Compare the2023 MINI Cooper SEVS 2022 Polestar 2

The MINI Cooper SE 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 Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Cooper SE and the Polestar 2 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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.

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

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that MINI vehicles are better in initial quality than Polestar vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 160 more problems per 100 vehicles, Polestar is rated below average.

On the EPA test cycle the Cooper SE gets better mileage than the Polestar 2:

For better maneuverability, the Cooper SE’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Polestar 2’s (35.1 feet vs. 37.7 feet).

The MINI Cooper SE may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1250 to 1550 pounds less than the Polestar 2.

The Cooper SE is 2 feet, 5.6 inches shorter than the Polestar 2, making the Cooper SE easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Cooper SE is 5.2 inches narrower than the Polestar 2, making the Cooper SE easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Cooper SE offers an optional 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 Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Cooper SE to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. Heated windshield washer nozzles cost extra on the Polestar 2.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Cooper SE has a standard rear wiper. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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

The Cooper SE has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Polestar 2.

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