2026 BMW i4 vs 2026 MINI Cooper
The MINI Cooper wins clearly, 79 to 71.7, on tech & comfort, price. The BMW i4 is ahead on fuel & range and safety. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.4 and it flips.
2026 BMW i4
The 2026 BMW i4 is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact hatchback with 7 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 …
2026 MINI Cooper
The 2026 MINI Cooper is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact hatchback with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Cooper C 2 Door, is EPA-rat…
2026 MINI Cooper
Clear winThe MINI Cooper wins clearly, 79 to 71.7, on tech & comfort, price. The BMW i4 is ahead on fuel & range and safety. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.4 and it flips.
| Category · weight | 2026 BMW i4overall 71.7 | 2026 MINI Cooperoverall 79 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 50.9 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 26 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 81.9 | ||||||||||||
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 & cargonot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 33.3 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | ||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 71.7 | 79 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 4 of 7 categories compared
BMW i4: base trim i4 eDrive40 RWD · MINI Cooper: base trim Signature Trim FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.4 and the answer flips.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 MINI Cooper wins
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (1.5 points against 0.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It starts $28,400 lower ($29,500 against $57,900 base MSRP).
Where the 2026 BMW i4 answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 3 filed with NHTSA).
- It costs $1,900 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($650 against $2,550).
What they share
- 0 standard driver-assist features.
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
9 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | MINI CooperSignature Trim FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $57,900 | $29,500 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Engine type (full description) | Single all-electric motor | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 335 hp | — |
| Torque | 317 lb-ft | — |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (combined) | 118 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Transmission speeds | 1 | — |
| Transmission type | automatic | — |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Wheelbase | 112 in | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Third-row headroom | 36.6 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
11 features · differences first, then sharedSafety2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | MINI CooperSignature Trim FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Active Driving Assistant | — | opt |
| Drive Recorder (added to Parking Assistant Professional package) | opt | — |
Convenience1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | MINI CooperSignature Trim FWD |
|---|---|---|
| MINI Digital Key Plus (smartphone unlock/start via Digital Key Plus, Setup Card, Service Card) | — | std |
Seating1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | MINI CooperSignature Trim FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Power Front Seats (Active Driver Seat with Lumbar Support, Massaging Function for Driver's Seat) | — | opt |
Interior1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | MINI CooperSignature Trim FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Glass Controls | opt | — |
Exterior5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | MINI CooperSignature Trim FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 1" Wheel Upgrade (e.g. 18" to 19") | — | opt |
| 2" Wheel Upgrade (e.g. 18" to 20") | — | opt |
| Multitone Blue Roof | — | opt |
| Seal & Drive Tire Kit | std | — |
| Shadowline package (Black mirror caps and M Sport brakes with blue callipers) | opt | — |
Powertrain1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | MINI CooperSignature Trim FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Silicon carbide (SiC) inverters | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPBMW i4
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
MINI Cooper
Top recalls
- high Seat Belts 25V616000 · 1,571 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| BMW i4i4 eDrive40 RWD | MINI CooperSignature Trim FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $57,900 (base trim) | $29,500 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $57,900 – $70,700 3 trims | $29,500 – $42,300 5 trims |
| Powertrains | BEV | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 inch wheels) | Cooper C 2 Door |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 118 | 32 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $650 | $2,550 |
| EV range | 333 mi | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 BMW i4 or the 2026 MINI Cooper?
The MINI Cooper wins clearly, 79 to 71.7, on tech & comfort, price. The BMW i4 is ahead on fuel & range and safety. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.4 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 MINI Cooper scores 79 and the 2026 BMW i4 71.7. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 BMW i4 or the 2026 MINI Cooper?
The 2026 MINI Cooper starts lower — $29,500 against $57,900, a gap of $28,400 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 BMW i4 or the 2026 MINI Cooper?
2026 BMW i4: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 MINI Cooper: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 1 recall. 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 2026 BMW i4 and the 2026 MINI Cooper?
Where the 2026 MINI Cooper wins: it lists more comfort and tech equipment (1.5 points against 0.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½) and starts $28,400 lower ($29,500 against $57,900 base MSRP). Where the 2026 BMW i4 answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 3 filed with NHTSA) and costs $1,900 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($650 against $2,550). What they share: 0 standard driver-assist features.