2012 MINI Cooper vs 2012 Scion iQ vs 2012 smart fortwo

2012 MINI Cooper

2012 Scion iQ

2012 smart fortwo

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

3-Door HB

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
iQ 3-Door HB	36	37	$14,501	$15,265

Select style

2-Door Convertible Passion

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
fortwo 2-Door Convertible Passion	34	38	$16,452	$17,690
fortwo 2-Door Coupe Passion	34	38	$13,662	$14,690
fortwo 2-Door Coupe Pure	34	38	$11,616	$12,490

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$22,455

$14,501

$16,452

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$24,950

$15,265

$17,690

Monthly Payment Estimate

$416 / month

$254 / month

$295 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

8.6

Read Our Full Review

7.0

Read Our Full Review

6.0

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

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

The appeal of the 2012 Scion iQ minicar is limited; but for parking-challenged urban dwellers, it's charming.

Still stylish and quirky, the 2012 Smart Fortwo can be a fun and useful car for tight urban spaces where its size and maneuverability is an asset; but for even occasional highway driving, nearly any other small car would be a better pick.

TCC Likes

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

Innovative seating arrangement
Superb interior materials
Tall folks fit!

Nimble and responsive at city speeds
Actually fits tall folks
Can park nearly anywhere

TCC Dislikes

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

Sub-40-mpg highway rating
Slow acceleration
No available manual gearbox

Busy, jittery ride
Nervous and noisy on the highway
Short on passing power

Fuel Economy

City

27 mpg

36 mpg

34 mpg

Highway

35 mpg

37 mpg

38 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Minicompact

Mini Compact

Minicompact

Number of Passenger Doors

Interior Dimensions

Front Hip Room (in)

- TBD -

53.9

45.4

Second Leg Room (in)

29.3

28.6

Front Head Room (in)

38.4

37.7

39.7

Second Hip Room (in)

- TBD -

33.8

Front Shoulder Room (in)

50.3

53.1

48.0

Passenger Volume (ft³)

- TBD -

73.8

45.4

Second Head Room (in)

38.5

35.9

Second Shoulder Room (in)

39.2

50.2

Front Leg Room (in)

41.7

40.9

41.2

Passenger Capacity

Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase (in)

97.1

78.7

73.5

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

66.3

66.1

61.4

Track Width, Front (in)

57.4

58.1

50.5

Min Ground Clearance (in)

- TBD -

5.3

- TBD -

Length, Overall (in)

146.6

120.1

106.1

Height, Overall (in)

55.7

59.1

60.7

Track Width, Rear (in)

57.8

57.5

54.5

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

9.2

16.7

7.8

Brakes

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

7.1 x - TBD -

8.0 x - TBD -

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.0 x - TBD -

10.0 x - TBD -

11.0 x - TBD -

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

4-wheel

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

10.2 x - TBD -

Brake Type

Pwr

Electric

Pwr

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

13.2

8.5

8.7

Steering

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

- TBD -

2.9

- TBD -

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

- TBD -

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

14.1

13.2

- TBD -

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

35.1

12.9

28.7

Steering Type

Pwr Rack & Pinion

Electric

Rack & Pinion

Tires

Spare Tire Order Code

- TBD -

Rear Tire Size

P195/55R16

P175/60R16

P175/55R15

Rear Tire Order Code

N/A

- TBD -

Front Tire Size

P195/55R16

P175/60R16

P155/60R15

Spare Tire Size

Front Tire Order Code

N/A

- TBD -

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

2701

2127

1852

Wheels

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Steel

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Front Wheel Size (in)

16 x 6.5

16 x 5.0

15 x 4.5

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Steel

Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)

16 x 6.5

16 x 5.0

15 x 5.5

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

5.5

- TBD -

4.5

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

- TBD -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

150

- TBD -

Engine

Engine Type

Gas 4-Cyl

Gas I4

Gas I3

Fuel System

Direct Injection

Electronic Fuel Injection

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

118 @ 4250

89 @ 4400

68 @ 4500

Engine Order Code

- TBD -

Displacement

1.6L/97.5

1.3L/81

1.0/61

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

121 @ 6000

94 @ 6000

70 @ 5800

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Transmission

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

4.35

- TBD -

4.53

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.91

0.94

Trans Description Cont.

Manual

Continuously Variable Ratio

Automatic w/Manual Shift

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.68

First Gear Ratio (:1)

3.21

- TBD -

3.31

Clutch Size (in)

- TBD -

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.19

1.26

Trans Type

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

Rear Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.78

0.71

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

3.14

- TBD -

3.23

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

1.79

1.91

Trans Order Code

- TBD -

Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

Summary

Body Style

Convertible

3 Door Hatchback

2 Door Cabriolet

Vehicle Name

MINI Cooper Convertible

Scion iQ

Smart fortwo

Suspension

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 -

0.83

Suspension Type - Rear

Multi-link

Torsion beam

DeDion

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

w/Coil Springs

Emissions

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

6.1

5.1

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

- TBD -

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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