2012 Ford Mustang vs 2012 MINI Cooper vs 2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Ford Mustang

2012 MINI Cooper

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

Select style

2-Door Conv GT

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Mustang 2-Door Conv GT	17	26	$31,959	$34,710
Mustang 2-Door Conv GT Premium	17	26	$35,559	$38,710
Mustang 2-Door Conv Shelby GT500	15	23	$48,611	$53,810
Mustang 2-Door Conv V6	19	29	$25,845	$27,310
Mustang 2-Door Conv V6 Premium	19	29	$28,899	$31,310
Mustang 2-Door Coupe Boss 302	17	26	$36,999	$40,310
Mustang 2-Door Coupe GT	17	26	$27,459	$29,710
Mustang 2-Door Coupe GT Premium	17	26	$31,059	$33,710
Mustang 2-Door Coupe Shelby GT500	15	23	$44,161	$48,810
Mustang 2-Door Coupe V6	19	29	$21,245	$22,310
Mustang 2-Door Coupe V6 Premium	19	29	$24,399	$26,310

Select style

2-Door

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Cooper Convertible 2-Door	27	35	$22,455	$24,950
Cooper Convertible 2-Door John Cooper Works	25	33	$31,590	$35,100
Cooper Convertible 2-Door S	27	35	$25,155	$27,950
Cooper Coupe 2-Door	29	37	$19,170	$21,300
Cooper Coupe 2-Door John Cooper Works	25	33	$28,080	$31,200
Cooper Coupe 2-Door S	27	35	$22,140	$24,600
Cooper Hardtop 2-Door Coupe	29	37	$17,550	$19,500
Cooper Hardtop 2-Door Coupe John Cooper Works	25	33	$26,910	$29,900
Cooper Hardtop 2-Door Coupe S	27	35	$20,790	$23,100
Cooper Roadster 2-Door	27	35	$21,915	$24,350
Cooper Roadster 2-Door John Cooper Works	25	33	$31,050	$34,500
Cooper Roadster 2-Door S	27	35	$24,615	$27,350

Select style

2-Door Coupe Automatic 2.5L

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Automatic 2.5L	22	29	$20,059	$20,895
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Automatic 2.5L PZEV	22	29	$20,059	$20,895
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Automatic 2.5L w/Sound/Nav PZEV	22	29	$23,294	$24,265
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Automatic 2.5L w/Sun	22	29	$22,459	$23,395
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Automatic 2.5L w/Sun PZEV	22	29	$22,459	$23,395
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Automatic 2.5L w/Sun/Sound/Nav	22	29	$24,187	$25,195
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Automatic 2.5L w/Sun/Sound/Nav PZEV	22	29	$24,187	$25,195
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Automatic Entry	22	29	$17,755	$18,495
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Automatic Entry PZEV	22	29	$17,755	$18,495
Beetle 2-Door Coupe DSG 2.0T Black Turbo Launch Edition	22	30	$23,953	$24,950
Beetle 2-Door Coupe DSG 2.0T Black Turbo Launch Edition PZEV	22	30	$23,953	$24,950
Beetle 2-Door Coupe DSG 2.0T Turbo	22	30	$23,515	$24,495
Beetle 2-Door Coupe DSG 2.0T Turbo PZEV	22	30	$23,515	$24,495
Beetle 2-Door Coupe DSG 2.0T Turbo w/Sound/Nav PZEV	22	30	$27,038	$28,165
Beetle 2-Door Coupe DSG 2.0T Turbo w/Sun/Snd/Nav PZEV	22	30	$27,931	$29,095
Beetle 2-Door Coupe DSG 2.0T Turbo w/Sun/Sound	22	30	$26,395	$27,495
Beetle 2-Door Coupe DSG 2.0T Turbo w/Sun/Sound PZEV	22	30	$26,395	$27,495
Beetle 2-Door Coupe DSG 2.0T Turbo w/Sun/Sound/Nav	22	30	$27,931	$29,095
Beetle 2-Door Coupe DSG 2.0T White Turbo Launch Edition	22	30	$23,953	$24,950
Beetle 2-Door Coupe DSG 2.0T White Turbo Launch Edition PZEV	22	30	$23,953	$24,950
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Manual	22	31	$18,235	$18,995
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Manual 2.0T Turbo	21	30	$22,459	$23,395
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Manual 2.0T Turbo PZEV	21	30	$22,459	$23,395
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Manual 2.0T Turbo w/Sun/Snd/Nav PZEV	21	30	$26,875	$27,995
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Manual 2.0T Turbo w/Sun/Sound	21	30	$25,339	$26,395
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Manual 2.0T Turbo w/Sun/Sound PZEV	21	30	$25,339	$26,395
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Manual 2.0T Turbo w/Sun/Sound/Nav	21	30	$26,875	$27,995
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Manual 2.5L	22	31	$19,003	$19,795
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Manual 2.5L PZEV	22	31	$19,003	$19,795
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Manual 2.5L w/Sun	22	31	$21,403	$22,295
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Manual 2.5L w/Sun PZEV	22	31	$21,403	$22,295
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Manual 2.5L w/Sun/Sound/Nav	22	31	$23,131	$24,095
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Manual 2.5L w/Sun/Sound/Nav PZEV	22	31	$23,131	$24,095
Beetle 2-Door Coupe Manual PZEV	22	31	$18,235	$18,995

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$31,959

$22,455

$20,059

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$34,710

$24,950

$20,895

Monthly Payment Estimate

$579 / month

$416 / month

$348 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

8.4

Read Our Full Review

8.6

Read Our Full Review

8.0

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The 2012 Ford Mustang doles out all the tire-smoking pony-car thrills, but it's also grown to become quite a sophisticated car.

If you're looking for style with a dash of sport and a handful of practicality, the MINI Cooper Coupe is a great choice.

It's a tale of two Bugs: base Beetles are boring, but 2012 VW Beetle Turbos have us seeking out the nearest exit ramp.

TCC Likes

Raw 5.0-liter power
A much improved V-6 version
Retro-modern details

Great handling
Good gas mileage, even in sportier models
More practicality than you'd expect

Flat-top styling
A vintage tinge to its interior
Appealing turbo thrust

TCC Dislikes

No telescoping steering wheel
V-6 automatic lacks manual shift control
Some interior finishes are just average

Ultimately still a front-drive sports car
Can be pricey when well-equipped
Some of the interior materials are sub-par

Still a 2+2, despite more room
Dull five-cylinder engine
Gas mileage lags...the Mustang?

Fuel Economy

City

17 mpg

27 mpg

22 mpg

Highway

26 mpg

35 mpg

29 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Compact

Minicompact

Subcompact car

Number of Passenger Doors

Interior Dimensions

Passenger Capacity

Front Hip Room (in)

53.4

- TBD -

Second Leg Room (in)

29.8

29.3

31.4

Front Head Room (in)

38.8

38.4

39.4

Second Hip Room (in)

45.2

- TBD -

Front Shoulder Room (in)

55.3

50.3

55.3

Passenger Volume (ft³)

81.0

- TBD -

85.0

Second Head Room (in)

36.5

38.5

37.1

Second Shoulder Room (in)

45.0

39.2

49.0

Front Leg Room (in)

42.4

41.7

41.3

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Rear (in)

62.6

57.8

- TBD -

Wheelbase (in)

107.1

97.1

99.9

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

73.9

66.3

71.2

Track Width, Front (in)

62.0

57.4

- TBD -

Min Ground Clearance (in)

- TBD -

5.7

Length, Overall (in)

188.2

146.6

168.4

Height, Overall (in)

56.0

55.7

58.5

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

9.6

9.2

12.0

Brakes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.8 x 0.8

10.2 x - TBD -

- TBD -

Brake Type

Pwr

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

13.2 x 1.4

11.0 x - TBD -

- TBD -

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

16.0

13.2

14.5

Steering

Steering Type

Pwr Rack & Pinion

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

- TBD -

3.0

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

- TBD -

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

15.7

14.1

16.3

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

33.4

35.1

35.4

Tires

Spare Tire Order Code

- TBD -

Rear Tire Size

P235/50WR18

P195/55R16

215/55R17

Rear Tire Order Code

N/A

- TBD -

Front Tire Size

P235/50WR18

P195/55R16

215/55R17

Spare Tire Size

Compact

- TBD -

Front Tire Order Code

N/A

- TBD -

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

1000

- TBD -

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

1000

- TBD -

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

100

- TBD -

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

150

- TBD -

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

3718

2701

- TBD -

Wheels

Rear Wheel Size (in)

18 x 8.0

16 x 6.5

17 x - TBD -

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Aluminum

- TBD -

Front Wheel Size (in)

18 x 8.0

16 x 6.5

17 x - TBD -

Spare Wheel Size (in)

18 x 4.5

- TBD -

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

- TBD -

5.5

- TBD -

Electrical

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

- TBD -

150

- TBD -

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

- TBD -

Engine

Engine Type

Gas V8

Gas 4-Cyl

Gas I5

Fuel System

Electronic Fuel Injection

Direct Injection

Electronic Fuel Injection

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

390 @ 4250

118 @ 4250

177 @ 4250

Engine Order Code

99F

Displacement

5.0L/302

1.6L/97.5

2.5L/151

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

412 @ 6500

121 @ 6000

170 @ 5700

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Transmission

Reverse Ratio (:1)

3.32

3.14

- TBD -

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.43

1.79

- TBD -

Trans Order Code

44X

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

3.31

4.35

- TBD -

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.32

0.91

- TBD -

Trans Description Cont.

Manual

Automatic

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.65

0.68

- TBD -

First Gear Ratio (:1)

3.66

3.21

- TBD -

Clutch Size (in)

- TBD -

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.69

1.19

- TBD -

Trans Type

Drivetrain

Rear Wheel Drive

Front Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.00

0.78

- TBD -

Trans Description Cont. Again

Summary

Body Style

2 Door Convertible

Convertible

Coupe

Vehicle Name

Ford Mustang

MINI Cooper Convertible

Volkswagen Beetle

Suspension

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front

MacPherson Strut

- TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

0.9

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

w/Coil Springs

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)

- TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)

1.3

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Rear

3-Link Solid Axle

Multi-link

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

w/Panhard rod

w/Coil Springs

Emissions

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

9.1

6.1

7.3

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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