Mini Cooper vs Fiat 500 – which is best?

The latest versions are glamorous, city-friendly small hatchbacks that are also more than capable of longer journeys.

When Fiat developed the latest 500, it was only planned to be an electric car – making it perfect for urban driving but also rather expensive. Now, the 500 has had a mild-hybrid petrol engine shoehorned in, but we’d recommend shopping the previous Fiat 500 if you want a petrol car. Meanwhile, the Cooper launched as both a petrol or electric car.

Mini Cooper vs Fiat 500 compared

Styling

Instantly recognisable, the latest Mini Cooper and Fiat 500 are both classic recipes with a modern twist. There’s not as much chrome on the new 500 as there was on the older model, and there are new LED lights and sleeker dotted air intakes.

Mini has also given its main model a cleaner, more minimalist appearance. The front end has been tidied up, the rear lights have been changed for a set of modern-looking triangular units, and the chrome has gone from here, too.

Look closely and you’ll see a few styling differences between the petrol and electric Coopers. The bonnet line is much higher on the EV, and the door handles are flush. That’s because the petrol Cooper is essentially a facelifted version of the old Mini Hatchback, whereas the EV uses completely different underpinnings from the GWM Ora 03 and is built in China. The petrol’s built in Oxford.

Interior

The new 500 feels a lot more grown up inside than its predecessor. Build quality is much stronger, too, although the amount of shared parts with the likes of the Jeep Avenger means it doesn’t feel quite as unique inside as the old 500 does. Almost all examples get a touchscreen running Fiat’s Uconnect infotainment software, which is easy to use and clear. Some of the upholstery can be made from recycled fishing nets, if you pick the right option.

Mini looks to have removed as much as possible from the Cooper’s interior, with little else except a control panel of buttons and a whopping circular touchscreen. There are some lovely details and upholstery choices, and we love how crisp and modern the touchscreen looks. It’s a shame, then, that the Mini’s touchscreen displays its information in a confusing, haphazard way, with tiny icons and no clear hierarchy of where to look first. Its numerous display settings and jaunty load screen animations do little to impress, either.

Dimensions and practicality

Neither of these cars are big enough to carry four adults in comfort – but that’s never stopped these two being big sellers.

Boot space is fairly limited in both cars, too, although the Mini is marginally more capable of taking luggage. But it should be, because the Cooper is noticeably longer than the 500. If you’ve got a tiny parking space, the 500 is the better choice.

If you need more space than these cars offer, there’s the petrol Mini Cooper five-door or the electric Mini Aceman, or the Fiat 600. These keep the chic retro looks but add a bit of extra space.

Engines

The Mini Cooper’s petrol engines are pleasingly familiar – if they aren’t broke, don’t fix them! Cooper C versions feature a 1.5-litre petrol engine with 156hp, while sportier Cooper S models use a 2.0-litre engine turned up to 204hp. Both manage around 45mpg and both are very nippy – 0-62mph takes less than eight seconds even in the standard C model, and the S knocks another second off that.

Compared to the old Mini Electric's 145-mile range, the new Cooper E’s 180-mile estimate is a welcome uplift. But you can also choose the Cooper SE, with a bigger battery and a boost to around 240 miles between charges. All Coopers, be it petrol or electric, come with an automatic gearbox.

The cheapest 500e returns 118 miles to a charge in ideal conditions, which makes the 500’s usability very limited. Go for the bigger 42kWh battery and Fiat quotes 199 miles to a charge, so the Mini’s a better choice if you’re after an EV that can do the occasional cross-country journey.

As mentioned, the 500 now comes with the option of a petrol engine again. But with just 65hp and a 16-second 0-62mph time (and it feels it), the 500’s mild-hybrid petrol engine doesn’t cut the mustard. Since you’ll be using a lot of the power a lot of the time, it’s not even very economical. If you’re after a petrol 500, go for the old one.

Value

A recent price chop makes the 500e look considerably better value than the Cooper E. Whereas Fiat used to charge around £28,000 for a basic 500e, it’s now available for just £21,000 – putting the cat among the cheapest EV pigeons.

If you go for a used example, a bigger-battery 2022 500e with a little over 20,000 miles on the clock can be yours for under £12,000. Meanwhile, the old Mini Electric, with its short range, is £13,000 or so with the same age and mileage.

On a similar note, the old Fiat 500 petrol is cheaper than an equivalent petrol Mini.

Which is best?

Planning to use your new car for predominantly town journeys or short hops? The 500 is the clear winner – it’s easier to park, the long-range model has plenty in the tank and it’s considerably cheaper than the Mini Cooper E.

But the Cooper SE’s longer range makes it more flexible, and there are still several petrol options that are actually worth picking. So if you need to travel longer distances sometimes, or if you can’t – or don’t want to – recharge, then the Mini is the far superior choice.

Read our Fiat 500e review and Mini Cooper review. Made up your mind? Shop used Fiat 500 cars and used Mini Cooper cars for sale.