Compare the2019 Chevrolet CamaroVS 2019 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door

The Camaro’s optional blind spot warning system uses digital cameras monitored by computer to alert the driver to moving objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing safer, the Camaro’s optional cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Camaro and the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available collision warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The Chevrolet Camaro weighs 454 to 1523 pounds more than the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

Chevrolet’s powertrain warranty covers the Camaro 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 24 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Camaro’s warranty.

The battery on the Camaro is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Camaro’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is ranked 12th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in reliability, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is ranked 17th.

The Camaro has more powerful engines than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door:

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Camaro is faster than the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (manual transmissions tested):

As tested in Car and Driver the Camaro ZL1 6.2 supercharged V8 is faster than the John Cooper Works Hardtop 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. (manual transmissions tested):

An engine control system that can shut down half of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Camaro V6/V8 Auto’s fuel efficiency. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Camaro has 7.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (19 vs. 11.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Camaro has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A 10-speed automatic is available on the Chevrolet Camaro, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

The Chevrolet Camaro manual has a downshift rev synchronizer that automatically raises engine speed to make downshifts perfectly smooth. This keeps the car from lurching during downshifts, preventing loss of control during cornering. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a downshift rev synchronizer.

For better stopping power the Camaro’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door:

The Camaro SS’ standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door are solid, not vented.

The Camaro stops much shorter than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door:

For better traction, the Camaro has larger standard tires than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (245/50R18 vs. 175/65R15). The Camaro ZL1 1LE Coupe’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (F:305/30R19 & R:325/30R19 vs. 205/40R18).

The Camaro’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s standard 65 series tires. The Camaro SS 1LE/ZL1’s tires have a lower 30 series profile than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Camaro has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door. The Camaro’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Camaro’s wheelbase is 12.5 inches longer than on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (110.7 inches vs. 98.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Camaro is 4.5 inches wider in the front and 4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

The Camaro’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.9% to 48.1%) than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s (61.1% to 38.9%). This gives the Camaro more stable handling and braking.

The Camaro ZL1 1LE Coupe handles at 1.18 G’s, while the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door S pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Camaro SS Coupe executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 4 seconds quicker than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (22.9 seconds @ .91 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Camaro Coupe a Compact car, while the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is rated a Subcompact.

The Camaro Coupe has 13 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (93 vs. 80).

The Camaro Coupe has 2.5 inches more front legroom, 4.4 inches more front shoulder room and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

The Camaro Coupe has a larger trunk than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door with its rear seat up (9.1 vs. 8.7 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Camaro. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The engine in the Camaro is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Camaro Auto has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When two different drivers share the Camaro, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Camaro’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Camaro’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge – which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door John Cooper Works does not have a temperature gauge.

Keyless Access standard on the Camaro allows you to unlock the driver’s door, trunk and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s Start/Stop Switch doesn’t unlock the doors or the trunk.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Camaro keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Camaro’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Insurance will cost less for the Camaro owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Camaro with a number “1” insurance rate while the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Camaro is less expensive to operate than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door because typical repairs cost much less on the Camaro than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door, including $33 less for a water pump, $207 less for a starter, $76 less for front struts, $105 less for a timing belt/chain and $645 less for a power steering pump.

The Camaro was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 3 of the last 3 years. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

Motor Trend selected the Camaro as their 2016 Car of the Year. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has never been chosen.

The Camaro was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2013. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has never been an “All Star.”

The Camaro was selected by Automobile Magazine as their 2010 Car of the Year. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has never been chosen.

The Chevrolet Camaro outsold the MINI Cooper by over two to one during 2017.