Compare the2024 MINI Cooper Hardtop 4 DoorVS 2023 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

Both the Cooper Hardtop 4 Door and the 2 Series Gran Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, driver alert monitors and available front parking sensors.

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 4 Door’s reliability 39 points higher than the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cooper Hardtop 4 Door first among compact sporty cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The 2 Series Gran Coupe was rated third 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 BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated lower.

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 BMW 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, BMW is rated lower.

On the EPA test cycle the Cooper Hardtop 4 Door gets better mileage than the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the MINI Cooper Hardtop 4 Door higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (3 to 7). This means the Cooper Hardtop 4 Door produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 2 Series Gran Coupe every 15,000 miles.

The Cooper Hardtop 4 Door offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Cooper Hardtop 4 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 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer an SMG.

For better maneuverability, the Cooper Hardtop 4 Door’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s (36.2 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The MINI Cooper Hardtop 4 Door may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 650 pounds less than the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe.

The Cooper Hardtop 4 Door is 1 foot, 8 inches shorter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe, making the Cooper Hardtop 4 Door easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Cooper Hardtop 4 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 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Cooper Hardtop 4 Door has .1 inches more front headroom and 1.8 inches more rear headroom than the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 7% lower rating, BMW is ranked 7th.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Cooper Hardtop 4 Door to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Cooper Hardtop 4 Door has a standard rear wiper. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To better shield the driver’s vision, the Cooper Hardtop 4 Door has a standard dual-element sun visor that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a secondary sun visor.

The MINI Cooper comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the BMW 2 Series Gran isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the MINI Cooper Hardtop 4 Door and the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cooper Hardtop 4 Door first among compact sporty cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The 2 Series Gran Coupe was rated second in its category.