The notion that a sports car can be dependable is a bit of an oxymoron. Of course, over time, there have been reliable sports cars. Dependability has changed in definition over time in the automotive industry. Nowadays, it’s not good enough to have a bulletproof drivetrain, every component needs to be long-lasting. J.D. Power recently released its list of the most dependable vehicles for 2023, and surprisingly, only one sports car made the cut. What is the J.D. Power study, and what is the most dependable sports car you can buy today? Here is everything you need to know if you are looking to get behind the wheel of the most dependable sports car for 2023 – the Mini Cooper.

What is J.D. Power’s U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study?

The J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study is a highly respected study performed by J.D. Power that calculates a vehicle’s ability to be reliable by calculating the number of issues found per every 100 vehicles. For example, the current industry average is 186 problems reported per every 100 vehicles on the road. Of course, some vehicles will have much fewer problems than others, but in general, there are about 1.8 problems reported for every vehicle on the road today.

These “problems” aren’t limited to just drivetrain issues; these dependability studies are strict and cover 184 specific problem areas across nine main categories. These categories include climate, driving assistance, driving experience, exterior, controls, infotainment, interior, powertrain, and seats. Yes, even seats that are wearing faster than usual are considered a red flag for this study.

For 2023, the big takeaways of the study show that infotainment systems are still a problem. Outdated graphics, laggy response, and issues with smartphone connectivity are common issues. The study has also shown that the Luxis RX and the Toyota C-HR have had the lowest amount of problems reported, and the most dependable brand overall is Lexus, Kia, and Buick.

What is J.D. Power’s most dependable sports car?

According to the J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, the Mini Cooper is the most dependable sports car you can buy today. No, really, it isn’t the Chevrolet Corvette, the Mazda Miata, or the Ford Mustang. According to this study, the Mini Cooper is America’s most reliable sporty vehicle. Remember, this study isn’t just about drivetrain dependability, seat integrity, infotainment integrity, and controls in the cabin.

With all of these consideration factors, the Mini Cooper simply held up the best in the J.D. Power dependability study.

Is the Mini Cooper worth buying?

With these surprising dependability results, you may be wondering if the Mini Cooper is a good buy if you want a sports car that will last for some time. All in all, it is a solid buy. According to U.S. News, the Mini Cooper offers agile handling, peppy engine options, a very nice interior, and a satisfying and refined infotainment system. The Mini Cooper starts at $25,800 MSRP, and for that price, you get a great amount of sporty value. The standard powertrain gives you a 134-hp engine paired with a manual transmission as standard equipment. You also get to choose between a two-door, four-door, and a convertible body style.

Even though the Mini Cooper is affordable, the interior is quite upscale with fantastic fit and finish, and while the Cooper only recently got Apple CarPlay as standard equipment last year, it is incredibly responsive and intuitive to use compared to other vehicles’ applications.

Other standard features include remote keyless entry, a premium sound system, and a 5.0-inch digital gauge cluster. With a manual transmission as standard equipment, a fantastic sound system, and a well-equipped interior, there is no question how the Mini Cooper flew under the radar and came home with the J.D. Power dependability trophy.