2025 MINI Cooper vs 2025 Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf wins clearly, 97.1 to 69.9, on fuel & range, safety, space & cargo. The MINI Cooper is ahead on performance.
2025 MINI Cooper
The 2025 MINI Cooper is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact hatchback with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The EPA did not publish a separate 2025 certification; fuel…
2025 Nissan Leaf
The 2025 Nissan Leaf is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact hatchback with 2 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the LEAF SV, is EPA-rated …
2025 Nissan Leaf
Clear winThe Nissan Leaf wins clearly, 97.1 to 69.9, on fuel & range, safety, space & cargo. The MINI Cooper is ahead on performance.
| Category · weight | 2025 Nissan Leafoverall 97.1 | 2025 MINI Cooperoverall 69.9 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 27.9 | |||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 96.4 | 81.3 | |||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 80 | |||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 91.3 | 100 | |||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Overall | 97.1 | 69.9 | |||||||||
Safety-only comparison · 4 of 7 categories compared · specs not available for MINI Cooper
Nissan Leaf: base trim S FWD · MINI Cooper: safety only (EPA and NHTSA record; specs not available). Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2025 Nissan Leaf wins
- It costs $1,850 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($700 against $2,550).
- It is rated 111 combined against 32 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 75).
Where the 2025 MINI Cooper answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (6 against 7 filed with NHTSA).
- It makes 161 hp against 147.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
40 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Nissan LeafS FWD | MINI Cooper |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $28,140 | — |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Engine type (full description) | 110 kW AC synchronous electric motor (EM-57) | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 147 hp | — |
| Torque | 236 lb-ft | — |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 123 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 111 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 99 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 8.193 | — |
| Transmission speeds | 1 | — |
| Transmission type | Single-speed gear reducer | — |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.9 in | — |
| Overall height | 61.5 in | — |
| Overall length | 176 in | — |
| Overall width | 70.5 in | — |
| Wheelbase | 106 in | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 30 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 23.6 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 116 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 41.2 in | — |
| Second-row headroom | 37.3 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.1 in | — |
| Second-row legroom | 33.5 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,509 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,509 lbs | — |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 4,508 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut with coil springs and stabilizer bar | — |
| Rear suspension type | Torsion beam with integrated stabilizer bar | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Vehicle-speed-sensitive electric power steering | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 34.8 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 283 mm | — |
| Front brake type | vented disc | — |
| Parking brake type | foot pedal | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 292 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | vented disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 16 in | — |
| Wheel material | steel | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 205/55R16 | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 54.3 in | — |
| Second-row shoulder room | 52.5 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
95 features · differences first, then sharedSafety33 differ · 33 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS FWD | MINI Cooper |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection | std | — |
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Intelligent Lane Intervention | std | — |
| Intelligent Lane Intervention | std | — |
| Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor | std | — |
| RearView Monitor | std | — |
| Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection | std | — |
| Rear seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags | std | — |
| 4-wheel anti-lock braking system | std | — |
| 4-wheel power-assisted disc brakes | std | — |
| Blind Spot Intervention | std | — |
| Blind Spot Warning | std | — |
| Child safety rear door locks | std | — |
| Child seat upper tether anchor | std | — |
| Cooperative regenerative brakes – Electrically driven intelligent brake | std | — |
| Driver and front passenger knee supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Electronic brake force distribution | std | — |
| Energy-absorbing steering column | std | — |
| High Beam Assist | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist | std | — |
| LATCH system | std | — |
| Power window lockout system | std | — |
| Rear Automatic Braking | std | — |
| Rear Door Alert | std | — |
| Side door guard beams | std | — |
| Traction control system | std | — |
| Vehicle Dynamic Control | std | — |
| Vehicle security system | std | — |
| Zone Body construction with front and rear crumple zones | std | — |
| Nissan vehicle immobilizer system | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System – 4-corner pressure readout (center display) | std | — |
Infotainment8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS FWD | MINI Cooper |
|---|---|---|
| 4 USB ports | std | — |
| AM/FM with MP3/WMA playback capability, 4 speakers | std | — |
| Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ | std | — |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system | std | — |
| Hands-free text messaging assistant | std | — |
| NissanConnect® with 8.0-inch color display with multi-touch control | std | — |
| Siri® Eyes Free | std | — |
| SiriusXM® Radio (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately) | std | — |
Convenience8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS FWD | MINI Cooper |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Intelligent Key™ with push-button start and charge port door release | std | — |
| 12-volt power outlet | std | — |
| Charging timer – set desired charge time | std | — |
| Cruise control | std | — |
| Parking brake – Manual, foot pedal | std | — |
| Power door locks with auto locking system | std | — |
| Power windows with driver's side one-touch auto up/down | std | — |
| Remote charge door release | std | — |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS FWD | MINI Cooper |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Temperature Control (includes passive ventilation logic) | std | — |
| Heater, AC timer | std | — |
Seating4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS FWD | MINI Cooper |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 folding rear seats | std | — |
| 6-way manual driver's seat | std | — |
| 4-way manual front passenger seat | std | — |
| Bio Suede PET material | std | — |
Interior11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS FWD | MINI Cooper |
|---|---|---|
| Bottle holders – 4 (door panels) | std | — |
| Center console storage | std | — |
| Cup holders – 2 in center console | std | — |
| Digital meter cluster | std | — |
| Front and rear assist grips | std | — |
| Glove compartment | std | — |
| Passenger seat pockets | std | — |
| Room lamp | std | — |
| Sun visors with extension | std | — |
| Manual tilt / Manual telescopic steering wheel | std | — |
| Trip computer (State of Charge percentage, instant and average energy consumption, driving time, outside temperature and autonomy range) | std | — |
Exterior16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS FWD | MINI Cooper |
|---|---|---|
| 16-inch steel with full wheel covers | std | — |
| Aerodynamic halogen headlights | std | — |
| Aerodynamic underbody cover and rear diffuser | std | — |
| All-season 205/55R16 Bridgestone Ecopia | std | — |
| Center high-mounted stop light | std | — |
| Charge port light and lock | std | — |
| Chrome outside door handles | std | — |
| Dual power remote-controlled outside mirrors | std | — |
| Energy-absorbing body-color front and rear bumpers | std | — |
| Fixed roof antenna | std | — |
| LED tail lights | std | — |
| Tire repair kit – mounted in trunk | std | — |
| Variable intermittent windshield wipers | std | — |
| Automatic on/off headlights | std | — |
| Rear window defroster with timer | std | — |
| Rear spoiler | std | — |
Powertrain13 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Nissan LeafS FWD | MINI Cooper |
|---|---|---|
| Front-wheel drive | std | — |
| 110 kW AC synchronous electric motor (EM-57) | std | — |
| 147 horsepower | std | — |
| 236 lb-ft of torque @ 0~3,283 rpm | std | — |
| 40 kWh lithium-ion battery, 192 cells | std | — |
| 6.6 kW onboard charger (6.0 kW output) | std | — |
| B-mode – Engages regenerative braking more aggressively while decelerating | std | — |
| e-Pedal | std | — |
| Eco-Mode – Increased regenerative braking, assists in limiting motor output and reduces HVAC power output | std | — |
| High output quick charge port | std | — |
| Li-ion battery pack warranty – 8 years or 100,000 miles against defects; 8 years or 100,000 miles against excessive capacity loss | std | — |
| Portable charge cable (120V / 240V EVSE) | std | — |
| Shift-by-wire drive selector | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPNissan Leaf
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
MINI Cooper
Top recalls
- high Service Brakes, Hydraulic 26V422000 · 428 vehicles
- high Seat Belts 25V616000 · 1,571 vehicles
- high Service Brakes, Hydraulic 24V697000 · 309 vehicles
- high Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 24V104000 · 266,716 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Nissan LeafS FWD | MINI Cooper | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $28,140 (base trim) | — |
| Price range across trims | $28,140 – $36,190 2 trims | — |
| Powertrains | BEV | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | LEAF | Cooper C 4 Door |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 111 | 32 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $700 | $2,550 |
| EV range | 149 mi | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2025 Nissan Leaf or the 2025 MINI Cooper?
The Nissan Leaf wins clearly, 97.1 to 69.9, on fuel & range, safety, space & cargo. The MINI Cooper is ahead on performance. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2025 Nissan Leaf scores 97.1 and the 2025 MINI Cooper 69.9. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2025 Nissan Leaf or the 2025 MINI Cooper?
2025 Nissan Leaf: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. 2025 MINI Cooper: no NHTSA rating yet, grade C, 4 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2025 Nissan Leaf and the 2025 MINI Cooper?
Where the 2025 Nissan Leaf wins: it costs $1,850 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($700 against $2,550), is rated 111 combined against 32 (EPA mpg or MPGe), and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 75). Where the 2025 MINI Cooper answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (6 against 7 filed with NHTSA) and makes 161 hp against 147.