MINI Cooper Hardtop S/JCW takes home the bronze for Kelley Blue Book's
"2018 5-Year Cost to Own Awards: Best Sporty Compact Car"



"The Mini Hardtop is a fun car to drive, and its high-performance S and John Cooper Works variants are simply a blast."

5-Year Cost to Own:
$40,592

"When Mini returned to the U.S. market more than 15 years ago, it single-handedly transformed our perception of subcompact cars, proving they could be aspirational fashion statements and not just penalty boxes. Now, the 2018 Mini Cooper is practically a car line unto itself, boasting multiple engine configurations, 2-door and 4-door body styles, and even a convertible. All the engines are turbocharged, and from the lowly base model all the way to the zippy John Cooper Works editions, they're fun to drive. Sure, other subcompact cars out there like the Honda Fit, Kia Rio, Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Sonic cost thousands less and are arguably more practical. But none of those cars offer the customization, premium appeal, driving delight and outright charm inherent in every Mini."

 

And the F56 and F57!!! :P

 

At the risk of being a wet blanket, it seems to be a calculated figured based on original selling price, depreciation, fuel use, and scheduled maintenance costs.

Vehicle reliability does not seem to factor into it.