Compare the2023 Volkswagen ID.4VS 2023 MINI Cooper SE

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen ID.4 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The MINI Cooper SE doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The ID.4’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Cooper SE doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen ID.4 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The MINI Cooper SE doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The ID.4 has standard Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Cooper SE doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The ID.4 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Cooper SE doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The ID.4 Pro S Plus has a standard Area View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Cooper SE only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The ID.4’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 and moves the vehicle back into its lane. The Cooper SE 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 ID.4’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Cooper SE doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the ID.4 and the Cooper SE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The Volkswagen ID.4 weighs 1174 to 1734 pounds more than the MINI Cooper SE. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the ID.4 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Cooper SE has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

Volkswagen’s powertrain warranty covers the ID.4 4 years and 50,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Cooper SE. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Cooper SE ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 6 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the ID.4’s warranty.

Engine

The ID.4’s standard electric motor produces 20 more horsepower (201 vs. 181) and 30 lbs.-ft. more torque (229 vs. 199) than the Cooper SE’s electric motor. The ID.4’s optional electric motors produces 114 more horsepower (295 vs. 181) and 140 lbs.-ft. more torque (339 vs. 199) than the Cooper SE’s electric motor.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen ID.4 electric motors is faster than the MINI Cooper SE:

	ID.4	Cooper SE
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	6.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	14.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99 MPH	91 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The ID.4 can travel longer on a full charge than the Cooper SE on a full charge:

			Miles
ID.4
	RWD	Electric Motor	275 miles
		S Electric Motor	275 miles
		Standard Electric Motor	209 miles
		S Electric Motor	209 miles
	AWD	Pro Electric Motors	255 miles
		Pro S Electric Motors	255 miles
Cooper SE
	FWD	Electric Motor	114 miles

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the ID.4’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Cooper SE:

	ID.4	Cooper SE
Front Rotors	14.1 inches	11.1 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the ID.4 has larger tires than the Cooper SE (F:235/55R19 & R:255/50R19 vs. 195/55R16). The ID.4’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cooper SE (F:235/55R19 & R:255/50R19 vs. 205/45R17).

The ID.4’s standard 255/50R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cooper SE’s standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ID.4 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Cooper SE. The ID.4 S’ 20-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Cooper SE Signature Plus/Iconic.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the ID.4 AWD’s wheelbase is 10.5 inches longer than on the Cooper SE (108.7 inches vs. 98.2 inches). The ID.4’s wheelbase is 10.7 inches longer than on the Cooper SE (108.9 inches vs. 98.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the ID.4 is 4 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Cooper SE.

The ID.4’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (47% to 53%) than the Cooper SE’s (58.1% to 41.9%). This gives the ID.4 more stable handling and braking.

The ID.4 handles at .83 G’s, while the Cooper SE Iconic pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the ID.4’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the Cooper SE’s (31.5 feet vs. 35.1 feet).

Passenger Space

The ID.4 has standard seating for 5 passengers; the Cooper SE can only carry 4.

The ID.4 has 19.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Cooper SE (99.9 vs. 80.3).

The ID.4 has .3 inches more front headroom, 6.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 6.8 inches more rear legroom and 8.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cooper SE.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the ID.4 S/Pro S/Pro S Plus’ power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Cooper SE doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The ID.4 has a 2200 lbs. towing capacity. The Cooper SE has no towing capacity.

Standard trailer stability control on the ID.4 uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Cooper SE doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the ID.4 S/Pro S/Pro S Plus, the 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 SE doesn’t offer a memory system.

The ID.4 Pro S’ standard 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 SE doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The ID.4’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. MINI does not offer a locking feature on the Cooper SE’s standard power windows.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the ID.4 detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Cooper SE doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

The Cooper SE’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The ID.4 S/Pro S’ standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Both the ID.4 and the Cooper SE have standard heated front seats. The ID.4 Pro S Plus also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Cooper SE.

The ID.4 S/Pro S/Pro S Plus has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Cooper SE doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The ID.4 S/Pro S/Pro S Plus has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Cooper SE.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the ID.4 has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Cooper SE doesn’t offer rear vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen ID.4 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Cooper SE Iconic offers wireless charging.