Compare the2024 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 DoorVS 2023 Ford Mustang

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door 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 Mustang 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 Hardtop 2 Door has standard Park Distance Control to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or, optionally, in front of the vehicle. The Mustang doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

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, 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 and driver alert monitors.

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

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	Mustang
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Compression	53 lbs.	119 lbs.

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

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is safer than the Mustang Fastback:

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	Mustang
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	3 cm	5 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	24 cm	25 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	.8/0 kN	2.8/1.4 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	0%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Tibia index R/L	.64/.28	.74/.66
Tibia forces R/L	2.2/.4 kN	3.3/2.5 kN

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is safer than the Ford Mustang:

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	Mustang
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
HIC	315	513

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

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 was not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2018.

Warranty

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.

Reliability

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 Hardtop 2 Door’s reliability 47 points higher than 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.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door gets better mileage than the Mustang Fastback:

			MPG
Cooper Hardtop 2 Door
	Manual	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	27 city/38 hwy
		S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/33 hwy
		JCW Hardtop 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/32 hwy
	Auto	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/38 hwy
		S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/38 hwy
		JCW 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/35 hwy
Mustang Fastback
	Manual	2.3 turbo 4-cyl. (310 HP)	21 city/29 hwy
		2.3 turbo 4-cyl. (330 HP)	20 city/27 hwy
		GT 5.0 V8	15 city/24 hwy
		Mach 1 5.0 V8	14 city/22 hwy
	Auto	2.3 turbo 4-cyl. (310 HP)	22 city/32 hwy
		2.3 turbo 4-cyl. (310 HP)	21 city/31 hwy
		2.3 turbo 4-cyl. (330 HP)	20 city/27 hwy
		GT 5.0 V8	15 city/24 hwy
		Mach 1 5.0 V8	15 city/23 hwy

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.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’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 Mustang doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Mustang. 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 Hardtop 2 Door higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Ford Mustang (3 to 5). This means the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Mustang every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

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.

Brakes and Stopping

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door stops shorter than the Mustang:

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	Mustang
70 to 0 MPH	158 feet	165 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

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.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Mustang’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.5 feet). The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s turning circle is 4.6 feet tighter than the Mustang w/20” tires’ (35.4 feet vs. 40 feet).

Chassis

The MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 to 1000 pounds less than the Ford Mustang.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is 3 feet 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 7.4 inches narrower than the Mustang, making the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door S is quieter than the Mustang Mach 1:

	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	Mustang
At idle	41 dB	52 dB
Full-Throttle	83 dB	90 dB
70 MPH Cruising	69 dB	70 dB

Passenger Space

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.

Servicing Ease

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Mustang uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

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.

Ergonomics

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.

If the front windows are left open on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door the driver can close them 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 Mustang can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Mustang doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To better shield the driver’s vision, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a standard dual-element sun visor that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Mustang doesn’t offer a secondary sun visor.

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/Mach 1.

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 has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the MINI Cooper Iconic has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Mustang doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

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.

Model Availability

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

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is less expensive to operate than the Mustang because typical repairs cost much less on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door than the Mustang, including $438 less for a muffler, $4 less for front brake pads, $17 less for a timing belt/chain and $99 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door first among compact sporty cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Mustang isn’t in the top three in its category.

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