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2012 MINI Cooper S consumer reviews

$23,100 starting MSRP
side view of 2012 Cooper S MINI
(61 reviews)
95% of drivers recommend this car
Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.4
  • Interior 4.7
  • Performance 4.9
  • Value 4.4
  • Exterior 4.9
  • Reliability 4.6
Explore the 2012 MINI Cooper S
Shop the 2012 MINI Cooper S

Minis are fun but have some serious issues

While the 2012 Cooper S has the N18 motor and is more reliable than previous years it still isn't great. The car is fun to drive without a doubt, but as you start climbing the mileage stuff starts really breaking. The only people who work on it are specialty shops or Mini themselves which will cost you a fortune. Over my ownership of 5 years I have gone from 92,000 miles to 136,000 miles. I have replaced the diverter valve twice, a valve cover, a clutch which will cost you almost $3000, tires, oil, and other basic parts. Currently the car needs a new oil filter housing and a water pump around $1500 for parts and labor on those two parts. The 2012 also has this weird break in-between where if your car was manufactured before march of 2012 parts from the older notorious N14 engine were used that were not reliable and often break. Things that would be covered by normal car companies are not covered by mini including a passenger airbag sensor if you are out of 120K miles or 10 year. They hard stick to that "Limited extended warranty". In a more of an opinion than a necessary truth to me it seems like mini attempted to get ahead of these issues and offer a limited extended warranty to avoid a recall.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 2.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 2.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Having fun
  • Does not recommend this car
74 people out of 77 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Very solid and fun to drive.

This car exceeded my expectations as far as build quality and performance. Very pleasing experience to drive. Easy to maintain and has always remained stylish.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
22 people out of 23 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Very reliable and fun car

I love my cooper S. It is fast, gas efficient, Very compact/fits everywhere!!!Fun to drive. Handles the road great. Color combos are perfect. Believe it or not, tons of room for groceries/ boxes etc.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
17 people out of 19 found this review helpful. Did you?
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LOVE IT! It's a 2020, not a 2012.

I'm on my second MINI Cooper S. I'm already planning for a third when the time comes. Functional, sporty, great size for me; I've been told it is not as small as it looks.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
5 people out of 5 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Fun to drive.

The car is very well put together, solid, well finished, nicely outfitted and quite peppy. It is fun to drive with excellent visibility and road handling.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Having fun
  • Does recommend this car
3 people out of 4 found this review helpful. Did you?
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It’s a car I’ve wanted since they first came out.

The car is everything I’ve wanted in a automobile! It looks great, it drives awesomely, it’s easy to park. So many new gizmos that makes it seem like I’m living in the future! I’m still learning new things because there’s so much technology. I love it.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Having fun
  • Does recommend this car
0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Best car I have ever bought’n

I absolutely love this car! It is everything I wanted and more! Every option available and a reasonable price! Low miles and perfect! I am so beyond happy!!

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Does recommend this car
1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Been in the shop more than on the street

It’s a 2016 it keeps stalling and the dealer can’t find the problem keep telling me a line. And they don’t have a clue what is wrong or how to diagnose it

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 1.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 3.0
  • Value 1.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 1.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does not recommend this car
4 people out of 6 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Super sporty

Super fun car to drive, great to go to work in style and fun. Looks great, stylish and great gas mileage. Nice commuter car. If you like to drive fast and fun but not own a sports car it’s great!

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 4.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Sweet and fast gas saver

Fun and exciting to drive, it’s driving modes encourage to go efficiently or zippy through the computer animation! Awesome to enjoy late night cruises with the sunroof and interior mood lighting! Ample interior room and storage for a little car, as well as passenger room. I enjoy the leather seats and music playback abilities

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
3 people out of 4 found this review helpful. Did you?
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