSA lists six recall campaigns for the 2015 Cooper. 15V450000 covers 2014 to 2015 Cooper and Cooper S two-door hardtops and 2015 John Cooper Works models that do not meet side-impact requirements for rear-seat passengers, and the remedy is extra energy-absorbing material between the rear interior panels and the body. 15V628000 covers a manufacturing error that may stop the passenger frontal air bag deploying properly in a low-speed crash, with a free air bag module replacement, and 14V789000 covers transmission control software that may let drivers exit the car when it is not in Park. The other three are a tire placard capacity error, seatback adjusters that may not fully engage, and front passenger seat cushions fitted in service with a sensing function that may be affected.

Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA: engine with 17, fuel and propulsion system with 13, electrical system with 12, power train with 11 and service brakes with 9. Consumer Reports (opens in a new tab) rates the 2015 Cooper less reliable than other cars from the same model year.

EPA rates the 2015 Cooper at 27 to 32 mpg combined and $2,400 to $2,850 a year in fuel. The Toyota Corolla lists 30 to 34 at $1,850 to $2,100, the Mazda3 29 to 33 at $1,900 to $2,150, the Honda Civic 25 to 44 at $1,400 to $3,100, and the larger Mini Countryman 26 to 29 at $2,650 to $3,000. The Cooper costs more a year to fuel than the Corolla and Mazda3 at the top of its range.