MINI Coupe (2011 – 2015) Review

MINI Coupe (2011 – 2015) At A Glance

3/5

+Most engines couple good performance with decent economy. Enjoyable to drive. Attention grabbing looks.

-Styling not to everyone's taste. Ride is on the firm side. Excessive tyre noise on rough roads. No rear seats.

Insurance Groups are between 18–36
On average it achieves 81% of the official MPG figure

The MINI range continues to grow with every passing year. There’s the Clubman, Countryman and the now the Coupe. With two seats and a low roofline it certainly looks more purposeful, but the appearance will undoubtedly split opinion.

Whether you love it or loathe it, there’s no denying it’s the most driver focused model in the MINI line-up. It’s the sprightliest performer too. The range-topping 211 PS John Cooper Works model can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 6.4 seconds and even the 143PS Cooper SD diesel is swift. The range also features an entry level Cooper model with 122PS plus a Cooper S with 184PS.

Regardless of engine choice the MINI Coupe is reasonably efficient. The diesel is, of course, the most economical, with an official economy figure of 65.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 114g/km, but even the John Cooper Works model manages a respectable 42.8mpg – not bad when you consider the performance it offers.

It’s a playful car, offering enjoyable handling on twisting country roads. It is confidence inspiring and surefooted most of the time but mid corner lumps and bumps can make the rear of the car feel unsettled. On top of that the ride is firm and can be a little uncomfortable over rougher roads.

The low roofline means no rear seats, but as the Coupe sits on the same platform as the regular hatch the space left over gives it a useful boot of 280 litres, accessed through a proper hatchback rather than a small boot-lid. Unfortunately the low roofline can make the cabin feel slightly dark and closed in while rear visibility is poor, but the dash layout is stylish and there's a good level of equipment.  

Standard equipment covers the most important features and there’s the usual breadth of customisation options. There’s a colour scheme or option pack to suit everyone, but the downside to such a broad range of optional extras is that they all add up and can make the final price significantly higher than the initial list price.

Long Term Test MINI Coupe Cooper SD 

Road Test and Video 2011 MINI Coupe SD

Real MPG average for a MINI Coupe (2011 – 2015)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

81%

Real MPG

30–63 mpg

MPGs submitted

85

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

Why does the turbo of my diesel get so hot?

"I own a MINI Coupe 2.0 diesel and now and again I get a smoke smell like burning oil coming from around the turbo. I took it back to the garage and they said it was a leaking rocker cover gasket. I took the car away and three weeks later the same thing occurred but with the engine fan on for 15 mins after the engine was switched off and bubbling water in the expansion tank. What is wrong?"
I think that what has happened here is the engine has been switched off directly too many times when the turbo was still almost red hot. This has then carbonised the oil in the turbo bearing oil feed and oil return pipes, restricting the flow of oil to the turbo bearing making the overheating even worse and because the turbo is also watercooled it has boiled the coolant passing through it. leading to overheating of the engine.
Answered by Honest John

Water ingress mini coupe

"My car has been in garage since 9th Dec due to water in driver footwell . replaced door seals and tried to return to me still with water you could dip finger in in the footwell and mildew growing on passenger seat. Car is less than 12 months old and done approx 5000 miles. I refused to accept car back but by that time it was sitting outside , soaking inside , for 6 days. Radio wouldn't switch off, spoiler wouldn't raise and had difficulty starting. None of these problems were there before it got wet but they assured me it was coincidence and nothing to do with the water ingress! This is now 28th Dec and still have courtesy car as they have now removed seats to try to dry it out. In your opinion would I be within my right s to refuse to accept the car back at all as I feel this is unacceptable for an almost new car and that there may be further problems down the line? "
I think you can reject the car to the supplying dealer for a fundamental fault, but it would not be "reasonable" to expect more than current market value for it. law here: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/ I wonder if the real problem is the window seals, not the door seals.
Answered by Honest John

Can you recommend a small, sport, comfortable car to replace my Mazda MX-5?

"I am looking to replace my 2003 Mazda MX-5 convertible. Due to my ageing body I would like something more comfortable but still sporty. My annual mileage is low at 5000. I have just looked at the Honda CR-Z GT hybrid. I would appreciate any thoughts you have on these models and any other recommendations I could consider?"
I like CR-Zs, but A MINI Coupe is a very roomy two-seater, and the MINI Coupe SD is actually more economical than the CR-Z. See: www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/mini/mini-coupe//
Answered by Honest John
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