2012 FIAT 500 vs 2011 MINI Cooper

2012 FIAT 500

2011 MINI Cooper

Select style

2-Door Conv Gucci

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
500 2-Door Conv Gucci	27	32	$22,495	$23,500
500 2-Door Conv Lounge	N/A	N/A	$21,565	$22,500
500 2-Door Conv Pop	N/A	N/A	$18,775	$19,500
500 2-Door HB Abarth	28	34	$21,035	$22,000
500 2-Door HB Gucci	27	34	$18,710	$19,500
500 2-Door HB Lounge	30	38	$17,780	$18,500
500 2-Door HB Pop	30	38	$14,990	$15,500
500 2-Door HB Sport	30	38	$16,850	$17,500

Select style

2-Door

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Cooper Convertible 2-Door	28	35	$22,365	$24,850
Cooper Convertible 2-Door John Cooper Works	25	33	$30,870	$34,300
Cooper Convertible 2-Door S	27	35	$25,065	$27,850
Cooper Hardtop 2-Door Coupe	29	37	$17,460	$19,400
Cooper Hardtop 2-Door Coupe John Cooper Works	25	33	$26,190	$29,100
Cooper Hardtop 2-Door Coupe S	27	36	$20,700	$23,000

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$22,495

$22,365

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$23,500

$24,850

Monthly Payment Estimate

$392 / month

$414 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

6.8

Read Our Full Review

8.6

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The 2012 Fiat 500 pays big dividends for going small--in expressive styling and even in driving verve.

The 2011 MINI Cooper/Convertible runs the gamut from smart econobox to thrusty sports convertible--all with unmatched driving feel and expertly interpreted styling heritage.

TCC Likes

Brilliant interior styling
Expressive sheetmetal
Rev-happy four-cylinder

Joyous to drive
MINI authenticity, inside and out
Built-in sunroof in convertible model

TCC Dislikes

It's really, really tiny inside!
Not slow, but not at all quick
Good gas mileage, not stellar

Very small rear seats
Over-assisted, numb steering
Odd, often cheap-feeling controls

Fuel Economy

City

27 mpg

28 mpg

Highway

32 mpg

35 mpg

Vehicle

Number of Passenger Doors

EPA Classification

Minicompact Car

Minicompact

Interior Dimensions

Second Shoulder Room (in)

46.4

39.2

Front Leg Room (in)

40.7

41.7

Passenger Volume (ft³)

76.2

- TBD -

Front Hip Room (in)

47.9

- TBD -

Second Leg Room (in)

31.7

29.3

Front Head Room (in)

38.6

38.4

Passenger Capacity

Second Hip Room (in)

42.0

- TBD -

Front Shoulder Room (in)

49.4

50.3

Second Head Room (in)

36.8

38.5

Exterior Dimensions

Height, Overall (in)

59.8

55.7

Track Width, Rear (in)

55.0

57.8

Wheelbase (in)

90.6

97.1

Liftover Height (in)

27.7

- TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

64.1

66.3

Track Width, Front (in)

55.4

57.4

Min Ground Clearance (in)

4.6

- TBD -

Length, Overall (in)

139.6

146.6

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

5.4

9.2

Brakes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

9.4 x 0.4

10.2 x - TBD -

Brake Type

Pwr

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

10.1 x 0.9

11.0 x - TBD -

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

10.5

13.2

Steering

Steering Type

Electric Rack & Pinion

Pwr Rack & Pinion

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

3.0

- TBD -

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

- TBD -

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

16.3

14.1

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

30.6

35.1

Tires

Spare Tire Size

Front Tire Order Code

T1A

Spare Tire Order Code

Rear Tire Size

185/55R15

P195/55R16

Rear Tire Order Code

T1A

Front Tire Size

185/55R15

P195/55R16

Trailering

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

2486

2701

Wheels

Rear Wheel Size (in)

15 x 6.0

16 x 6.5

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Front Wheel Size (in)

15 x 6.0

16 x 6.5

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

4.6

5.5

Electrical

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

105

150

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

500

- TBD -

Engine

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

101 @ 6500

121 @ 6000

Engine Type

Gas I4

Gas 4-Cyl

Fuel System

Electronic Fuel Injection

EFI

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

98 @ 4000

114 @ 4250

Engine Order Code

EAB

Displacement

1.4L/83

1.6L/97.5

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

Transmission

Reverse Ratio (:1)

3.19

3.14

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.37

1.79

Trans Order Code

DF1

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

4.10

4.35

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.15

0.91

Trans Description Cont.

Automatic

Manual

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.67

0.68

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

First Gear Ratio (:1)

4.04

3.21

Clutch Size (in)

- TBD -

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.55

1.19

Trans Type

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.85

0.78

Trans Description Cont. Again

Summary

Vehicle Name

FIAT 500

MINI Cooper Convertible

Body Style

Hatchback

2 Door Convertible

Suspension

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

w/Coil Springs

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front

MacPherson Strut

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

w/Coil Springs

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)

- TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Rear

Twist Beam Axle

Multi-link

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

6.5

6.0

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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