Compare the2023 Ford MustangVS 2023 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door

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

Safety

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The Mustang’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. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door 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 Mustang’s standard Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Mustang and the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

The Ford Mustang weighs 540 to 1221 pounds more than the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Mustang is safer than the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door:

	Mustang	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	161	183
Neck Injury Risk	23%	36%
Neck Stress	208 lbs.	318 lbs.
Neck Compression	31 lbs.	60 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	125	238
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	23%	37%
Neck Stress	172 lbs.	225 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	47/13 lbs.	277/243 lbs.

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

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 Ford Mustang is safer than the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door:

	Mustang	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	117	293
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	142 lbs.	181 lbs.
Hip Force	259 lbs.	352 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	422	704
Spine Acceleration	58 G’s	80 G’s
Hip Force	741 lbs.	935 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	651 lbs.	912 lbs.

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

Warranty

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Mustang 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 29 times as many Ford dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Mustang’s warranty.

Reliability

The Mustang has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the car’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is rated lower.

Engine

The Mustang has more powerful engines than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door:

	Horsepower	Torque
Mustang 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder	310 HP	350 lbs.-ft.
Mustang 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder	330 HP	350 lbs.-ft.
Mustang GT 5.0 DOHC V8	450 HP	410 lbs.-ft.
Mustang Mach 1 5.0 DOHC V8	470 HP	410 lbs.-ft.
Cooper Hardtop 2 Door 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder	134 HP	162 lbs.-ft.
Cooper Hardtop 2 Door S 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	189 HP	206 lbs.-ft.
John Cooper Works Hardtop 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	228 HP	235 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the Ford Mustang is faster than the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (manual transmissions tested):

	Mustang turbo 4 cyl.	Mustang GT	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door S	John Cooper Works Hardtop
Zero to 30 MPH	1.6 sec	1.7 sec	2.4 sec	2.5 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	5 sec	4.2 sec	6.8 sec	6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	13 sec	9.5 sec	16.8 sec	13.7 sec
Quarter Mile	13.6 sec	12.6 sec	15.1 sec	14.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	102 MPH	114 MPH	95 MPH	102 MPH
Top Speed	155 MPH	154 MPH	146 MPH	n/a

As tested in Motor Trend the Mustang Mach 1 5.0 DOHC V8 is faster than the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door 1.5 (manual transmissions tested):

	Mustang	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door
Zero to 60 MPH	4.2 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter Mile	12.6 sec	15.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	113.1 MPH	88.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Mustang uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The John Cooper Works Hardtop requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Mustang EcoBoost’s standard fuel tank has 3.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (15.5 vs. 11.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Mustang GT/Mach 1’s standard fuel tank has 4.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (16 vs. 11.6 gallons).

The Mustang has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is available on the Ford Mustang, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Mustang’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door:

	Mustang	Mustang V8 PP/Mach 1	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	John Cooper Works Hardtop
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	15 inches	11.1 inches	13.2 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	12.6 inches	10.2 inches	10.2 inches

The Mustang’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 Hardtop 2 Door are solid, not vented.

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

	Mustang	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door
80 to 0 MPH	187 feet	229 feet	Road and Track
70 to 0 MPH	138 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	94 feet	113 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Mustang has larger standard tires than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (235/55R17 vs. 195/55R16). The Mustang Mach 1’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (F:305/30R19 & R:315/30R19 vs. 205/40R18).

The Mustang Mach 1’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Mustang has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door. The Mustang’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mustang’s wheelbase is 8.9 inches longer than on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (107.1 inches vs. 98.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Mustang is 3.6 inches wider in the front and 6.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

The Mustang’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54.6% to 45.4%) than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s (62.3% to 35.1%). This gives the Mustang more stable handling and braking.

The Mustang GT Fastback handles at 1.13 G’s, while the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door S pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Mustang GT Fastback executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3.3 seconds quicker than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (23.6 seconds @ .86 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

Chassis

The Mustang Convertible uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Mustang GT Fastback is quieter than the John Cooper Works Hardtop (74 vs. 75 dB).

Passenger Space

The Mustang Fastback has 2.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (82.8 vs. 80.3).

The Mustang Fastback has 3.7 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front hip room, 5.7 inches more front shoulder room and 4.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

Cargo Capacity

The Mustang Fastback has a much larger trunk than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door with its rear seat up (13.5 vs. 8.7 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox and optional locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Mustang. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Mustang has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Mustang is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Mustang Auto 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 Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When three different drivers share the Mustang Premium/Mach 1, the optional memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, suspension setting, power steering assist and outside mirror angle. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Mustang Premium/Mach 1’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Mustang has standard extendable sun visors. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Mustang Premium/Mach 1 Deluxe keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Mustang owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Mustang with a number “3” insurance rate while the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

The Mustang will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Mustang will retain 47.24% to 58.69% of its original price after five years, while the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door only retains 37.88% to 50.14%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Mustang is less expensive to operate than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door because it costs $318 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Mustang than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door, including $217 less for a water pump, $378 less for a starter, $2 less for fuel injection, $366 less for a fuel pump and $192 less for front struts.

Recommendations

The Mustang GT/Bullitt was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2019. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Ford Mustang outsold the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door by almost five to one during 2022.