Compare the2024 Lexus RCVS 2024 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus RC have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The RC’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Pre-Collision System in the RC as “Superior.” The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door scores only 4 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

The RC offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The RC’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 RC’s standard Rear 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 RC and the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 Lexus RC weighs 786 to 1180 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.

Warranty

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RC 2 years and 20,000 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 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Lexus dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the RC’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI 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 Lexus vehicles are more reliable than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, MINI is rated lower.

Engine

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

	Horsepower	Torque
RC 300 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	241 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
RC 300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6	260 HP	236 lbs.-ft.
RC 350 3.5 DOHC V6	311 HP	280 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.

Fuel Economy and Range

The RC has 5.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (17.5 vs. 11.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission and Drivetrain

The Lexus RC comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

All wheel drive, available in the RC, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is not available with all wheel drive.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	RC	RC 350 F Sport	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	John Cooper Works Hardtop
Front Rotors	13.2 inches	14 inches	11.1 inches	13.2 inches
Rear Rotors	11.7 inches	12.7 inches	10.2 inches	10.2 inches

The RC’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 RC stops much shorter than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door:

	RC	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door
70 to 0 MPH	162 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the RC has larger standard tires than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (235/40R19 vs. 175/65R15). The RC F Sport’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (F:235/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. 205/40R18).

The RC’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s standard 65 series tires. The RC F Sport’s 265/35R19 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RC has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door. The RC F Sport’s 19-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 RC’s wheelbase is 9.3 inches longer than on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (107.5 inches vs. 98.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the RC is 3.4 inches wider in the front and 3.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

The RC’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54% to 46%) than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s (62.3% to 35.1%). This gives the RC more stable handling and braking.

The RC 350 AWD handles at .86 G’s, while the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door S pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the RC’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s (34.2 feet vs. 35.4 feet). The RC AWD’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s (34.8 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

Passenger Space

The RC has 3.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (83.8 vs. 80.3).

The RC has 4 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room, 4.1 inches more front shoulder room and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

Cargo Capacity

The RC has a much larger trunk than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door with its rear seat up (10.4 vs. 8.7 cubic feet).

With its coupe body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the RC offers cargo security. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s hatchback body style, non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the RC. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the RC 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than MINI. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 24% lower rating, MINI is ranked fourth.

Ergonomics

The RC 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 RC, the optional memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a memory system.

The RC’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and 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.

The RC’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The RC’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower both of them with the lock engaged. MINI does not offer a locking feature on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s standard power windows.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RC offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer headlight washers.

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

Optional air-conditioned seats in the RC 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.

The RC 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 is only available on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door Signature/Iconic.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the RC has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer rear vents.

Economic Advantages

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

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the RC is less expensive to operate than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door because it costs $118 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the RC than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door, including $68 less for a muffler, $57 less for front brake pads, $74 less for a fuel pump and $61 less for front struts.

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