The five-door F65 2025 MINI Cooper is here! Petrol-powered, redesigned and full of updated technology, it’s the latest model in MINI’s 4th generation. How does it compare with the just-released F66 and even the J01 electric MINI Cooper? Read on.
What’s New on the 2025 MINI Cooper Five-Door
The F65 takes all the updates and modifications from the F66 three-door and applies them to a five-door body. Even though MINI made the decision to heavily revise the F55 rather than to create an entirely new car, there’s almost nothing that the designers left untouched. The exterior design has evolved to match the J01 MINI Cooper with the goal of making them look nearly identical to the casual observer. MINI’s hope is that a potential buyer would be choosing ICE versus EV without styling differences to muddy the waters. However, it’s worth noting that MINI won’t technically have an equivalent to the F65 five-door in EV form. Instead, it will offer the J05 MINI Aceman which is roughly the same size but in crossover form.
While the F65 is based on the previous generation F55, a lot has changed. There are no exterior parts (outside of the glass and the roof) shared between the two cars no matter how similar they look. The subtle changes are everywhere. One of the smallest yet most important is the lights. MINI has pushed the headlights forward and made them slightly more upright. It means that this car feels more upright and a little closer to the R50 and R56. It also marks this car out as different than the sleeker J01 MINI Cooper EV.
F65 MINI Cooper Five-Door: Design
MINI designers have applied the minimal design language we’ve seen on the J01 MINI Cooper by eliminating all non-functional vents, scoops and design elements.
The result is that the F65 has a clean and minimal aesthetic that at first glance looks refreshing. But more on our first hands-on impressions later. This is a car that is subtly new in almost every way. MINI has gone beyond just revising the bumpers, wheels and lights, and has given the F65 a completely new hood (with no faux hood scoop) and a rear hatch that’s been reshaped requiring an all-new rear fender shape. So extensive are the changes that the only exterior pieces of the F65 that are identical to the F55 are the doors.
As with the F55, the F65 is part of a three-model strategy for the petrol MINI Cooper. However like last time, there will be no full JCW model.
F66 MINI Cooper (three door) | F65 MINI Cooper (five door) | F67 MINI Cooper Convertible |
---|---|---|
Cooper C 2-door hardtop (F66) | Cooper C 4-door hardtop (F65) | Cooper C Convertible (F67) |
Cooper S 2-door hardtop (F66) | Cooper S 4-door hardtop (F65) | Cooper S Convertible (F67) |
Cooper JCW 2-door hardtop (F66) | (n/a) | Cooper JCW Convertible (F67) |
There’s also a revised name to go along with an entirely refreshed car. The MINI Cooper C will join the more familiar MINI Cooper S. What does the “C” stand for? According to MINI, it’s short for “Core”. The “C” and “S” model denotations will apply to all petrol-powered MINIs while we’ll see “E” and “SE” on all electric models.
Performance Upgrades For The F65 MINI Cooper C & Cooper S
MINI has upped the ante in terms of power with both models. The F65 Cooper is getting a 14% power upgrade from 134 hp to 156 hp in the F65 Cooper C. This change takes the C from 0-62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in 7.7 seconds. The more powerful F65 Cooper S gets a less dramatic 7.4% horsepower boost from 189 to 204 hp, but sees a significant torque increase to 221 lb-ft.
Model | F55 Cooper | F55 Cooper S | F65 Cooper C | F65 Cooper S |
---|---|---|---|---|
Power | 134 hp | 189 hp | 156 hp | 204 hp |
Torque | 162 lb-ft/1480 rpm | 206 lb-ft/1350 rpm | 170 lb-ft/1,480 rpm | 221 lb-ft |
Transmission | Manual/DCT | Manual/DCT | 7 speed DCT | 7 speed DCT |
This gets the new F65 Cooper S to 62 mph in 6.6 seconds (60 in 6.3 seconds). And keep in mind these are both likely conservative numbers knowing how BMW calculates figures.
The Interior Of The F65 MINI Cooper
While the exterior changes on the F65 may be surprising given its F55 origins, the interior is downright shocking. MINI has turned the F55 into a completely new car with all the design language, materials and technology found in the J01 MINI Cooper. The biggest change is the minimal design and large, circular display that dominates the experience. We’ve detailed that display, its operating system and its many functions on MotoringFile for months now. In fact, you can see our full demo of the new system below.
The headline for many is that this new MINI is completely leather-free. Why? There’s a big environmental impact due to the production of leather in the quantities that companies like MINI need. So much so that MINI has made the bold decision to eliminate leather from its complete lineup starting with the all-new J01 MINI Cooper electric.
What’s wrong with leather? There are some serious concerns around its production and the amount of impact it has on the environment. Converting animal skin to leather demands vast energy and involves hazardous chemicals like mineral salts, formaldehyde, coal-tar derivatives, oils, dyes and some cyanide-based finishes. Suffice it to say it’s not the most natural and environmentally safe process. It’s also not in line with MINI’s brand image of being environmentally conscious and animal-friendly. But how do you replace something as iconic as leather seats?
BMW and MINI are so confident in products like Vescin (BMW’s version is called Sensafin – an improved version of Sensatec) that it’s already being used in several cars with MSRPs well over $100,000.
What’s it like in person? Having spent a lot of time with the U25, J01 and F66 MINIs, it’s clear that Vescin is a step up from what we’ve known as Leatherette. Compared with the standard Chesterfield or Cross Punch leather seating, Vescin feels softer and more premium. It’s not on par with the feel and softness of MINI’s Lounge Leather, but then again that was a $2,500 option on the Signature Trim last year.
The MINI Circular Display and MINI OS9
While the exterior changes on the F65 may be surprising given its F55 origins, the interior is downright shocking. MINI has turned the F55 into a completely new car with all the design language, materials and technology found in the J01 MINI Cooper. The biggest change is the minimal design and large, circular display that dominates the experience. We’ve detailed that display, its operating system and its many functions on MotoringFile for months now. In fact, you can see our full demo of the new system below.
The new display and its software are a focal point for the entire driving experience, housing almost all functionality save for a row of switches, buttons and toggles just below it.
While stationary, the new MINI OS9 interface felt intuitive in our previous experiences. But in our time driving the new Countryman with an identical infotainment system we found a relatively big learning curve before we felt fully acclimated with the new system. Within the first hour, we had quickly become accustomed to the new interaction language and overall placement and functionality.
But is this better than MINI’s previous system? In our experience with the same system in the new Countryman, absolutely. The augmented reality navigation (part of the Comfort Package and Comfort Max Package) in particular was a standout. Watch our full MINI OS9 demo to get a better view of this radical new infotainment system.
The MINI Cooper Manual Is Eliminated
As the F56 production ended over 50% of JCW hardtops sold in the US were equipped with the manual transmission. So this change is a big one for some markets and certain models. But the economic realities of complying with European legislation have forced MINI’s hand, which means the F65 will have only one transmission across the lineup. That transmission is the familiar dual-clutch 7-speed with some small refinements based on our early testing.
The move to replace the manual is all about the costs associated with meeting European emissions standards. While North America doesn’t have the same requirements, the case couldn’t be made due to the investment required vs. the expected sales. Even with a 50% take rate on the JCW for instance, that quantity can’t pay off the costs associated with further developing and/or maintaining the option.
Making this change even more dramatic is MINI’s new dash-mounted gear selector. Designers have replaced the center console-mounted gear lever with a small dash-mounted toggle. The rationale is logical as the design simplifies the process of selecting park, reverse or drive while freeing up interior space for storage, screens or other functionality. More importantly MINI still offers wheel-mounted paddles for manual control of the DCT. Read our first impressions of this new shift lever here.
The Hidden Exhaust Of The F65 MINI Cooper C & Cooper S
Like on the three-door F66. MINI Designers have hidden one important functional aspect of the F65 that would have differentiated it from the electric J01 – the exhaust outlet. We can confirm the exhaust on the Cooper S is a single pipe tucked under the left side of the rear bumper, bent down, ending flush so it’s impossible to see without looking underneath.
The idea of the MINI Cooper C and Cooper S having hidden exhausts actually has some historical precedent. European automakers had a similar design solution years ago when they hid exhaust outlets on many of their V8 models in the late 90s and early 00s. It was a time when customers wanted performance models to have a more discrete look due to concerns of being too aggressive. The larger, most luxurious Audis, Mercedes and BMWs all did this at one point or another.
North American and European Differences
Like the F55, there will be three seats in the back of the F65 vs. only two in North American versions. The reason – North American side impact safety standards and the narrow dimensions of the car dictate the change. Like the F66, the three-cylinder engine won’t make it to North America. Instead, we’ll get an electronically detuned version of the four-cylinder to make certification simpler. This could open the door to easy tuning of a Cooper C up to Cooper S levels.
2025 F65 MINI Cooper Five-Door Product and Release Info
The F65 MINI Cooper five-door will begin production July 1st in both Cooper C and Cooper S variants. That means dealers in the UK and Europe will have cars on hand in mid to late July. In the US that should translate into early to mid August. Pricing for each market will be released shortly.
Looks good. Bummer about the lack of a manual transmission. MINI needs to add 4 doors to the J01 refresh before it comes to the US, especially if they’re not bringing the Aceman over. Coupes are almost non-existent here. We need functionality!
The Aceman will come over when the J01 comes over…and the Aceman sadly replaces the 4 door Mini Cooper. I’d much rather see a four-door treatment of the J01. The Aceman’s cladding and angular lines don’t do it for me.
I don’t think the Aceman is coming to the US. Something about it lacking AWD, which most Americans expect in a crossover SUV. Also if they added AWD they think it would cannibalize sales of the Countryman. It’s basically on the same platform as the Cooper, but it costs more money and has less range because it’s heavier. Why did MINI even make this?
They should have made a Clubman with a bigger battery pack for more range. The Countryman’s range is abysmal too.
This is interestingly much more attractive than all the other MINIs in this generation to me.
The 4-door Cooper is a box-ticking exercise that should not exist. Nobody wants to sit back there, and nobody wants to contort themselves through that tiny door opening. If you really needed 4 doors, you should’ve bought a Clubman (or you can wait for an Aceman).
Agreed.
Yeah well they killed the Clubman, and the Aceman is probably years away. The styling here is better than the Aceman to me, though I know Gabe disagrees. To me MINI has gotten it wrong all the way through this generation. They ignored the negative response to vehicles that took away all hard buttons forcing you to use the screen for everything. They took away the instrument cluster (unforgivable to me in fun car). Took away the manual, AND paddles unless you get a JCW it sounds like. They’ve changed the brand, but I don’t think it will have the effect they wanted. Oh and I remember when their website was cutting edge, it seems about as run of the mill as any car company site. I don’t know how they have dropped the ball there so badly.