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MINI Cooper vs Nissan Ariya

2 head-to-heads across the 2025 and 2026 model years, side by side. At default weights the Ariya leads 2–0. Each verdict below is the one its own page prints — price, fuel, safety, space, performance, tech and warranty from EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer data — and the weights are yours to change on any of them.

2 Head-to-heads scored at default weights
0 Cooper wins clear wins and edges
2 Ariya wins clear wins and edges
0 Toss-ups under 2 points apart
2025–2026 Years on file
2026 MINI Cooper

Year by year

2 head-to-heads · verdicts at default weights

Clear win 6+ points · Edge 2–6 · Toss-up under 2

Across the years, category by category

2 scored head-to-heads

The Ariya leads on fuel & range in 2 of 2, safety in 2 of 2. Category scores are 0–100 from the data on each pair page; a lead here means that model year scored higher in the category, whatever the weights.

CategoryCooper leadsAriya leadsLevel
Fuel & range020
Safety020

Common questions about the Cooper vs Ariya

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Which is better, the MINI Cooper or the Nissan Ariya?

In the newest scored pairing, the 2026 Cooper against the 2026 Ariya: The Nissan Ariya wins clearly, 100 to 65.5, on fuel & range, safety. Across the 2 head-to-heads scored, the Ariya leads 2–0. Open the 2026 pair to change the weights.

Does the answer change from one model year to the next?

No. In every model year scored (2025 and 2026) the Ariya came out ahead at default weights.

Where is the biggest difference between the MINI Cooper and the Nissan Ariya?

The Ariya leads on fuel & range in 2 of 2, safety in 2 of 2. Every count comes from the category scores on the pair pages linked above, which use EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press-kit data.

How does WhichTrim decide which vehicle wins?

Each of seven categories — price, fuel and range, safety, space and cargo, performance, tech and comfort, warranty — is scored 0–100 from the data on the page. Relative measures give 100 to the better vehicle and a proportional share to the other; NHTSA stars and the Safety Signal use their own scales. The overall score is the weighted mean at the default weights (price 4, safety 4, fuel 3, tech 3, space 2, performance 2, warranty 2). A margin of 6 points or more is a clear win, 2 to 6 an edge, under 2 a toss-up. Every pair page has sliders to change the weights.