carivo.co
Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 4 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | Hatchback |
| Base Price | $28,040–$32,403 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
Our scoring places the 2016 Mini Cooper S at 6.9/10 overall, which translates to a Good rating for this hatchback. Its strongest dimension is Performance at 7.3/10. 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. Reliability is the weak spot: 6.5/10, under the class average. Review the recall record on this page and price in extra maintenance headroom. The safety score of 7.1/10 is solid mid-pack territory. If advanced driver aids matter to you, compare standard equipment carefully and verify ratings at nhtsa.gov.
Performance scores 7.3/10 — competent for everyday use. Acceleration and handling are adequate for commuting and highway driving, though enthusiasts will want to look at higher-rated alternatives. Tech rates a reasonable 7.3/10: the essentials are covered and well executed, but rivals at the same price often include more as standard.
Priced from $28,040–$32,403, 22 MPG, seating 4, the Mini Cooper S sits in the mid-market bracket of the hatchback segment. The value score of 6.7/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 10 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Our take: The 2016 Mini Cooper S is a passable hatchback but not a standout one. Weaknesses in value and reliability hold it back from being a strong recommendation. It may suit buyers with specific needs it serves well, but we'd encourage comparing at least two or three higher-scored alternatives before deciding.
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 2016 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 $28,040 starting price is about 20% 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 2016 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 (this review) | 6.9/10 | $28,040 | |
| 2015 | 6.9/10 | $26,933 | Read review → |
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.
| Seat belts / Front / Retractor 17/10/2016 · 16V747000 | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, MINI Hardtop 4 Door Cooper, Mini Hardtop 4 Door Cooper S, MINI Cooper Clubman, and Cooper S Clubman, 2017 Rolls-Royce Ghost, and 2016 528i vehicles. The… |
|---|---|
| Exterior lighting / Brake lights 31/03/2017 · 17V222000 | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2016-2017 MINI Cooper Clubman, Cooper S Clubman and JCW Clubman vehicles. When the affected vehicles are braking and the turn signals are on, the inner, bumper-mounted, brake light will go out. As… |
| 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 2016 Mini Cooper S's reliability 6.5/10 — below the segment average, so budget for higher maintenance. It has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
3 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 2016 Mini Cooper S starts at $28,040 and ranges up to $32,403 across trims (MSRP when new). At 22 MPG, expect roughly $2,386/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Other hatchbacks at a similar price point, ranked by Carivo score.
Explore the full lineup of Mini models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.
