10 Mini Cooper Competitors to Consider

2019 MINI Cooper S Orange Driving Front Quarter ・ Photo by MINI

For more than 15 years, buyers have flocked to the Mini Cooper for a variety of reasons. Some love its cheerful retro charm. Others revel in its ultra-responsive handling. It can be a toy for tackling empty back roads on the weekends or a city-friendly runabout. Today's lineup features two- and four-door hatchbacks and a soft-top convertible, with a range of performance levels: the base 32-mpg 134-hp three-cylinder engine, the 189-hp four-cylinder S model, and the max-performance 228-hp John Cooper Works. This selection makes it easy to find a Cooper that’s right for you.

But maybe you like some aspects of the Mini experience but not others. Maybe you want exuberant styling or fun-to-drive performance, but you want to spend less. (While the 2019 Cooper starts at a reasonable $21,990, prices can soar easily beyond $30,000 or even $40,000.) Perhaps you’d appreciate more interior room or a different design aesthetic. Or maybe you just want some additional options to consider. Whatever your reason, one of the following Mini Cooper competitors could be perfect for you.

2018 Fiat 500

At first glance, the FIAT 500 seems almost interchangeable with the MINI Cooper. Both are small retro-styled European hatchbacks with round headlamps. Both also have brash performance versions — in the Fiat’s case, the 160-hp Abarth, slotting above the base 135-hp model — and available soft-top convertible models. But the 500 is far less expensive, starting at just $16,245. And although it has a much smaller footprint, perfect for a crowded city, this tall hatchback is actually more passenger-friendly than the two-door Mini.

On the other hand, the base Mini has sportier handling than the 500, with ultra-quick steering responses that the Fiat doesn’t start to match outside of the hard-edged Abarth. You also can’t get as many luxury options on the Fiat as on the Mini, the 500 doesn’t have a four-door variant, and the convertible's roof doesn't open as fully as the Cooper's.

Photo by FIAT

2018 Volkswagen Beetle

Volkswagen introduced the retro-styled small hatchback trend that Mini and Fiat later followed. The 2018 Beetle is a more distinctively styled version of the Volkswagen Golf, shaped like the brand’s 1960s icon rather than a modern economy car. Yet with a base price of $20,220, it’s actually less expensive than the Golf. And where the Mini’s retro flavor complicates its control layout, the Beetle has loads of character while remaining user-friendly.

But the Beetle is bigger than the Mini, resulting in a different feel. While the Mini is light and tossable, the Volkswagen is smoother, quieter, and less engaging to drive. There’s also only one Beetle engine for 2018 — a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 174 hp — rather than the Mini’s choice of three. And while there’s a Beetle convertible, there’s no four-door model.

Photo by Volkswagen

2018 Volkswagen Golf

If retro styling isn’t mandatory in your small hatchback, the Volkswagen Golf lineup could be a great fit. From the base 170-hp Golf ($20,910), to the zesty 220-hp GTI ($26,415), all the way up to the ferocious 292-hp Golf R ($39,745), VW delivers more power for the money than Mini. The Golf also boasts a smooth, refined driving experience even in its performance trims, and a roomier cabin than the Cooper.

But like the Beetle, the Golf skips the Mini’s frenetic energy — handling with great poise but without the Cooper’s instantaneous responses. Gas mileage isn’t up to Mini standards, thanks to high standard horsepower (though a thriftier base engine is coming soon). And if you were hoping for an extroverted character, this subdued Volkswagen that's sold only as a sensible five-door hatchback might disappoint.

Photo by Volkswagen

2019 BMW 2 Series

If you’re interested in a fully loaded MINI Cooper — one with the biggest engine and all the luxury features — it’s easy to spend luxury-car money. So don’t forget to check out the entry-level luxury car from Mini’s parent company, BMW. The 2019 2 Series, sold as a coupe or convertible, starts at $35,300. That’s well above the Mini’s base price, but a well-equipped Cooper can cost even more.

The 2 Series provides elegance and refinement instead of cheeky fun, it is rear-wheel drive (with optional all-wheel drive) while the Mini is front-wheel drive, and it gives up the functionality of either a hatchback or four doors. But if you’re looking for a fun driving experience under $40,000, the 248-hp BMW 230i delivers the brand’s famously balanced handling along with respectable straight-line performance.

Photo by BMW

2019 Hyundai Veloster

Shifting back toward affordable small cars, the redesigned 2019 Hyundai Veloster brings a distinctive styling flavor without any hint of retro. It’s low and aggressive instead of boxy and cute. Hyundai provides tons of standard features for just $18,500, with a choice of a 147-hp naturally aspirated engine and a 201-hp turbo that are both good for up to 30 mpg in mixed driving. The rear seat in the Veloster is more adult-friendly than the Mini's, and there's more trunk space. 

However, despite improved handling for the 2019 model year, the Veloster doesn't drive with the unabashed eagerness of the MINI Cooper. There’s also no convertible option. And while base models are similarly peppy, the fastest Mini will zip away from the quickest Veloster.

Photo by Hyundai

2019 Ford Fiesta

Many Ford Fiesta buyers merely want an affordable new car. And it’s definitely affordable, priced from just $14,260. But it also has some of the spice that could attract a MINI Cooper aficionado, with far sharper handling than you’d find in competing subcompacts like the Nissan Versa or Kia Rio. That’s especially true in the sporty ST model, a delightful 197-hp pocket rocket that stickers at just $22,215 and frequently is available at great discounts.

The Fiesta is available as a five-door hatchback (the only option for the ST) or a four-door sedan, but unlike the Mini, there’s no three-door version or convertible. Also, Ford offers no middle ground between the extra-hot ST and the economical but lukewarm 120-hp engine found in every other trim level. And while the Fiesta has more luxury options than most competitors, the Mini can become more decadent. 

Photo by Ford

2018 Subaru BRZ / 2019 Toyota 86

The nearly identical BRZ and 86 are the fruits of a cooperative effort between Subaru and Toyota, respectively, to build one of the best-handling cars south of $30,000. Both are sold only as rear-wheel drive coupes, are priced from around $26,000, and use a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine making 200 to 205 hp. These cars have started to show their age since they debuted in 2013, but their brilliantly direct steering and superbly balanced handling haven’t lost any polish.

However, the Mini brings a fancier interior and offers more modern tech features. And overall, the 86 and BRZ are hard-edged, focused sports cars, without the Cooper’s open cargo hold and generally cheery demeanor.

Photo by Toyota

2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata

If you like the BRZ and 86 but wished they offered a convertible version, you’ll get the closest experience in the 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata. This rear-wheel drive two-seat roadster has been a delight to drive at any speed for nearly 30 years, and the updated 2019 model is better than ever. If you’re just looking for a great car to drive — and one with richer interior appointments than the 86 or BRZ to boot — you can’t skip the Miata.

That said, there are obvious downsides to a car with just two seats, an open roof, and a small trunk. The MX-5 Miata excels in its niche, but that niche isn’t for everyone.

Photo by Mazda

2018 Honda Civic

In terms of functionality, the Honda Civic sits at the opposite extreme from the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Even so, today’s Civic can deliver Mini-rivaling spiciness in addition to its extra-spacious interior. Even the base model ($18,940) has a respectable 158 hp and surprisingly agile handling, along with better fuel economy than the Mini — even though the Civic is a size larger. But enthusiasts will gravitate toward the 205-hp Si ($24,100) or 306-hp Type R ($34,700) for even more thrills in either a straight line or a winding road.

Sold as a four-door sedan, two-door coupe, or five-door hatchback (though not in every trim level), the Civic can be affordable, economical transportation or a ferocious performance machine. The Honda’s aggressive styling cues stand in stark contrast, though, to the cheerful Mini or the subtle Volkswagen Golf. And only the Type R can rival a Cooper’s go-cart handling feel.

Photo by Honda

2019 Mini Clubman

Maybe none of these Mini Cooper competitors spoke to you, and you’re just wishing you could get that same Mini experience, only with a little bit more room for people and cargo. Enter the Mini Clubman, an elongated version of the Cooper four-door with the same engine options.

While it’s still a small car without super-generous rear-seat or cargo space, the Clubman could be exactly what some Mini enthusiasts need to keep them in their beloved brand. Prices start at $24,900.

Photo by MINI