2016 Volkswagen Beetle vs MINI Cooper Comparison
2016 Volkswagen Beetle
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2016 MINI Cooper
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Base Engine: |
1.5 L Inline 3 |
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Horsepower: |
134 hp @ 4500 rpm |
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Torque: |
162 ft-lbs. @ 1250 rpm |
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Heated/Cooled seats: |
Optional |
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Satellite radio: |
Optional |
2016 Volkswagen Beetle vs MINI Cooper
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While many car enthusiasts prefer cars with large and powerful engines, just as many like the small and nimble European roadsters. Rather than just focusing on pure power output, these cars also have strikingly exotic styling and comfortable and well-laid out interiors to make driving them more fun and exciting. The two mainstays of the genre are the Volkswagen Beetle and the MINI Cooper. Both hail from Europe and have a unique and immediately recognizable visual style. They are also luxurious inside the cabin and pack plenty of power under the hood. We’ve decided to put these two European roadsters to the test and matched up the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle against the 2016 MINI Cooper.
Performance
A roadster is not much fun without some horsepower behind it, so it’s good that both the 2016 Beetle and the 2016 MINI have it in spades. The standard MINIs are powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged three cylinder engine that reaches 124 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. The real fun, however, is to be had with the high-performance MINI Cooper S that adds another cylinder for a total of two liters, 189 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. The base engine on the 2016 Beetle is a little beefier than its MINI counterpart at 1.8-liters, delivering 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The Beetle R-Line comes out at the top of this contest however, with 210 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque emanating from its 2.0-liter turbo.
Styling
It is almost impossible to confuse either a Volkswagen Beetle or a MINI Cooper for any other car on the road. They are both very distinctive, good-looking and attention-grabbing – exactly what you need in a roadster. The 2016 Beetle does benefit from a number of very nice design touches that allow it to look modern while still retaining its distinctive looks such as its slightly offset hood that evokes the beetle shape of the old Beetles or the alloy wheels that are fashioned to look like chrome hubcaps. The 2016 MINI, on the other hand, despite adding new options for interior colors and exterior paintjobs, still remains almost unchanged since its US debut.
Comfort
The Beetle and the MINI are filled to the brim with comfortable accessories, from leather heated seats to touch-screen infotainment. The feature set is very similar in both of the cars, so neither the 2016 Beetle nor the 2016 MINI has the advantage in that regard. However, the Beetle is definitely the roomier of the two cars. The headroom is very similar between the two cars, but the Beetle offers slightly more leg room than the MINI and significantly more shoulder room. The size advantage is likewise visible when comparing the car’s trunk space. The Cooper has only 8.7 cubic feet of cargo space, while the Volkswagen has 15.4 cubic feet – nearly double that of the MINI.
If you are looking for a small and sporty car with a comfortable interior, plenty of technology, peppy performance and head-turning looks, you won’t go wrong with either the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle or the 2016 MINI Cooper. Small details do tilt the field in favor of the Beetle though: its design is more modern, its interior is slightly larger and its engines are more powerful. So come check out the new Volkswagen Beetle at your local Volkswagen dealership and find out just what it feels like to cruise in style.
* EPA estimated MPG may vary by transmission, trim and individual driving behavior.