Compare the2024 MINI Cooper ConvertibleVS 2023 Chevrolet Camaro

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The Cooper Convertible has standard Automatic Emergency Braking, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Camaro offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature that would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

The Cooper Convertible has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Camaro doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Cooper Convertible’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The Camaro doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Cooper Convertible has standard Rear Park Distance Control to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or, optionally, in front of the vehicle. The Camaro doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Cooper Convertible’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Camaro doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Cooper Convertible and the Camaro 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, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

Warranty

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

The Cooper Convertible’s corrosion warranty is 6 years and unlimited miles longer than the Camaro’s (12/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cooper Convertible for 3 years and 36,000 miles. MINI will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Camaro.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Cooper Convertible have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the Camaro.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Cooper Convertible’s reliability 59 points higher than the Camaro.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Cooper Convertible
	Manual	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	27 city/38 hwy
		S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/33 hwy
	Auto	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/38 hwy
		S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/36 hwy
		JCW 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy
Camaro
	Manual	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/28 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	16 city/26 hwy
		6.2 OHV V8	16 city/24 hwy
		6.2 supercharged V8	14 city/20 hwy
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/29 hwy
		6.2 OHV V8	16 city/26 hwy
		6.2 supercharged V8	13 city/21 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Cooper Convertible’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Camaro doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Cooper Convertible’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Camaro doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Cooper Convertible has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Camaro. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the MINI Cooper Convertible higher (7 out of 10) than the Chevrolet Camaro (1 to 6). This means the Cooper Convertible produces up to 47 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Camaro every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Cooper Convertible offers an optional sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Camaro doesn’t offer an SMG.

Brakes and Stopping

The Cooper Convertible stops much shorter than the Camaro:

	Cooper Convertible	Camaro
70 to 0 MPH	158 feet	170 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the Cooper Convertible can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. Run-flat tires aren’t available on some tire packages on the Camaro.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Cooper Convertible’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Camaro’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The Cooper Convertible’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Camaro ZL1’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

Chassis

The MINI Cooper Convertible may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 1000 pounds less than the Chevrolet Camaro.

The Cooper Convertible is 3 feet shorter than the Camaro, making the Cooper Convertible easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Cooper Convertible is 6.8 inches narrower on average than the Camaro, making the Cooper Convertible easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Cooper Convertible has standard flush composite headlights. The Camaro has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Cooper Convertible is quieter than the Camaro SS Convertible:

	Cooper Convertible	Camaro
At idle	43 dB	48 dB
Full-Throttle	74 dB	85 dB
70 MPH Cruising	71 dB	73 dB

Cargo Capacity

The Cooper Convertible’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Camaro Convertible/ZL1 1LE doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

The Cooper Convertible’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Camaro Coupe’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than Chevrolet. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 21% lower rating, Chevrolet is ranked 16th.

Ergonomics

The Cooper Convertible’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. Chevrolet does not offer a locking feature on the Camaro’s standard power windows.

The Cooper Convertible’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Camaro’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Cooper Convertible the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Camaro can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Both the Cooper Convertible and Camaro have a standard remote lowering convertible top; however, in case of a sudden change of weather, the Cooper Convertible has a standard remote convertible roof that can be raised from a distance to protect the interior of the vehicle from damage. The Camaro doesn’t offer a remote closing roof, so the driver will have to run to the car, get in, turn the ignition on and raise the top to prevent the interior from being damaged.

The Cooper Convertible’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 Camaro’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Cooper Convertible to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Camaro doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Cooper Convertible’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Camaro’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen. The Cooper Convertible’s LED headlights produce a white, bright light using less electricity than the Camaro’s optional xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. HID headlights can be slow to reach full brightness or power cycle, causing issues when flashing them to signal other vehicles; LED headlights light instantly. LED lights also last about three to four times as long.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Cooper Convertible detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Camaro doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Cooper Convertible offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Camaro doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Cooper Convertible’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Camaro and aren’t offered on the Camaro LS/LT1.

The Cooper 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 costs extra on the Camaro.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Cooper Convertible Automatic offers an optional Active Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Camaro doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The Cooper Convertible Iconic’s Automatic Parking Assistant can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Camaro doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The MINI Cooper comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Chevrolet Camaro isn’t available as a four door.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the MINI Cooper Convertible, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Chevrolet Camaro isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cooper Convertible first among compact sporty cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Camaro isn’t in the top three in its category.