Compare the2026 Subaru BRZVS 2025 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door

The BRZ has standard Whiplash Protection Seats, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Protection Seats system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The BRZ’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

The BRZ has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the BRZ has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. MINI charges extra for Cross Traffic Warning on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

Both the BRZ and the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the BRZ 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 6 times as many Subaru dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the BRZ’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is rated below average.

The BRZ’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 67 more horsepower (228 vs. 161) than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The BRZ’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 27 more horsepower (228 vs. 201) than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the BRZ lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

The BRZ has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (13.2 vs. 11.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The BRZ’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door are solid, not vented.

The BRZ stops shorter than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door:

For better traction, the BRZ has larger tires than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (215/40R18 vs. 205/45R17).

The BRZ’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the BRZ has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the BRZ’s wheelbase is 3.2 inches longer than on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door (101.4 inches vs. 98.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the BRZ is .8 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

The BRZ’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55.5% to 44.5%) than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s (63% to 37%). This gives the BRZ more stable handling and braking.

The BRZ tS executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door S (25.3 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 25.7 seconds @ .72 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the BRZ’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.4 feet).

The BRZ has .1 inches more front legroom, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door.

The engine in the BRZ is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than MINI. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With an 8% lower rating, MINI is ranked fourth.

The BRZ’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children from operating them. MINI does not offer a locking feature on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s standard power windows.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the BRZ’s exterior PIN entry system. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Assist eCall can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The BRZ’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from either outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. start/stop switch standard on the Cooper Hardtop 2 Door only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The BRZ’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The BRZ has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

Compared to the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door, the Subaru BRZ eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru BRZ and the MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BRZ was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2025 and 4 more times in the last 13 years. The Cooper Hardtop 2 Door has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.