Compare the2024 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 DoorVS 2024 Ford Mustang

Both the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door and the Mustang 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.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2018, a rating granted to only 194 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Mustang has not been tested, yet.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Mustang’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Mustang’s (12 vs. 5 years).

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door for 3 years and 36,000 miles. MINI will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Mustang.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door first among compact sporty cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Mustang isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that MINI vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that MINI vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in long-term dependability. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

Regenerative brakes improve the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Mustang doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door 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 Mustang doesn’t offer an SMG.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Mustang doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is 3 feet, 1.2 inches shorter than the Mustang, making the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is 7.5 inches narrower on average than the Mustang, making the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The front grille of the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Mustang doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has 2.7 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and 2.4 inches more rear hip room than the Mustang Fastback.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Mustang doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 35% lower rating, Ford is ranked 22nd.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door Iconic has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Mustang doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Mustang doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a standard rear wiper. The Mustang doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Mustang Premium.

When the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Mustang’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’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 Mustang offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door Iconic’s optional Parking Assistant can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Mustang doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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

Consumer Reports® recommends the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door, based on reliability, safety and performance.