Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Mini Cooper S?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2021 Mini Cooper S?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2021 Mini Cooper S?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2021 Mini Cooper S reliable?

Based on MOT data from 10,069 vehicles, the 2021 Mini Cooper S has a first-time MOT pass rate of 92.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2021 Mini Cooper S?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Mini Cooper S (2021)

10,069 real MOT outcomes analysed • 92.6% first-time pass rate

2021 Mini Cooper S

CarHunch analysed 10,069 real MOT records for the 2021 Mini Cooper S. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2021 MINI Cooper S is a genuinely reliable first-time MOT performer, with a 92.5% pass rate that sits well above the UK average of 80%—and only 8.7% of examples have ever recorded a dangerous defect, which is reassuringly low. Petrol versions edge out the hybrid-electric models (92.9% vs 91.4% pass rate), though both are solid.

These cars are running sensible mileage for their age, averaging 24,706 miles, which suggests they're not being thrashed. The low failure rate of just 0.25 per vehicle masks what you'll actually encounter: most will pick up minor advisories (averaging 1.2), typically wear items like brake pads or suspension components rather than structural problems. If you're shopping for one, prioritise a full service history and get a pre-purchase inspection to catch those advisory items before they become failures.

The 2021 Mini Cooper S passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (92.6% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

92.6%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

8.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.25

Over 2.4 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

21k

Middle half: 15k–29k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 92.6% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 10,069 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 10,069 Mini Cooper S cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Mini Cooper S

Based on MOT data from 10,069 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 8.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (77%)	7,725	92.9%	0.23
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (23%)	2,331	91.4%	0.29

Colour Breakdown

Based on 95,592 Mini Cooper S vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 23.7%

22,660

Black 17.4%

16,594

Blue 16.8%

16,045

Silver 12.7%

12,179

Red 10.2%

9,716

White 8.3%

7,897

Green 5.9%

5,674

Orange 3.2%

3,027

Turquoise 0.9%

858

Yellow 0.7%

667

Brown 0.2%

223

Cream 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Mini Cooper S vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

21,127

typical

14,659

low mileage

28,653

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Mini Cooper S vehicles fall between 14,659 and 28,653 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 14,659 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 14,659–28,653 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Mini Cooper Ss sit.

⚠ Over 38,681 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2021 Mini Cooper S — Still on the Road

Almost all 2021 Mini Cooper Ss are still on the road.

Strong survival — 9,803 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2023–2025.

MOT History Averages

2.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.25

Avg failures per vehicle

1.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mini Cooper S: All Cooper S years → Which year to buy? →

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022 2023

Or browse all models: Mini →

Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Mini Cooper S stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?