Compare the2023 BMW i4VS 2023 MINI Cooper SE

The i4’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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The i4 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control 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 i4 M50 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 i4 offers an optional Surround 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 i4’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 i4’s standard Cross Traffic Warning 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 i4 and the Cooper SE 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 and driver alert monitors.

The BMW i4 weighs 1522 to 1875 pounds more than the MINI Cooper SE. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

There are over 3 times as many BMW dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the i4’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is rated lower.

The i4 eDrive35’s standard electric motor produces 100 more horsepower (281 vs. 181) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 199) than the Cooper SE’s electric motor. The i4 eDrive40’s standard electric motor produces 154 more horsepower (335 vs. 181) and 118 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 199) than the Cooper SE’s electric motor. The i4 M50’s standard electric motors produces 355 more horsepower (536 vs. 181) and 387 lbs.-ft. more torque (586 vs. 199) than the Cooper SE’s electric motor.

As tested in Car and Driver the i4 M50 electric motors is faster than the MINI Cooper SE:

The i4 can travel longer on a full charge than the Cooper SE on a full charge:

The i4 M50’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Cooper SE doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the i4’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Cooper SE:

The i4’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Cooper SE are solid, not vented.

The i4 stops much shorter than the Cooper SE:

For better traction, the i4 has larger standard tires than the Cooper SE (225/50R18 vs. 195/55R16). The i4 M50’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cooper SE (F:255/35R20 & R:285/30R20 vs. 205/45R17).

The i4’s standard 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. The i4 M50’s optional 255/35R20 front and 285/30R20 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Cooper SE Signature Plus/Iconic’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the i4 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Cooper SE. The i4 M50’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Cooper SE Signature Plus/Iconic.

The rear suspension of the i4 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Cooper SE, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The i4 has a standard automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Cooper SE doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the i4’s wheelbase is 14.2 inches longer than on the Cooper SE (112.4 inches vs. 98.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the i4 is 4.2 inches wider in the front and 4.4 inches wider in the rear than on the Cooper SE.

The i4’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (48.7% to 51.3%) than the Cooper SE’s (58.1% to 41.9%). This gives the i4 more stable handling and braking.

The i4 M50 handles at .96 G’s, while the Cooper SE Iconic pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the i4 a Compact car, while the Cooper SE is rated a Subcompact.

The i4 has standard seating for 5 passengers; the Cooper SE can only carry 4.

The i4 has 9.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Cooper SE (90 vs. 80.3).

The i4 has .1 inches more front legroom, 4.6 inches more front shoulder room, 3.4 inches more rear legroom and 6.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cooper SE.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the i4. The Cooper SE doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the i4’s 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.

When two different drivers share the i4, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle and radio stations. The Cooper SE doesn’t offer a memory system.

The i4’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 i4 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 i4’s optional 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.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the i4 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Cooper SE doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The i4 has a standard center folding armrest for the driver and front passenger. A center armrest helps combat driver fatigue. A front center armrests is not standard on Cooper SE.

The i4 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.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the i4 has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Cooper SE doesn’t offer rear vents.

The i4’s optional Automatic Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Cooper SE’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW i4, based on reliability, safety and performance.