Compare the2022 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 DoorVS 2020 Toyota 86

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
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 86 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 86 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 86 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 86 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 86 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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 86 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 86 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is safer than the Toyota 86:

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	86
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	183	197
Leg Forces (l/r)	261/454 lbs.	814/1004 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	238	361
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Compression	53 lbs.	92 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	277/243 lbs.	470/406 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is safer than the 86:

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	86
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	.8/0 kN	4.5/1.6 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	2%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Tibia index R/L	.64/.28	.97/.72
Tibia forces R/L	2.2/.4 kN	4.8/2.1 kN

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 86 was not even a standard “Top Pick” for 2018.

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 86’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 86’s (12 vs. 5 years).

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the 86 (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door first among compact sporty cars in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The 86 isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that MINI vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI 16th in initial quality. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 19th.

Engine

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has more powerful engines than the 86:

	Horsepower	Torque
Cooper Hardtop 2 Door 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder	134 HP	162 lbs.-ft.
Cooper Hardtop 2 Door S 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	189 HP	206 lbs.-ft.
John Cooper Works Hardtop 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	228 HP	235 lbs.-ft.
86 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder	200 HP	151 lbs.-ft.
86 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder	205 HP	156 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is faster than the Toyota 86 2.0 (manual transmissions tested):

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door S	John Cooper Works Hardtop	86
Zero to 60 MPH	6.8 sec	6 sec	7.1 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	16.8 sec	13.7 sec	17.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	14.3 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95 MPH	102 MPH	93 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door gets better mileage than the 86:

			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
86
	Manual	2.0 DOHC flat-4	21 city/28 hwy
	Auto	2.0 DOHC flat-4	24 city/32 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The 86 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 86 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Transmission

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 86 doesn’t offer an SMG.

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 86 doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the John Cooper Works Hardtop’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the 86:

	John Cooper Works Hardtop	86	86 TRD Special Edition
Front Rotors	13.2 inches	11.6 inches	12.8 inches

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door stops much shorter than the 86:

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	86
70 to 0 MPH	158 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	111 feet	119 feet	Motor Trend

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 86 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 86’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The John Cooper Works Hardtop handles at .92 G’s, while the 86 pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the 86’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.1 feet).

Chassis

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is 1 foot, 2.5 inches shorter than the 86, 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 86 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door S is quieter than the 86:

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	86
At idle	41 dB	44 dB
Full-Throttle	83 dB	88 dB
70 MPH Cruising	69 dB	73 dB

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door a Subcompact car, while the 86 is rated a Minicompact.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has 3.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 86 (80.3 vs. 76.5).

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has 3.2 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front hip room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom and 4.5 inches more rear hip room than the 86.

Cargo Capacity

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the 86 (8.7 vs. 6.9 cubic feet).

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The 86’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

Servicing Ease

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The 86 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 86 doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

A Service Interval Indicator is standard on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes and brake pad replacement, vehicle inspection based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Toyota doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the 86.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks MINI 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 18% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

Ergonomics

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 86 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the front windows are left open on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door the driver can close them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the 86 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The 86’s power mirror and cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 86’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 86 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 86 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 86 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 86 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To shield the driver’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side window, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a standard extendable sun visor. The 86 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Toyota only offers heated mirrors on the 86 GT/Hakone.

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 86’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 86 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 86 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

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 86 doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

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 86 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The MINI Cooper comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Toyota 86 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 $3715 to $6720 less than the 86 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is less expensive to operate than the 86 because it costs $55 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door than the 86, including $123 less for a muffler, $108 less for a starter, $395 less for fuel injection and $128 less for a fuel pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door will be $7259 to $9215 less than for the Toyota 86.

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 86 isn’t in the top three.