Compare the2023 BMW 4 Series ConvertibleVS 2023 MINI Cooper Convertible

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission and Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the BMW 4 Series Convertible have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The MINI Cooper Convertible doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The 4 Series Convertible’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Cooper Convertible doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The 4 Series Convertible has standard front and rear seat tall, head-protecting side-impact airbags, which act as a forgiving barrier between the passengers and the door. Combined with high-strength steel door beams this system increases protection from broadside collisions. The Cooper Convertible doesn't offer rear-seat side-impact airbags, only ones for front seat occupants.

The 4 Series Convertible’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The Cooper Convertible doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 4 Series Convertible M440i 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 Convertible doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The 4 Series Convertible offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Cooper Convertible doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The 4 Series Convertible M440i offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Cooper Convertible 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 4 Series Convertible’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 Convertible 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 4 Series Convertible’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 Convertible doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the 4 Series Convertible and the Cooper Convertible have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and driver alert monitors.

The BMW 4 Series Convertible weighs 739 to 1300 pounds more than the MINI Cooper Convertible. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

Warranty

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 4 Series Convertible’s warranty.

Reliability

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.

Engine

The 4 Series Convertible has more powerful engines than the Cooper Convertible:

	Horsepower	Torque
430i Convertible 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	255 HP	294 lbs.-ft.
M440i Convertible 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	382 HP	368 lbs.-ft.
Cooper Convertible 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder	134 HP	162 lbs.-ft.
Cooper Convertible S 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	189 HP	206 lbs.-ft.
John Cooper Works Convertible 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	228 HP	235 lbs.-ft.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 4 Series Convertible gets better mileage than the Cooper Convertible:

			MPG
4 Series Convertible
RWD	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
Cooper Convertible
FWD	Manual	S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/33 hwy
	Auto	JCW 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/33 hwy

The 4 Series Convertible has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cooper Convertible (15.6 vs. 11.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission and Drivetrain

The BMW 4 Series Convertible comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Cooper Convertible.

All wheel drive, available in the 4 Series Convertible, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The MINI Cooper Convertible is not available with all wheel drive.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the 4 Series Convertible’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Cooper Convertible:

	4 Series Convertible	4 Series Convertible M440i	Cooper Convertible	John Cooper Works Convertible
Front Rotors	13 inches	13.7 inches	11.1 inches	13.2 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.6 inches	10.2 inches	11 inches

The 4 Series Convertible’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 Convertible are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the 4 Series Convertible has larger standard tires than the Cooper Convertible (225/45R18 vs. 195/55R16). The 4 Series Convertible’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cooper Convertible (F:225/40R19 & R:255/35R19 vs. 205/40R18).

The 430i’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cooper Convertible’s standard 55 series tires. The 4 Series Convertible’s optional 255/35R19 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Cooper Convertible’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 4 Series Convertible has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Cooper Convertible. The 4 Series Convertible’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the Cooper Convertible.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 4 Series Convertible’s wheelbase is 14 inches longer than on the Cooper Convertible (112.2 inches vs. 98.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the 4 Series Convertible is 3.6 inches wider in the front and 4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Cooper Convertible.

The 4 Series Convertible’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49.9% to 50.1%) than the Cooper Convertible’s (61.9% to 38.1%). This gives the 4 Series Convertible more stable handling and braking.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the 4 Series Convertible a Subcompact car, while the Cooper Convertible is rated a Minicompact.

The 4 Series Convertible has 8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Cooper Convertible (84 vs. 76).

The 4 Series Convertible has .8 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 4.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear legroom and 4.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cooper Convertible.

Cargo Capacity

The 4 Series Convertible has a much larger trunk with its top down than the Cooper Convertible with its top down (10.6 vs. 5.7 cubic feet). The 4 Series Convertible has a much larger trunk with its top up than the Cooper Convertible with its top up (13.6 vs. 7.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the 4 Series Convertible easier. The 4 Series Convertible’s trunk lift-over height is 26.5 inches, while the Cooper Convertible’s liftover is 31.5 inches.

With its convertible body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 4 Series offers cargo security. The Cooper Convertible’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the 4 Series Convertible offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just waving your foot, completely leaving your hands free. The Cooper Convertible doesn’t offer a power tailgate.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the 4 Series Convertible is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Cooper Convertible. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The 4 Series Convertible offers a 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 Cooper Convertible doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When two different drivers share the 4 Series Convertible, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The Cooper Convertible doesn’t offer a memory system.

The 4 Series Convertible’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Cooper Convertible has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Cooper Convertible’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The 4 Series Convertible’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 4 Series Convertible keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Cooper Convertible doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The 4 Series Convertible has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Cooper Convertible Signature/Iconic.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the 4 Series Convertible has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Cooper Convertible doesn’t offer rear vents.

The 4 Series Convertible M440i’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Cooper Convertible’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Recommendations

The BMW 4 Series outsold the MINI Cooper Convertible by over 11 to one during 2022.

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