2016 MINI Cooper
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2016 models.
- Class
- Subcompact Cars
- Engines
- 1.5L 3-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Premium Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 32 combined · 28 city / 38 hwy
- Length
- –
- Curb weight
- –
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 4 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 32 MPG combined — 35% better than the average 2016 subcompact car (23.7 MPG).
Watch out for
- Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2016 MINI Cooper is a subcompact car offered with 2 engines (1.5L 3-cyl turbo and 2.0L 4-cyl turbo) and front-wheel drive.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 32 MPG combined (28 city / 38 highway), 35% better than the 2016 subcompact car average of 23.7 MPG, for an estimated $2,550 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 4 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the engine.
What changed for 2016
- Engines dropped: 1.6L 4-cyl and 1.6L 4-cyl turbo
Compared with 2015; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2015 Cooper →
Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Hardtop 4 door | 1.5L 3-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 38 / 32 | +35% | $2,550 | 277 |
| Cooper Hardtop 2 door | 1.5L 3-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 38 / 32 | +35% | $2,550 | 281 |
| Cooper Hardtop 2 door | 1.5L 3-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 36 / 30 | +27% | $2,750 | 292 |
| Cooper Hardtop 4 door | 1.5L 3-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 36 / 30 | +27% | $2,750 | 292 |
| Cooper Convertible | 1.5L 3-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 36 / 30 | +32% | $2,750 | 294 |
| Cooper Convertible | 1.5L 3-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 36 / 30 | +32% | $2,750 | 291 |
| Cooper S Hardtop 2 door | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 33 / 28 | +18% | $2,950 | 316 |
| Cooper S Hardtop 4 door | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 33 / 28 | +18% | $2,950 | 316 |
| Cooper S Convertible | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 33 / 28 | +23% | $2,950 | 315 |
| Cooper S Hardtop 2 door | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 33 / 27 | +14% | $3,050 | 331 |
| Cooper S Hardtop 4 door | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 33 / 27 | +14% | $3,050 | 331 |
| Cooper S Convertible | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 32 / 26 | +15% | $3,150 | 336 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2016 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2016 MINI Cooper.
Recalls (4)
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights · Mar 31, 2017
NHTSA campaign 17V222000 · 16,883 vehicles
- Problem
- 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 such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- If the brake light does not illuminate when a turn signal is activated, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- MINI will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the vehicle to correct the brake lighting, free of charge. The recall began May 22, 2017. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor · Oct 17, 2016
NHTSA campaign 16V747000 · 15,455 vehicles
- Problem
- 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 vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism of the seat belt Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) for the driver's seat may not lock as designed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
- Risk
- In the event of a crash where heavy braking is applied, the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) may activate when the occupant is more forward in the seat, possibly increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Steering › Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) · Dec 30, 2015
NHTSA campaign 15V887000 · 2 vehicles
- Problem
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling one model year 2016 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door vehicle manufactured November 24, 2015, and one BMW X1 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) manufactured October, 19 2015. The steering gearbox may have been manufactured with incorrect parts.
- Risk
- A gearbox malfunction may cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- BMW will replace the steering gearbox, free of charge. Affected vehicles are located in dealer inventory and will be remedied before customer retail. The recall began on December 28, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module · Oct 7, 2015
NHTSA campaign 15V628000 · 6,073 vehicles
- Problem
- 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 manufacturing error, the passenger frontal air bag may not deploy properly in a low speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, an air bag that does not deploy properly increases the risk of injury to the front seat passenger.
- Fix
- MINI and BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525 and BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Not every 2016 MINI Cooper is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2016 MINI Cooper buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 4 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Engine — 15 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Exterior Lighting — 14 owner reports. Check all exterior lights, wipers and the windshield for cracks.
- Electrical System — 11 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 34,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2016 MINI Cooper. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Cooper years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Cooper | 31 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 Cooper | 32 | 152.8 in | Not rated | 1 | 3 |
| 2025 Cooper | 32 | 152.8 in | Not rated | 4 | 6 |
| 2024 Cooper | 32 | – | Not rated | 2 | 2 |
| 2023 Cooper | 32 | – | Not rated | 2 | 12 |
| 2022 Cooper | 32 | – | Not rated | 2 | 9 |
| 2021 Cooper | 31 | – | Not rated | 4 | 7 |
| 2020 Cooper | 31 | – | Not rated | 4 | 13 |
| 2019 Cooper | 32 | – | Not rated | 2 | 17 |
| 2018 Cooper | 32 | – | Not rated | 0 | 8 |
| 2017 Cooper | 32 | – | Not rated | 3 | 34 |
| 2015 Cooper | 32 | – | Not rated | 6 | 74 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or MINI. How we calculate this →