Compare the2023 MINI Cooper SEVS 2022 Toyota Mirai

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

The Cooper SE comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Mirai’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Cooper SE’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Mirai’s (12 vs. 5 years).

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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

As tested in Motor Trend the MINI Cooper SE is faster than the Toyota Mirai:

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

The Cooper SE offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Mirai’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better maneuverability, the Cooper SE’s turning circle is 3.4 feet tighter than the Mirai’s (35.1 feet vs. 38.5 feet).

The MINI Cooper SE may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1100 to 1200 pounds less than the Toyota Mirai.

The Cooper SE is 3 feet, 8.1 inches shorter than the Mirai, making the Cooper SE easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Cooper SE is 6.2 inches narrower than the Mirai, making the Cooper SE easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Cooper SE has 1.9 inches more front headroom and .2 inches more rear headroom than the Mirai.

The Cooper SE’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Mirai doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

A Service Interval Indicator is standard on the Cooper SE to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for vehicle inspection and based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Toyota doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Mirai.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 25% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

The Cooper SE 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 Mirai doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Cooper SE’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 Mirai XLE’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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. The Mirai doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Cooper SE has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Mirai doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 Mirai doesn’t offer a secondary sun visor.

The Cooper SE’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 Mirai has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

On extremely cold winter days, the Cooper SE’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Mirai doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.