Compare the2022 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 DoorVS 2020 Nissan 370Z

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The 370Z doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has standard Automatic Emergency Braking, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The 370Z doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The 370Z doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The 370Z doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The 370Z doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Compared to metal, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Nissan 370Z has a metal gas tank.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has standard Assist eCall, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The 370Z doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door and the 370Z have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door the rating of “Top Pick” for 2018, a rating granted to only 170 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 370Z has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The 370Z’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the 370Z’s (12 vs. 5 years).

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door for 3 years and 36,000 miles. MINI will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 370Z.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door first among compact sporty cars in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The 370Z isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that MINI vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI 17th in reliability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 21st.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door gets better mileage than the 370Z:

			MPG
Cooper Hardtop 2 Door
	Manual	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
		S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/33 hwy
		John Cooper Works Hardtop 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/31 hwy
	Auto	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/38 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/38 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
370Z
	Manual	3.7 DOHC V6	17 city/26 hwy
		NISMO 3.7 DOHC V6	17 city/26 hwy
	Auto	3.7 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
		NISMO 3.7 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The 370Z doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be disabled at the start of a trip. The 370Z doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is optional on the MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the 370Z.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door offers an optional sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The 370Z doesn’t offer an SMG.

A standard “hill holder” feature keeps the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door with manual transmission from rolling backwards on a steep slope. The 370Z doesn’t offer a hill holder feature.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door S/JCW Auto’s optional launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The 370Z doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door stops shorter than the 370Z:

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	370Z
70 to 0 MPH	158 feet	163 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The 370Z doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The 370Z’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The John Cooper Works Hardtop handles at .92 G’s, while the 370Z pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 600 pounds less than the Nissan 370Z.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is 1 foot, 3.3 inches shorter than the 370Z, making the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The 370Z doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by AutoWeek, the interior of the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door S is quieter than the 370Z:

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	370Z
At idle	43.3 dB	49 dB
Full-Throttle	75.2 dB	82 dB
60 MPH Cruising	63.6 dB	73 dB

Passenger Space

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has standard seating for 4 passengers; the 370Z can only carry 2.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has 28.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 370Z (80.3 vs. 51.6).

Cargo Capacity

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the 370Z (8.7 vs. 6.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door easier. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s trunk lift-over height is 25.4 inches, while the 370Z’s liftover is 35.6 inches.

Servicing Ease

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The 370Z uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The 370Z doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks MINI 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 10% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 17th.

Ergonomics

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals. The 370Z doesn’t offer a telescoping steering wheel.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The 370Z doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The 370Z’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The 370Z doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a standard rear wiper. The 370Z doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The 370Z doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The 370Z doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the 370Z Sport/Sport Touring/NISMO.

When the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The 370Z’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The 370Z has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

On extremely cold winter days, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s optional (except Classic) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The 370Z doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s optional dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The 370Z doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door offers an optional Active Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The 370Z doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the MINI Cooper Iconic has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The 370Z doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s optional Parking Assistant can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The 370Z doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The MINI Cooper comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Nissan 370Z isn’t available as a convertible or four door.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door will cost $860 to $8935 less than the 370Z over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door will be $12296 to $24072 less than for the Nissan 370Z.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door first among compact sporty cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The 370Z isn’t in the top three in its category.