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Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 4 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | Hatchback |
| Base Price | $26,933–$31,247 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
With an overall Carivo score of 6.9/10, the 2015 Mini Cooper S earns a Good rating among the hatchbacks we've scored. Its strongest dimension is Performance at 7.2/10. It's a capable but unexceptional hatchback — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. We rate reliability at 6.6/10 — below the segment average in our scoring. Budget for potentially higher maintenance costs and check the recall record below before buying. On safety it earns 7.1/10: respectable, if not class-leading — several competitors bundle more driver-assist tech as standard. Check your trim's official ratings at nhtsa.gov.
Performance lands mid-pack at 7.2/10: enough power and composure for everyday needs, without the dynamics that distinguish the segment's driver-focused options. Technology comes in at 7.2/10 — functional and modern, with wireless connectivity and core ADAS features, though some competitors pack more standard tech at this price point.
Priced from $26,933–$31,247, 21 MPG, seating 4, the Mini Cooper S sits in the mid-market bracket of the hatchback segment. The value score of 6.4/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 11 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Bottom line: There's a case for the 2015 Mini Cooper S, but it needs the right buyer. Its reliability and value scores trail the class, and several higher-rated rivals sell for similar money — comparison-shop before committing.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2015 Mini Cooper S ranks #90 of 99 hatchbacks in the Carivo database — better than 10% of the segment. Its 6.9/10 overall score is 0.5 points below the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $26,933 starting price is about 16% above the segment's median of $23,280.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full Hatchback ranking →
Across the Cooper S model years we've scored, the 2015 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7.3/10 | $38,001 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 7.3/10 | $38,001 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.3/10 | $36,895 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.1/10 | $35,788 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.2/10 | $34,681 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.2/10 | $33,574 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.1/10 | $32,467 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.0/10 | $31,360 | Read review → |
| 2018 | 7.0/10 | $30,253 | Read review → |
| 2017 | 6.9/10 | $29,147 | Read review → |
| 2016 | 6.9/10 | $28,040 | Read review → |
| 2015 (this review) | 6.9/10 | $26,933 |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Seats 09/11/2015 · 15V739000 | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 door vehicles manufactured February 25, 2014, to May 16, 2015, 2014-2015 MINI Cooper S Hardtop 2 door vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to May 9, 2015, 2015… |
|---|---|
| Structure / Body 17/07/2015 · 15V450000 | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S Hardtop 2 Door vehicles and 2015 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop 2 Door vehicles. The affected vehicles do not meet the side impact performance… |
| Power train / Automatic transmission / Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) 15/12/2014 · 14V789000 | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door, and Cooper S Hardtop 2 Door vehicles manufactured January 6, 2014, to October 17, 2014. During service appointments, dealers may have inadvertently… |
| Air bags / Frontal / Passenger side / Inflator module 07/10/2015 · 15V628000 | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper two-door vehicles, 2015-2016 MINI John Cooper Works and MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper four-door vehicles and 2014-2015 BMW i3 vehicles. Due to a… |
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
We rate the 2015 Mini Cooper S's reliability 6.6/10 — below the segment average, so budget for higher maintenance. It has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
4 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 6.9/10 overall, ranking #90 of 99 hatchbacks in our database (better than 10% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
The 2015 Mini Cooper S starts at $26,933 and ranges up to $31,247 across trims (MSRP when new). At 21 MPG, expect roughly $2,500/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Explore the full lineup of Mini models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.