Compare the2023 Audi TTVS 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi TT have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The MINI Cooper Convertible doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The TT has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Cooper Convertible doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The TT’s blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The Cooper Convertible doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

Both the TT and the Cooper Convertible have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

There are almost 3 times as many Audi dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the TT’s warranty.

The Audi TT’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the Cooper Convertible’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

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

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than MINI vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 9 places higher in reliability than MINI.

The TT has more powerful engines than the Cooper Convertible:

As tested in Car and Driver the TT 45 TFSI is faster than the MINI Cooper Convertible turbo 3 cyl. (automatics tested):

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi TT uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Cooper Convertible requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The TT has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cooper Convertible (14.5 vs. 11.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The TT 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 Convertible doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Audi TT comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Cooper Convertible.

All wheel drive, available in the TT, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The MINI Cooper Convertible is not available with all wheel drive.

For better stopping power the TT’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Cooper Convertible:

The TTS Coupe’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Cooper Convertible are solid, not vented.

The TT RS offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Cooper Convertible doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The TT stops much shorter than the Cooper Convertible:

For better traction, the TT has larger standard tires than the Cooper Convertible (245/40R18 vs. 175/65R15). The TT’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cooper Convertible (255/30R20 vs. 205/40R18).

The TT 45 TSFI’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cooper Convertible’s standard 65 series tires. The TT’s optional tires have a lower 30 series profile than the Cooper Convertible’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the TT 45 TSFI has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Cooper Convertible. The TT’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the Cooper Convertible.

The TT has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Cooper Convertible; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the Cooper Convertible don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the TT is 3.2 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Cooper Convertible.

The design of the Audi TT amounts to more than styling. The TT offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .32 to .355 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is lower than the Cooper Convertible (.36 to .37). A more efficient exterior helps the TT go faster and keeps the interior quieter. It also helps the TT get better fuel mileage.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the TT a Subcompact car, while the Cooper Convertible is rated a Minicompact.

The TT Roadster has a much larger trunk with its top down than the Cooper Convertible with its top down (7.5 vs. 5.7 cubic feet).

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

The TT’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Cooper Convertible has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi TT has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Cooper Convertible.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi TT, based on reliability, safety and performance.