MINI Cooper (2021)

Estimated running costs and MOT pass rates from 32,532 MOT tests in 2024.

Annual Cost

£1,853

£154/month

MOT Pass Rate

94%

Excellent

Road Tax

£200

Standard rate/year

Est. Insurance

Grp 12-25

1499cc Petrol

Great Choice

94% pass rate, £1,853/year to run. 12 points above average.

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Petrol1499cc5 years old32,532 tests21k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1499cc)

~42 mpg

£1,398

Road Tax

Standard rate (from April 2017)

£200

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Low estimate due to excellent reliability

£200

Total per year£1,853

Per month£154/mo

Per week£36/wk

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), petrol at 174.57p a litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026), GOV.UK road tax rates and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included. Cars registered from April 2017 pay the £200 standard rate, plus £440 a year for five years (from the second year) if they cost over £40,000 new (over £50,000 for electric cars).

Reliability Verdict

94% MOT pass rate(Excellent)

0%All-model avg: 82%100%

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. That's 12 points above the average of 82% across all models in our data. It also outperforms the MINI brand average of 84%.

94% of MOT tests on MINI Coopers from 2021 ended in a pass in 2024, when they were about 3 years old. That's based on 32,532 tests across the UK, retests included. The average mileage recorded at those tests was 20,555 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2021 models1036th of 3,336(top half)

Rank among MINI models21st of 335(top 7%)

vs average of all models+12%(82% avg)

vs 2021 models average+2%(92% avg)

vs MINI average+10%(84% avg)

Mileage Analysis

20,555

Average miles

22,200

Expected for age

The average 2021 MINI Cooper had 20,555 miles on the clock at its 2024 MOT, which is in line with the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car, suggesting normal everyday use.

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MINI Cooper by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2022	96%	2,098	16,905 mi
2021	94%	32,532	20,555 mi
2020	93%	34,513	24,798 mi
2019	92%	52,140	30,727 mi
2018	92%	55,706	37,401 mi
2017	90%	49,260	45,506 mi
2016	90%	47,463	52,742 mi
2015	89%	46,054	60,514 mi
2014	88%	34,375	66,746 mi
2013	85%	12,501	66,222 mi
2012	85%	6,525	72,835 mi
2011	82%	2,185	84,424 mi
2010	82%	1,766	85,375 mi
2009	74%	1,668	87,261 mi
2008	74%	1,495	92,691 mi
2007	71%	1,812	93,206 mi
2006	73%	914	91,442 mi
2005	69%	790	96,816 mi
2004	69%	708	102,681 mi
2003	73%	403	99,443 mi
2002	65%	304	98,236 mi
2001	69%	81	102,071 mi
1999	84%	114	17,301 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Volkswagen Golf

2019 · 1498cc Petrol

£1,853/year

92%

-2%

Vauxhall Corsa

2019 · 1398cc Petrol

£2,003/year

88%

-6%

Nissan Qashqai

2020 · 1598cc Petrol

£1,853/year

93%

-1%

Hyundai Tucson

2019 · 1591cc Petrol

£1,853/year

90%

-4%

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About the 2021 MINI Cooper

The 2021 MINI Cooper is a small family car. Our records list a 1499cc petrol engine, though engines vary between versions. 32,532 MOT tests were recorded on this model in 2024, making it one of the most commonly tested models on UK roads. Among all models from 2021, the average MOT pass rate is 92%, and this model beats that benchmark.

With an average of 20,555 miles recorded at its 2024 MOT tests, MINI Cooper owners drive about as much as the UK average.

2021 MINI Cooper Fuel Costs

The 1499cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 42 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,398 per year with petrol at 174.57p per litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026; based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2021 MINI Cooper?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,853 (£154/month), broken down as £1,398 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs. The low repair estimate reflects the excellent 94% pass rate. These cars rarely fail their MOT, so unexpected bills are less likely.

MINI Cooper Reliability Trend

Newer MINI Coopers pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 16 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.

Buying a Used 2021 MINI Cooper

At 5 years old, the MINI Cooper offers good value with plenty of life remaining. Most manufacturer warranties will have expired, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost. With 32,532 MOT tests in our data, there's strong statistical confidence in these figures.

Common Issues to Watch For

These are typical issues for cars of this age, fuel type and engine size, not faults recorded on this model's MOT tests. Use them as a checklist when you view one.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2021 MINI Cooper stacks up against similar cars for estimated annual running costs, insurance group, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Est. Ins. Group	Total/yr
MINI Cooper(2021)	94%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853
Volkswagen Golf(2019)	92%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853same
Vauxhall Corsa(2019)	88%	£1,398	£200	Grp 8-20	£2,003+£150
Nissan Qashqai(2020)	93%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853same
Hyundai Tucson(2019)	90%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853same

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, GOV.UK average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026, GOV.UK road tax rates and MOT data. Insurance groups are our rough estimate from engine size, not official groups. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Questions about the 2021 MINI Cooper

Is the 2021 MINI Cooper reliable?

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. 94% of MOT tests on 2021 MINI Coopers ended in a pass, from 32,532 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 12 points above the average of 82% across all models in the same data.

How much does a 2021 MINI Cooper cost to run?

Our estimate is £1,853 a year (£154 a month): £1,398 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT and £200 predicted repairs, based on 7,400 miles a year. Insurance is not included.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2021 MINI Cooper?

94% of 32,532 MOT tests on the 2021 MINI Cooper ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That ranks it 1036th of 3,336 models first registered in 2021 (top half).

Which year MINI Cooper has the best MOT pass rate?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2021 MINI Cooper has the highest MOT pass rate at 94% and the 2002 the lowest at 65%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger and have done fewer miles.

What is the average mileage for a 2021 MINI Cooper?

The average mileage recorded at MOT tests on the 2021 MINI Cooper is 20,555 miles, which is in line with the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car, suggesting normal everyday use.