2012 MINI Cooper Coupe vs. Its Competition

Meta Rating 8.6 out of 10

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Our expert editors build comparisons like this one to make it easy for you to understand the small handful of cars you should compare to whatever car you are already looking at. You get general thoughts on each car you should consider plus an easy way to compare basic information for yourself.

Nelson Ireson

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Nelson is a Senior Editor at High Gear Media focusing on reviewing cars and covering the hottest topics in luxury and performance cars, car culture... More

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Jan 7, 2012

The MINI Coupe almost sits in a category of its own due to its unique shape, but there are a handful of other cars that come very close to offering the same overall experience.

The 2012 Fiat 500 is probably closest, though it's a bit smaller than the MINI and somewhat less high-performance.

The 2012 Ford Fiesta is a solid rival in hatchback form, offering lots of technology and modern looks, but until the Fiesta ST model arrives, it too falls short in performance.

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is much sportier, being a rear-drive convertible (or retractable hardtop coupe), but it sacrifices some interior space and doesn't deliver as much gas mileage.

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster is certainly quirky, but it's also lightweight, fun-to-drive, inexpensive, and well-made.

In fact, it may be one the few cars shoppers won't consider but should when looking at a MINI Coupe--along with the latest Volkswagen Beetle, which as a turbo has pretty brisk performance and a lot more usable space than the MINI.

2012 MINI Cooper Coupe Get FREE Price Quote	2012 Ford Fiesta Get FREE Price Quote	2012 Hyundai Veloster Get FREE Price Quote	2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Get FREE Price Quote	2012 Volkswagen Beetle Get FREE Price Quote
Quick Specs
Meta Rating
8.6 If you're looking for style with a dash of sport and a handful of practicality, the MINI Cooper Coupe is a great choice.	7.6 You could do better if you most value space and comfort, but the 2012 Ford Fiesta packs in a lot of style and substance.	8 The 2012 Hyundai Veloster starts with niche appeal, but its impressive handling and strong, high-value feature set should play well to the mainstream.	7.2 The 2012 Mazda MX-5 is a true sports roadster with great handling and fun at any speed, and more practical than you might think.	8 It's a tale of two Bugs: base Beetles are boring, but 2012 VW Beetle Turbos have us seeking out the nearest exit ramp.
MSRP From
$21,300	$13,200	$17,300	$23,470	$18,495
Gas Mileage
25 MPG City / 37 MPG Hwy	28 MPG City / 38 MPG Hwy	27 MPG City / 37 MPG Hwy	21 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy	21 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy
Engine
Gas I4	Gas I4	Gas I4	Gas I4	Gas I5
EPA Class
Minicompact	Subcompact	- TBD -	Two Seater	Subcompact car
Style Name
2-Door	4-Door Sedan S	3-Door Coupe Man w/Black Int	2-Door Convertible Man Sport	2-Door Coupe Auto Entry Ltd Avail
Drivetrain
Front Wheel Drive	Front-wheel drive	Front Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive	Front Wheel Drive
Passenger Capacity
2	5	5	2	4
Passenger Doors
N/A	4	3	N/A	2
Body Style
Coupe	Sedan	3 Door Coupe	2 Door Convertible	Coupe
Transmission
Manual	Manual	Manual	Manual w/OD	Automatic