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Mini Cooper (R56)

07-13 · Mini Cooper

43out of 100

Actually Good Used Cars rates the 2007-2013 Mini Cooper (R56) 41 out of 100, primarily because the BMW/PSA Prince engine is one of the most notorious timing chain failures in modern automotive history, with direct injection carbon buildup compounding the problem after 60k miles.

Score breakdown

30/ 100Reliability×2.540/ 100True Annual Cost×3.060/ 100Safety×2.040/ 100Practicality×1.550/ 100Repairability×1.0

Our take

Annual cost of ownership

Fuel (12k mi)
$1,450 (USD)[5]
Maintenance
$1,300 (USD)[1]
Tires (prorated)
$200 (USD)
Insurance (25yr male)
$2,000 (USD)[8]
Insurance (40yr female)
$1,520 (USD)[8]
Total (25yr male)
$4,950 (USD)
Total (40yr female)
$4,470 (USD)

Key specs

MPG combined
32[5]
MPG city / hwy
28 / 37[5]
Tank
13.2 gal[5]
Seats
4
Cargo max
24 cu ft
Ground clearance
5.5"
Body
Hatchback
Rear seats
60/40 split

Safety

NHTSA overall
4/5 ★[2]
Rollover risk
14%[2]
IIHS rating
Good[4]

Rust vulnerability

Reliability data

RepairPal annual cost
$1,300 (USD)[1]
RepairPal rating
2/5[1]
Unscheduled visits/yr
1.1[1]
Severe issue probability
30%[1]
250k-mile survival
8%[7]

Repairability

DIY replacement cost
$40 (USD)
At major retailer
Yes

References

Sources used to research and score this vehicle. Superscript numbers in the sections above link here.

  1. [1]dataset
    RepairPal

    Annual repair cost, visit frequency, and severe issue probability. Used in the reliability formula.

  2. [2]government
    NHTSA Crash Test Ratings

    Federal crash test star ratings and rollover percentages. Used in the safety formula.

  3. [3]government
    NHTSA Technical Service Bulletins

    Manufacturer-issued service bulletins flagging known defects. Used in the PPI checklist generator.

  4. [4]dataset
    IIHS Safety Ratings

    Insurance Institute crash test ratings (small overlap, side, headlight quality). Used in the safety formula and the repairability headlight benchmark.

  5. [5]government
    EPA Fuel Economy Guide

    Official combined/city/highway MPG figures. Used in the true annual cost formula.

  6. [6]forum thread
    CarComplaints

    Owner-reported defect patterns by mileage and year. Used in the known-issues list and PPI checklist.

  7. [7]dataset
    iSeeCars Long-Term Reliability

    Probability of reaching 250,000 miles by make and model. Used in the reliability formula.

  8. [8]publication
    Bankrate / Insurify Insurance Estimates

    Full-coverage insurance estimates by driver profile (25M, 40F). Used in the true annual cost formula.

Before you buy

Looking to buy a Mini Cooper?

Start with our fully customized pre-purchase inspection checklist for you or your mechanic. Three versions: one for buyers who are not mechanics, one for enthusiasts with tools, one for handing off to a professional. Print or save as PDF.

Get the checklist

Modernize this car

CarPlay, backup cameras, blind spot monitoring, TPMS, and dashcams. Researched picks and honest watch-outs.

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