A Guide to Mini Safety Ratings
Small but surprisingly strong, Minis have good crash test results and a host of top-notch safety features.
Written by Amber Reed
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Table of Contents
- Are Minis safe in accidents?
- The two safety rating systems you need to know
- 2022 Mini Hardtop 2 Door
- 2022 Mini Countryman
- How you can save money on Mini insurance
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Just because they’re mini doesn’t mean they’re not mighty—between its cutting-edge safety technology and solid crash test ratings, a Mini has what it takes to keep you safe in an accident.
The iconic British Mini hit the shores of the U.S. in 2002. While it is known for being sporty and smile-inducing, is it safe? In an age of surly SUVs and tank-like trucks, it might surprise you to learn that Mini has great crash test ratings and industry-leading technology to keep you safe on the road.
Want to learn more about Mini safety ratings? You’ve come to the right place, old chap.
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Are Minis safe in accidents?
Despite being smaller than your average car, Minis are quite safe in accidents. Let’s dig into the safety technology that makes these little guys so sturdy.
What makes a Mini safe?
Mini is currently owned by
BMW
, which has a reputation for well-engineered cars and top-notch safety tech. An ultra-rigid frame increases handling and helps keep you safe in a crash, while up to eight smart airbag sadjust inflation rates based on the severity of the crash. Further, if a severe crash is detected, the airbags stay inflated longer to help protect you from any shattered glass.
Other features of Mini’s active and passive safety systems include:
- Active brakes will dry themselves in wet weather and prepare for a stop the second your foot leaves the gas pedal
- Dynamic stability control and cornering brake control will help you handle curves in the road smoothly and safely
- Adaptive cruise control will aid in maintaining a set speed and distance from the car in front of you
- A frame-mounted rollover protection bar will deploy in milliseconds to help keep you protected if your Mini’s sensors detect a rollover accident
- The breakaway engine and gearbox are designed to absorb the impact and break away from their mounts in a head-on collision, diverting them from being forced into the cabin
That’s right—in essence, your Mini will die for you.
In addition, driver-assistance features like parking assist and lane departure alert all work to keep accidents from ever happening.
The two safety rating systems you need to know
The two most important ratings of any vehicle’s safety come from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). These two bodies, a federal agency and a non-profit organization respectively, conduct tests to evaluate the safety of motor vehicles in the U.S.
NHTSA ratings
are based on a five-star system that’s been in place since 1993. Each vehicle gets an overall score, but NHTSA also breaks down individual ratings for the three major tests: - Frontal crash
- Side crash
- Rollover
IIHS conducts a series of
six tests
, including front and side crash tests, to determine a car’s safety. They also evaluate the headlights and LATCH car seat attachments and take both crashworthiness and collision mitigation into consideration.IIHS ratings run from Good—the highest rating possible—down through Acceptable, Marginal, and Poor (the worst possible score).
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Which Mini has the highest safety ratings?
This is a little difficult to say for certain, as there is only data available for two out of Mini’s eight models for 2022: the Countryman and the Hardtop 2 Door. Both received high marks.
Let’s take a look.
MORE: How to find vehicle safety ratings
2022 Mini Hardtop 2 Door
Starting price: $23,400
IIHS safety rating: Good
NHTSA safety rating: 4 stars overall and for frontal, side, and rollover
This hatchback is the first Mini that was introduced in the U.S., and the 2022 model gets high marks from both the IIHS and the NHTSA. It’s also worth mentioning that this model has consistently received “Good” marks from the IIHS for almost 10 years, and was a Top Safety Pick for 2016 and 2017.
It did get a “Marginal”rating for LATCH ease of use, which given its status as a small two-door car isn’t that surprising.
2022 Mini Countryman
Starting price: $29,600
IIHS safety rating: Good
NHTSA safety rating: Not rated
The four-door
Countryman
is Mini’s largest car and also gets a “Good” rating from the IIHS. It was not rated by the NHTSA. Previous ratings from the IIHS were positive as well, and this model was a Top Safety Pick in 2017. The Countryman got an “Acceptable” rating for LATCH ease of use, so if you have small kids and you want a Mini, this is a better option to go with.
How you can save money on Mini insurance
Driving a safe car is a reward in and of itself, but it might also have the added bonus of saving you money on your car insurance. Avoiding an accident altogether means you don’t run the risk of seeing your
insurance rates rise afterward
, and cars with better safety options are frequently less expensive to insure.Another way to lower the cost of your car insurance is to download the fast and friendly
Jerry
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