Compare the2023 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 DoorVS 2023 BMW 2 Series

Both the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door and the 2 Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, 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, driver alert monitors and available front parking sensors.

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 Safety Pick” for 2018, a rating granted to only 200 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 2 Series has not been tested, yet.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s reliability 39 points higher than the 2 Series.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that MINI vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in long-term dependability. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, BMW is rated lower.

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

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

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the BMW 2 Series (3 to 5). This means the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 2 Series every 15,000 miles.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The 2 Series doesn’t offer a manual 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 2 Series doesn’t offer an SMG.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard 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. Run-flat tires aren’t available on some tire packages on the 2 Series.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door Base has a standard space-saver spare (not available on S) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the 2 Series; 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 2 Series don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For better maneuverability, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the 230i’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.4 feet). The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the M240i’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.2 feet).

The MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 to 900 pounds less than the BMW 2 Series.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is 2 feet, 2.8 inches shorter than the 230i, making the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door S is quieter than the M240i Coupe xDrive (83 vs. 86 dB).

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has 2.2 inches more front headroom and 2.2 inches more rear headroom than the 2 Series.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 7% lower rating, BMW is ranked 7th.

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 2 Series 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 2 Series doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To better shield the driver’s vision, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a standard dual-element sun visor that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The 2 Series doesn’t offer a secondary sun visor.

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 2 Series doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The MINI Cooper comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the BMW 2 Series isn’t available as a convertible or four door.

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 $675 to $4565 less than the 2 Series 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 $11070 to $17062 less than for the BMW 2 Series.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door and the BMW 2 Series, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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 2 Series isn’t in the top three in its category.