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2012 MINI Cooper Roadster

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 MINI Cooper Roadster

Overview

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2012 MINI Cooper Roadster Review

By KBB.com Editors

Since its 2001 resurrection and modernization by BMW, Mini has not only thrived, it's proliferated, going from success to success with a formula of unique styling and a consistently high fun-to-drive index. With the introduction of the 2012 Mini Roadster, the Mini line now embraces six different models, and there are more in the pipeline. Although there are now Minis competing in segments never envisioned during the long lifespan of the original – the Countryman crossover comes to mind, as does the new Roadster – the product planners have managed to maintain a unique persona that's consistent across the line. The success can be viewed as a microcosm of the guiding philosophy behind Mini's parent company. The BMW influence shows to exceptional advantage.

You'll Like This Car If...

The Mini Roadster adds affordable sports car fun to what has been a 1-car segment, belonging to Mazda's MX-5 Miata. The Miata is competent and well made, but after 23 years, it lacks the sassy, distinctive persona of the Mini Roadster and the performance of the Roadster's turbocharged models.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If practicality and all-around usefulness are important to you, the Mini Roadster could become a disappointment. Like any 2-seat sports car, it's essentially a toy, with limited luggage space, limited utility in winter climates, and, obviously, limited passenger accommodations.

How It Ranks

#1

out of 5

MPG

#3

out of 5

Horsepower

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Consumer Rating

10 out of 10

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consumer ratings

What's Significant About This Car?

The 2012 Mini Roadster is a first for Mini. Although there were open-top versions in the original range, and a 2+2 convertible among the current models, this is the first-ever 2-seater drophead (British for "convertible").

Driving the Cooper Roadster

2012 MINI Cooper Roadster Front angle view photo

Driving Impressions A convertible created by removing a metal roof inevitably suffers in terms of structural rigidity and added weight. The 2012 Mini Roadster's structural reinforcements make it about 90 pounds heavier...

than the Coupe, but there are still some chassis quivers on bumpy stretches. Nevertheless, the Roadster's steering is sports car quick and tactile, with eager responses and very little body roll, even in the basic model. Like other Minis, the Roadster achieves its athletic responses with suspension tuning that's firm in the standard model and firmer still in the S and JCW versions. Combined with standard run-flat tires – there's no spare – this yields ride quality that can be harsh on even moderately rough pavement. Acceleration is modest in the basic Mini Roadster, but the pace picks up in the S and JCW versions, sprinting to 60 in the mid- and low-6-second range, respectively. The convertible top is unlined, and over 60 mph with the top up wind noise becomes excessive.

Favorite Features

Openometer
Mini product planners are borderline obsessive in their insistence on fun, and the Openometer is a manifestation of this corporate mission. Unique to soft-top models, it tracks the percentage of time the car operates with the top down. The higher the percentage, the more fun you're having.

Through-Loading Trunk
The Mini Roadster has an 8.5-cubic-foot trunk, 2.0 cubic feet more than the Mini Convertible. It also has a unique feature – a small square trapdoor behind the seats that allows occupants to pop odds and ends into the trunk without stopping.

2012 MINI Cooper Roadster Details

2012 MINI Cooper Roadster Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

As you'd expect, the inner Mini Roadster is snug, reinforcing the sense of driver engagement that makes sports cars special. Elbow room is a bit limited, but legroom and headroom are abundant, and the bucket seats are comfortably supportive, particularly in the higher performance models. Interior materials are better than average, despite a lot of plastic, and the instrument panel maintains a uniquely Mini look with a bevy of retro toggle switches, the tachometer perched on the steering column and the center of the dash dominated by a pizza-size speedometer. The speedo also embraces an info screen and, when so equipped, the navigation system readout.

Exterior

All current Minis are descended from the 3-door Mini Cooper hatchback-now known as the Hardtop – that made its debut in 2001. Most recently, there was the 2-seat Coupe, afflicted with an awkward-looking steel roof, and now the 2012 Mini Roadster, with a soft top that stows neatly behind the seats without intruding on cargo space. The front end is unmistakably Mini, and the profile says sports car, particularly with the top down, exposing the twin stainless-steel rollover hoops, and the rear wing deployed at the rear of the trunklid. The wing pops up at 50 mph, lending cornering stability at high speeds.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The basic Mini Roadster isn't terribly basic, and includes air conditioning, AM/FM/CD MP3-compatible audio, power mirrors and windows, leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, trip computer, foglights, and 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels wearing 195/55 tires. The audio package includes a 1-year satellite radio subscription. Safety features include antilock braking, stability control, front airbags and seat-mounted side airbags, windshield frame reinforcement, and a pair of fixed stainless-steel rollover hoops behind the seats.

Optional Equipment

Every Mini option list is exceptionally long and tempting, and the Roadster's array of extra-cost features – many of them custom appearance items – is consistent with the brand. Navigation is offered as a standalone feature ($1,750), or in a package ($2,500) that includes Bluetooth, USB port and iPod/iPhone connectivity. Power top operation is $750, and a wind blocker, straddling the rollover hoops, is $250. Seat heaters are $500, and leather seating choices range from $1,000 to $2,250.

Under the Hood

Like all members of the Mini collective, the Roadsters are propelled by one engine – a 1.6-liter DOHC direct injection inline 4-cylinder – offered in three states of tune. The basic engine is naturally aspirated, whereas the S and the higher performance John Cooper Works (JCW) versions are both turbocharged. The top torque rating for the S version of the engine is 192 lb.-ft. and 207 for the JCW. However, this is attainable only with extra turbo boost, and only for a few seconds. Normal peak torque is 177 lb.-ft. for the S, 192 for the JCW. The torque band is very broad for both versions of the engine, and throttle response is immediate. The standard transmission is a 6-speed manual, and a 6-speed Tiptronic automatic is optional on all but the JCW version.

1.6-liter inline-4
121 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
114 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4,250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/35

1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4
181 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
192 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1,700 - 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/35

1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4
208 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
207 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1,700 - 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/33 (manual), 26/34 (automatic)

Pricing Notes

The 2012 Roadster vies with the 2+2 Convertible as the most expensive of Minis, with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $24,350 for the basic model. The turbocharged S version begins at $27,350, and ordering the optional automatic for either model adds $1,250. At top of the lineup, the hot-rod John Cooper Works (JCW) package starts at $34,500, and it's limited to a 6-speed manual transmission. Although the Mini Roadster's price range goes well beyond that of the Mazda MX-5 Miata, it's still well below the next tier of roadsters – Audi TT, BMW Z4, Porsche Boxster – which start well over $40,000. Before you leave the site, be sure to have a look at Kelley Blue Book's Fair Purchase Price to see what other Roadster buyers in your area are paying.

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2012 MINI Cooper Roadster Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

10.0

Out of 10

Based on 4 Ratings for the 2012 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

9.5/10

Quality

9.8/10
Reliability

9.8/10

Performance

9.8/10
Comfort

9.5/10

Styling

9.8/10

2013 Mini Roadster Convertible S- Unbelievable Fun

By BooneDog (MO) on Thursday, July 18, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 2,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Exterior styling, sound system, well built"

Cons: "Pricey but worth it"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Its so much fun to drive with the top down. I recently drove a new mustang convertible and it was a bucket of bolts compared to the quality of the MINI. The MINI is built well and is extremely comfortable..I am 6'3" and can fit quite well. It has a great seating position for a tall guy. The drivers side does have more room than the passengers side. I have the 6 speed and its shifts smooth and quiet. The sound system is awesome with the Harman Kardon speakers. The heated seats are smoking hot and will sizzle you."

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Fun to drive sports car w/ striking looks!

By Noojin3 (FL) on Saturday, May 11, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 162

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Sporty Looks, Performance, Ride & Fuel Econ."

Cons: "only 2 seats; no voice activated Bluetooth"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"The 2013 Mini Cooper Roadster is a great sports car with striking sporty looks in which heads turn every time it drives by. I already liked the performance, ride and sporty looks of this car as I upgraded from the coupe in which both were new models in 2012. The roadster has the same great qualities and features of the coupe with the addition of a convertible top. The top is semi automatic which is very nice. You unlock the top manually with the turn of a knob and the top can be powered down and up by the press of a switch. As with the coupe, the ride is comfortable even on long drives, handling and performance is excellent on mountain road driving as well as down the coastline; fuel economy is great and only 1 mph less than the coupe at 35 mph versus 36 mph. This is with the automatic which also has the manual shifting capability which works very well. The trunk is large. I expected the convertible top to eat up the trunk as it does with the Audi A3 and A4, but the top is not stored in the trunk. I have as much room in the trunk as with the coupe. There is room for 2 standard suitcases and a briefcase. Behind the front seats is more storage space enough for two brief cases or sports equipment and a duffle bag. There is also a pass-through from the cockpit to the trunk for skis or other items. Interior luxury is very good with plenty of options. A lot of options are standard, including Bluetooth. Also, the automatic spoiler is great and really helps the car hug to the curves. The only con was the decision by Mini to eliminate the voice activated Bluetooth in all Mini models. (I really liked the feature but many customers found it frustrating at times when the computer misunderstood a number in a phone number as it was spoken, and the driver had to repeat the number again). Overall, I am very pleased with the car so far."

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Hands down, an awesome vehicle!

By texas dirt (TX) on Sunday, April 28, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 250

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Dynamic driving experience, loads of fun!"

Cons: "Haven't found any!"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I absolutely love this vehicle. I have a black JCW edition roadster, loaded with options. It is fast fun and well designed. Plenty of trunk space for either road trips or trips to your local stores. It is fast, responsive, and fuel efficient. This thing turns heads wherever I go. I've had several fast and fun vehicles over the years, some very desirable, but this is thus far my favorite. Was it costly? Yes, but I believe you get what you pay for and the resale should be reasonably good also. However, I plan to keep this till I die!"

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Love this vehicle

By Red (MD) on Friday, August 17, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 6,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "great look, great to drive"

Cons: "Haven't found one yet!"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"After driving both a Miata and a TR-7for 20 and 30 years, I am in love with this vehicle. It handles like a dream and the S has all the power to accelerate and handle the mountains. It is so much fun to drive up and down the mountains around all the twists and turns. I am getting about 36 mpg on long trips. This vehicle gives me a sense of security when driving on an interstate, something I did not feel with the other two vehicles. The trunk holds an amazing amount of luggage or groceries. The top is easy to put up or down. Everywhere I stop people admire it. I plan to keep this one for 20 to 30 years."

17 people out of 17 found this review helpful

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