Compare the2023 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 DoorVS 2023 Dodge Challenger

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
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 Challenger 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 Challenger offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature that would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

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 Challenger 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 Challenger doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has standard Park Distance Control to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or, optionally, in front of the vehicle. The Challenger doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

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 Challenger doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door and the Challenger 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 Dodge Challenger:

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	Challenger
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Compression	53 lbs.	73 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	277/243 lbs.	190/375 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 Challenger:

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	Challenger
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	3 cm	8 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	24 cm	26 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	.8/0 kN	2.8/.4 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	0%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Tibia index R/L	.64/.28	1.46/1.01
Tibia forces R/L	2.2/.4 kN	4.8/2.4 kN

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is safer than the Dodge Challenger:

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	Challenger
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	1.1 inches	1.1 inches
Hip Force	352 lbs.	505 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	16 inches

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) performs roof strength tests. In that test the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door earned the top rating of “Good” because its roof supported over four times the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s weight before being crushed five inches. The Challenger was rated lower at “Acceptable.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the general design of front seat head restraints for their ability to protect front seat occupants from whiplash injuries. The IIHS also performs a dynamic test on those seats with “good” or “acceptable” geometry. In these ratings, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is safer than the Challenger:

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	Challenger
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Restraint Design	GOOD	GOOD
Distance from Back of Head	10 mm	61 mm
Distance Below Top of Head	21 mm	28 mm
Dynamic Test Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Seat Design	Pass	Fail
Neck Force Rating	Low	Low
Max Neck Shearing Force	1	83
Max Neck Tension	285	456

(Lower numerical results are better in all tests.)

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

The MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a better fatality history. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 55% lower per vehicle registered than the Challenger, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

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 Challenger’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 Challenger’s (12 vs. 5 years).

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door for 3 years and 36,000 miles. MINI will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Dodge doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Challenger.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the Challenger.

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 Challenger.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door first among compact sporty cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Challenger isn’t in the top three in its category.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Cooper Hardtop 2 Door
FWD	Manual	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
		S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/33 hwy
		JCW Hardtop 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/31 hwy
	Auto	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/38 hwy
		S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/38 hwy
		JCW 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
Challenger
RWD	Manual	6.4 OHV V8	14 city/23 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	15 city/23 hwy
		6.2 supercharged V8	13 city/21 hwy
	Auto	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/30 hwy
		6.4 OHV V8	15 city/24 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	16 city/25 hwy
		6.2 supercharged V8	13 city/22 hwy
		6.2 supercharged V8	13 city/22 hwy
		Widebody 6.2 supercharged V8	13 city/21 hwy
		Widebody 6.2 supercharged V8	13 city/21 hwy
		6.2 supercharged V8	13 city/21 hwy
AWD	Auto	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/27 hwy

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights 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 manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Challenger doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Environmental Friendliness

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 Dodge Challenger (1 to 3). This means the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door produces up to 47 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Challenger every 15,000 miles.

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 Challenger doesn’t offer an SMG.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	Challenger
70 to 0 MPH	158 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

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. The Challenger doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The John Cooper Works Hardtop handles at .92 G’s, while the Challenger SXT 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 2 feet tighter than the Challenger SXT/GT/R/T’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Challenger Supercharged/Widebody’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

Chassis

The MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1150 to 1550 pounds less than the Dodge Challenger.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is 3 feet, 9.3 inches shorter than the Challenger, making the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is 8.6 inches narrower on average than the Challenger, making the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The design of the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door amounts to more than styling. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .3 to .34 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is lower than the Challenger (.337 to .398). A more efficient exterior helps the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door go faster and keeps the interior quieter. It also helps the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door get better fuel mileage.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has standard flush composite headlights. The Challenger has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

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 Challenger 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 Challenger SRT Hellcat:

	Cooper	Challenger
At idle	41 dB	59 dB
Full-Throttle	83 dB	87 dB
70 MPH Cruising	69 dB	76 dB

Passenger Space

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has 1 inch more front headroom and 2 inches more rear hip room than the Challenger.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door easier. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s trunk lift-over height is 25.4 inches, while the Challenger’s liftover is 33.2 inches.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than Dodge. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 33% lower rating, Dodge is ranked 21st.

Ergonomics

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door Iconic has a standard 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 Challenger doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a lever hand brake in the console, easy to use while keeping both feet free and not impeding entry and exit. The Challenger’s foot pedal parking brake is not handy to use as a hill holding device with a manual transmission.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Challenger’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

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 Challenger can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Challenger doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

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 Challenger’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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 Challenger 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 Challenger doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Challenger’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s LED headlights produce a white, bright light using less electricity than the Challenger’s optional xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. HID headlights can be slow to reach full brightness or power cycle, causing issues when flashing them to signal other vehicles; LED headlights light instantly. LED lights also last about three to four times as long.

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 Challenger doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 Challenger doesn’t offer a secondary sun visor.

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 Challenger’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 Challenger has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the MINI Cooper Iconic has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Challenger doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door Iconic’s Parking Assistant can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Challenger doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The MINI Cooper comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Dodge Challenger 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 $1415 to $15905 less than the Challenger 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 Challenger because typical repairs cost much less on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door than the Challenger, including $482 less for a muffler, $242 less for front brake pads, $165 less for a fuel pump and $98 less for a power steering 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 $5205 to $51815 less than for the Dodge Challenger.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door, 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 Challenger isn’t in the top three in its category.

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