Compare the2025 BMW 2 SeriesVS 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
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the 2 Series are reminded to check the back seat. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 2 Series offers optional Active Park Distance Control that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The 2 Series 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 2 Series offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The 2 Series’ 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 and moves the vehicle back into its lane. 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 2 Series’ standard Cross Traffic Warning 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 2 Series 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, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 and driver alert monitors.

The BMW 2 Series weighs 495 to 1160 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

There are over 3 times as many BMW dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 2 Series’ warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the 2 Series has a standard 170-amp alternator (210-amp - 2 Series 6 cyl.). The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 2 Series first among small premium cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door isn’t in the top three in its category.

Engine

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

	Horsepower	Torque
230i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	255 HP	295 lbs.-ft.
M240i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	382 HP	369 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 2 Series has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (13.7 vs. 11.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission and Drivetrain

The BMW 2 Series 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 2 Series, 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 2 Series’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door:

	230i Coupe	M240i Coupe xDrive	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door	John Cooper Works Hardtop
Front Rotors	13 inches	14.7 inches	11.1 inches	13.2 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.6 inches	10.2 inches	10.2 inches

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

	2 Series	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door
70 to 0 MPH	152 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the 2 Series has larger standard tires than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (225/45R18 vs. 175/65R15). The M240i Coupe’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (F:245/35R19 & R:255/35R19 vs. 205/40R18).

The 230i’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 M240i Coupe’s optional 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 230i has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door. The M240i’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 2 Series’ wheelbase is 9.7 inches longer than on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (107.9 inches vs. 98.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 2 Series is 3.5 inches wider in the front and 4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

The 2 Series’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.4% to 48.6%) than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s (62.3% to 35.1%). This gives the 2 Series more stable handling and braking.

The M240i Coupe xDrive handles at .98 G’s, while the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door S pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The design of the BMW 2 Series amounts to more than styling. The 2 Series offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .28 to .3 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is lower than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (.3 to .34). A more efficient exterior helps the 2 Series go faster and keeps the interior quieter. It also helps the 2 Series get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the M240i Coupe xDrive is quieter than the John Cooper Works Hardtop:

	2 Series	Cooper Hardtop 2 Door
At idle	39 dB	42 dB
Full-Throttle	86 dB	87 dB
70 MPH Cruising	65 dB	75 dB

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the 2 Series a Compact car, while the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is rated a Subcompact.

The 2 Series has 7.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (88 vs. 80.3).

The 2 Series has .4 inches more front legroom, 5.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear legroom and 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

Cargo Capacity

The 2 Series Coupe has a much larger trunk than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door with its rear seat up (13.8 vs. 8.7 cubic feet).

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

Servicing Ease

The engine in the 2 Series 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.

Ergonomics

The 2 Series offers a 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 two different drivers share the 2 Series, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a memory system.

The 2 Series’ 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 2 Series has standard Comfort Go that allows you to start the engine without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door Signature/Iconic offers Comfort Access.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The 2 Series’ optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The BMW 2 Series has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors costs extra on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

The 2 Series has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The 2 Series 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 2 Series has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer rear vents.

The 2 Series’ optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door Iconic’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Recommendations

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

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

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