Compare the2025 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 DoorVS 2024 Subaru BRZ

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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The MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The BRZ doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 BRZ 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 offers an optional 360-degree camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The BRZ only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door and BRZ offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door with Cross Traffic Warning also has Brake Intervention (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The BRZ’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door and the BRZ have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available lane departure warning systems and blind spot warning systems.

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 BRZ’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 BRZ’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, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the BRZ.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that MINI vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that MINI vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 13th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that MINI vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks MINI third in overall reliability. Subaru is ranked 6th.

Engine

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 184) than the BRZ’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door JCW’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 184) than the BRZ’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Cooper Hardtop 2 Door
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/39 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	28 city/39 hwy
BRZ
	Manual	2.4 DOHC flat-4	20 city/27 hwy
	Auto	2.4 DOHC flat-4	21 city/30 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The BRZ 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 BRZ doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The BRZ requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

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

A seven-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the BRZ.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door offers a standard 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 BRZ doesn’t offer an SMG.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The BRZ doesn’t offer launch control.

Suspension and Handling

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The BRZ’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The BRZ doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

Chassis

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is 1 foot, 3.3 inches shorter than the BRZ, making the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has 3.3 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front hip room, 3.4 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom and 4.6 inches more rear hip room than the BRZ.

Cargo Capacity

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the BRZ (8.9 vs. 6.3 cubic feet).

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The BRZ’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

Servicing Ease

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The BRZ 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 Subaru. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 7% lower rating, Subaru is ranked 7th.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The BRZ doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s optional easy entry system 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 BRZ doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The BRZ 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.

If the windows are left open on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the BRZ can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The BRZ’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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 BRZ 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 BRZ 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. Subaru only offers heated mirrors on the BRZ Limited/tS.

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

Both the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door and Subaru BRZ offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the BRZ’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

On extremely cold winter days, the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The BRZ doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the BRZ.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the MINI Cooper offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The BRZ doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The BRZ doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

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

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