2012 MINI Cooper vs. Its Competition

Nelson Ireson Senior Editor

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.