Consumer Reports Recommends the MINI

Sections: Awards | In the Press Dec 4th, 2005 17 Comments

After years of labeling the MINI as unreliable, Consumer Reports has reversed it’s opinion and named the 2004-2006 MINI “recommended”. This news comes frrom long time reader and frequent contributor Timothy Sipples:

Just finished reading the December, 2005, issue of Consumer Reports. Page 57 has some great news for MINI in a sidebar entitled “Closeup: Our Reliability Survey Reaches a Milestone.” The sidebar begins: “Earlier this year, we asked more than 6 million subscribers of Consumer Reports and ConsumerReports.org to complete the Annual Questionnaire. When the questionnaires came back, we found that we gathered responses for more than 1 million vehicles, the most we’ve ever received.”

The sidebar then explains that the annual April Auto Issue will include the full results, but they’ve got the net results now. The money quote: “Models that we now recommend because their reliability has improved to average or better are the BMW 5 Series (6-cyl.), BMW X5 (6-cyl.), Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, Mazda6 sedan (4-cyl.), Mazda6 (wagon), Mazda RX-8, Mini Cooper, and Volvo S80.” (CR did not capitalize MINI.)

CR then lists vehicles which are now recommended due to newly sufficient data, no longer recommended due to declining reliability, and not recommended due to below-average reliability (and newly sufficient data). MINI was previously scored with below-average reliability. (The sidebar only reported the changes from last year.)

If I remember the survey correctly, CR lumps the Cooper and Cooper S into the same model category. The survey asks readers to score each vehicle they’ve purchased in several different reliability areas: transmission, electrical, brakes, etc. (I gave my 2004 Cooper S an almost perfect score across the board.) There were obviously many MINI owners replying this year — more than enough for a statistically valid sample.

MINI USA will not really be able to tout these new results directly. (“A leading consumer testing publication…” is a popular euphemism in advertising.) That’s because Consumer Reports vigorously protects its copyrighted information to maintain its independence, arguing also that only the original publication can convey the full testing results in proper context. Regardless, a good reliability score from Consumer Reports is bound to increase MINI demand even more since many North American auto buyers treat CR as gospel.

When MINI changes over to the new model (for the 2007 model year), Consumer Reports will probably score MINI’s reliability as “new model, insufficient data.” However, the afterglow of a good reliability rating will likely carry over into its assessment of used MINIs (subject to any new survey information as the fleet ages), and it also will probably be noted in any write-ups on the new MINI. For example, Consumers Reports might say something like, “MINI has redesigned the 2007 model with a new engine, so predicted reliability is unknown. However, the 2004 through 2006 models have above average reliability scores.”

Congratulations to MINI (and BMW for that matter — the BMW X3 flipped from “new model/insufficient data” to “above-average reliability/recommended”) in focusing on better quality. MINI/BMW and Mazda seem to be the two carmakers with the most unambiguous survey improvement this year.

Written By: MF Reader

Timothy

For the record, it wasn’t clear from the sidebar which MINI model years are now “recommended/above-average reliability.” I believe the survey covered MINI’s 2002 through 2005 model years. My educated guess is that CR will include 2004 through 2006 in that newly earned category. We’ll find out with the April issue.
Giacomo

I can attest only from my experiences of the last 2-3 years. My ’02 MCS was a nitemare of problems as I have noted here on MF. My ’04 has been basically trouble free and a joy to own, not that I didn’t love my ’02. My daughters’ ’03 MC has had clutch problems that seem to have been solved now.
Siddhartha

Consumer Reports is a tradition bound, stogey, conservative rag that takes itself much too seriously. That stated, I’m glad they changed their mind about the MINI as it will undoubtedly increase demand among the TBSCwhoTTMTS American crowd.
CW

CR is stodgy (I think that’s what you were trying to say… I don’t believe they recommend cigars ;) ) and conservative in that they simply try to apply the same criteria used to evaluate instant coffee or washing machines to cars. One might disagree with the overarching emphasis they place on reliability rather than soft data like perceived fun-to-drive factors, but there is a strong constituency of people who simply want the best car based on the same wants and needs that one typically applies to home appliances and other durable consumer goods.

They aren’t a bad publication, they just aren’t an enthusiast publication.
ellis

I read the article about 10 days ago and it caught me by suprise with a “recommended” tag on the MINI. It’s been years that they are not so positive about the MINI because of reliability issue. I am glad.
Siddhartha

CW: I can’t find the edit button. I really do know how to spell stodgy. :-)

Why anyone would depend on a publication that applies the same criteria to cars as it does to house paint and vacuum cleaners has always eluded me. If one is shopping for X, does it not make sense to find out what the enthusiasts of X think of the range of products? Lord knows there is a plethora of enthusiast press and websites on just about everything. Unless of course the probablity of jamming one’s fingers in X means more to the shopper than enjoyment. I reiterate that CR is the Reader’s Digest of product evaluation and as such appeals to that crowd; none of whom we are likely to see at a track day any time soon. Thank goodness.
CW

The thing is that we need to remember not everyone sees a car in emotive terms, Sidd. You and I do – that’s why we’re talking about them on a website. I just look at people – family, coworkers, etc. – who regard a car in ways that are normally reserved for vacuum cleaners and cat food. “What’s the best deal I can get for a reliable car that suits my space needs?” is their mantra. That’s why I see people who cross-shop a Matrix a Malibu Maxx and a Focus wagon.
Timothy

I don’t see why enthusiasts would be any more interested in an unreliable car than soccer moms. We should all hope MINI continues to improve reliability.
CW

Enthusiasts will tolerate unreliability to a greater extent if (and only if) the desirabilty (read: speed, handling, pose factor, coolness) justifies it. Moreover, an enthusiast will likely either be a little more techically oriented (and be able to troubleshoot problems himself) and/or have a second (or third, or fourteenth) car in the garage.

No one wants an unreliable car, but if the other factors compensate, an enthusiast will buy it.
TooLShack

It’s great to see Mini get some good marks, I just hope we don’t have to start all over when the R56 comes out.
KevinR

TBSC? TTMTS?

I admit I don’t understand. At the same time, I mourn the death of the English language.

Interestingly enough, when Consumer Reports rated the MINI as unreliable, my ’04 MCS was completely reliable. Now that they have changed their tune, my car has decided to develop a long list of warranty issues.
j

did anyone notice that they didnt recommend the 3-series, a car that bmw relies on most of its sales for, and a car that motor trend, road and track, car and driver and automobile are raving about. however, they did recommend the M3. they’re both great and i want them both but does anyone see something wrong with this?
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

It’s most likely due to the fac that the E90 3 series (4 door) is less than a year old. The E46 M3 almost 5 years old.
sb

When it comes to cars … I put Consumer Reports right up there with J.D. Power and Associates, which is to say … not at all. If I need a toaster, maybe I’ll listen to CR. If I am ever impressed to learn what car J.D. Power ranks as having the “best overall initial quality of luxury, mid-size, automatic, 5 passenger, 4-door sedans, with cloth seats, between $22,500 and $22,750, and trunk volume exceeding 14 cubic feet” … then will somebody please shoot me. You name a car … any car, and J.D. Power has a category it will excell in.
Osmodious

You know, enthusiasts WILL tolerate (though not necessarily accept) unreliability in order to drive an enthusiast car. However, it would be nice to get decent service. Let’s face it, ANY company can get it right the first time…it’s the ones that perform good Service Recoverey that are considered Great Companies. My dad used to buy Gateway computer products even though 1 out of every 3 monitors came in DOA…when I asked why he would still give them money, he said it was because when he calls them up they send a new monitor and an ARS label for the defective one, whereas when he had to get his computer of another brand serviced, it was nothing but hassle.

OK…sorry, I ramble. Anyway, my family subscribes to CR and I typically fill out the survey. I was honest, though it pained me to be so as I love my Mini. The car is just poorly put together and the service has been a joke (very, very nice people…can’t FIX anything, but they are very, very nice). Mine is a 2004, so any ‘new model bugs’ should have been worked out by then, one would think. I also did the reader survey for Road & Track on the Mini…not sure when that will be published, and I was honest there as well.

Back to the whole ‘service recovery’ thing. I’ve had my Mini in for unscheduled service 13 times in 15 months. That wouldn’t be acceptable on a $11k Kia, let alone a $29k Mini. The fact that there are things that have been looked at 13 times and are STILL wrong (loose seat, anyone?), is abysmal. The fact that I have been surveyed by Mini and rated the service awful, and filed a formal complaint…but have yet to hear from them AT ALL, is pathetic. All they would have to do is try a little bit to make me feel better about things…give me decent value for mine on a trade or throw some stupid freebie at me (maybe a car cover to protect the paint that they ruined), just something to show that they give a damn. I’m not holding my breath.
Evan

Consumer Reports is a good guide, despite being clueless about performance and the real value of cars. It is nice to see reports of the fine reliability trickling out now. MINI has done a lot to improve and it is obvious in cars built only a couple months apart. Also, with MINI already building the R56 production prototypes, I’m sure they’re striving to prevent some of the R50′s teething problems.

go MINI!
subrina coleman

I loved my 05 mini- until my cluth went out after having it one year and 15,000.00 miles.. i got swindeld from a north hollywood mini dealer for $600.00 on something that should have been under warnity.(he took advantage of the fact my cluth went out in the middle of the night in a town i did not know. one week later my transmission went out. and that was covered under warnity. last night my air conds. went on the blink… im not a happy mini owner. subrina Coleman

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