Compare the2023 Ford MustangVS 2022 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door

The Mustang’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 Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Mustang’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors 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 Mustang and the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

The Ford Mustang weighs 599 to 1220 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.

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

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

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Mustang 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 29 times as many Ford dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Mustang’s warranty.

The Mustang has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the car’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than MINI vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 1 place higher in reliability than MINI.

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

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

As tested in Motor Trend the Mustang Mach 1 5.0 DOHC V8 is faster than the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door 1.5 (manual transmissions tested):

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Mustang uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Mustang EcoBoost’s standard fuel tank has 3.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (15.5 vs. 11.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Mustang GT/Mach 1’s standard fuel tank has 4.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (16 vs. 11.6 gallons).

The Mustang 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 Ford Mustang, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

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

The Mustang’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 Hardtop 2 Door are solid, not vented.

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

For better traction, the Mustang has larger standard tires than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (235/55R17 vs. 175/65R15). The Mustang Mach 1’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (F:305/30R19 & R:315/30R19 vs. 205/40R18).

The Mustang’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s standard 65 series tires. The Mustang Mach 1’s optional 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 Mustang has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door. The Mustang’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 Mustang’s wheelbase is 8.9 inches longer than on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (107.1 inches vs. 98.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Mustang is 3.6 inches wider in the front and 6.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

The Mustang’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54.6% to 45.4%) than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s (62.3% to 35.1%). This gives the Mustang more stable handling and braking.

The Mustang GT Fastback handles at 1.13 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 Mustang GT Fastback executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3.3 seconds quicker than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (23.6 seconds @ .86 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

The Mustang Convertible uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Mustang GT Fastback is quieter than the John Cooper Works Hardtop (74 vs. 75 dB).

The Mustang Fastback has 2.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (82.8 vs. 80.3).

The Mustang Fastback has 3.7 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front hip room, 5.7 inches more front shoulder room and 4.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

The Mustang Fastback has a much larger trunk than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door with its rear seat up (13.5 vs. 8.7 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox and optional locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Mustang. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Mustang (except Mach 1) has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has no towing capacity.

The engine in the Mustang 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 Mustang 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 three different drivers share the Mustang Premium/Mach 1, the optional memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, suspension setting, power steering assist and outside mirror angle. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Mustang Premium/Mach 1’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 Mustang’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.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Mustang Premium/Mach 1 Deluxe 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.

Insurance will cost less for the Mustang owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Mustang with a number “3” insurance rate while the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

The Mustang will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Mustang will retain 47.24% to 58.69% of its original price after five years, while the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door only retains 37.88% to 50.14%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Mustang is less expensive to operate than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door because it costs $318 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Mustang than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door, including $217 less for a water pump, $378 less for a starter, $2 less for fuel injection, $366 less for a fuel pump and $192 less for front struts.

The Mustang GT/Bullitt was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2019. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.