The Mini Cooper is a compact car built from 2002 to 2010 over 6 generations. Most were assembled in Germany — 100% of those on record. Between 2002 and 2026 it grew 31 cm longer and gained 238 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Cooper is
The Mini Cooper is a compact car that Mini built from 2002 to 2010 — 9 model years. Our measurements put it at 6 generations, the current one starting in 2026. It has been offered with 4-cyl power. Its closest sibling in the Mini range: Cooper Convertible.
Where the Cooper is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 3,177 Coopers on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | WMW | 2002-2018 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Mini VIN decide which of these 6 lines your Cooper belongs to. What every character in a Cooper VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Mini Cooper adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Cooper generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Cooper's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Cooper that gives 6 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-2008 | 365 cm | 247 cm | 1175 kg | - | - |
| 2009-2012 | 371 cm | 247 cm | 1210 kg | +6 cm | +35 kg |
| 2013 | 394 cm | 255 cm | 1235 kg | +23 cm | +25 kg |
| 2014 | 386 cm | 250 cm | 1286 kg | -8 cm | +51 kg |
| 2025 | 388 cm | 250 cm | 1401 kg | +2 cm | +115 kg |
| 2026 | 396 cm | 254 cm | 1413 kg | +8 cm | +12 kg |
Between 2002 and 2026 the Cooper gained 31 cm in length (+8.5%) and 238 kg in weight (+20.3%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Cooper that is 238 kg against 31 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Mini Cooper tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Cooper owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Mini Cooper have? Power & range
The Mini Cooper is offered with 1 powertrain — 1.6L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Mini Cooper, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 1.6L · 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | FWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Cooper by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Mini Cooper. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Cooper | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 33 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 3,511 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $959/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 41 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Mini Cooper?
The Cooper is a compact car, built from 2002 to 2010 across 6 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl.
Where is the Mini Cooper made?
Across 3,177 cars in our records the split is: Germany (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Cooper have?
6 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2026. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Cooper grew 31 cm longer and gained 238 kg.
What is the Mini Cooper warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Cooper reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Cooper?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Mini
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Countryman | 2011–2026 | 23 | 96 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mini Hardtop | 2009–2026 | 15 | 32 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mini Cooper Convertible | 2004–2026 | 12 | 32 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mini Clubman | 2008–2024 | 19 | 32 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mini Cooper Roadster | 2012–2015 | 4 | 30 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mini Cooper Coupe | 2012–2015 | 2 | 32 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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