Video: MINI Cooper Safety – How the Smallest MINI Earned Five Stars

[DimON]

The latest Euro NCAP results are in, and both the new MINI Cooper F66 (combustion) and J01 Cooper E (EV) have achieved the coveted five-star safety rating. So how is MINI’s smallest model able to do so well in such high-stakes testing? Especially when the tests are harder than ever?

Breaking Down the Scores

Euro NCAP has published its latest results, and the new MINI Cooper has not only matched but exceeded expectations. Both the F66 (combustion) and J01 Cooper E (EV) achieved five-star ratings, a significant leap from the outgoing F56 tested in 2014. The table below highlights just how far MINI’s smallest model has come — and under much tougher modern testing protocols.

Model	Adult Occupant	Child Occupant	Vulnerable Road Users	Safety Assist	Overall Rating
F56 MINI Cooper (2014)	79%	73%	66%	56%	????
F66 MINI Cooper (2025, ICE)	83%	82%	81%	77%	?????
J01 MINI Cooper E (2025, EV)	82%	87%	75%	79%	?????

The Evolution of MINI Safety

Looking at the numbers, the jump in performance is clear. Both new Coopers, regardless of drivetrain, show marked improvement across all categories. Child safety in particular has seen dramatic progress — rising from 73% in the F56 to 87% in the J01 Cooper E. Safety assist systems also tell a similar story, with MINI leaping from just 56% in the old car to nearly 80% in both new models.

That matters, because safety assist is one of the fastest-moving parts of the NCAP assessment. Automatic emergency braking (AEB), pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keeping assist, and driver monitoring have all become baseline requirements in the latest testing cycle. The fact that MINI has moved from below average in 2014 to among the segment leaders in 2025 is no small feat.

The Context: Tests Have Gotten Harder

It’s important to note that Euro NCAP has not stood still since the F56 was tested over a decade ago. The protocols have become substantially tougher:

• Side impact tests now simulate heavier, higher-riding SUVs striking the vehicle.
• Frontal offset crashes now use a mobile deformable barrier to better replicate two vehicles colliding.
• Vulnerable road user tests include more demanding cyclist and junction scenarios.
• Safety assist requirements expand every few years to include new driver-assistance features.

So while the raw numbers tell a story of improvement, the bigger story is that MINI has managed to score higher ratings under much more stringent conditions.

Why This Matters

For a brand that has built its identity on small, fun-to-drive cars, safety has always been an uphill battle. Small cars naturally face more challenges in crash performance compared to larger vehicles with longer crumple zones. That’s what makes these results stand out: MINI has delivered five-star ratings across both its smallest ICE and EV models, meeting the demands of today’s consumers without sacrificing the brand’s core DNA.

Our Take Away

With the F66 and J01 both securing five-star ratings, the contrast with the older F56 highlights how much progress has been made in occupant protection and active safety. What makes the result noteworthy isn’t just the higher percentages, but that they were achieved under Euro NCAP’s far tougher testing regime, where many rivals have struggled to keep pace.

The post Video: MINI Cooper Safety – How the Smallest MINI Earned Five Stars appeared first on MotoringFile.

View the full article