The Mini Cooper is a car that many people know the name of, but surprisingly, there’s a lot of confusion surrounding it. Some people think it is a compact car, while others believe it’s a sports car. Here’s a look at the Mini Cooper and whether or not it’s a compact car, a sports car, or perhaps even both. 

An overview of the 2022 Mini Cooper

According to Consumer Reports, the Mini Cooper is a cheap car with a lot of power. It starts at about $23,000, which is pricey compared to other compacts, but it makes up for it with its unique character and driving characteristics. The Mini Cooper’s character and charm make it a unique car to own and drive, but not everyone is sold on its looks.

The engine and body style options are another great thing to note. These aspects may actually be the source of people’s confusion over what type of car the Mini Cooper really is.

That said, its driving characteristics are great overall. It’s a fun car to drive. According to Consumer Reports, it comes with some nice standard features such as automatic emergency braking, and its small size makes it easy to park in urban environments. However, it’s not a perfect car. It does have many negative qualities. For example, since the Mini Cooper is quite miniature, it will only be able to seat four people.

There are a lot of different Mini Coopers out there

As Consumer Reports wrote, there are three different body styles available for the Mini Cooper, a two-door hatchback, a four-door hatchback, and a convertible. There are also five powertrain options and more powerful engines that can definitely turn it into a sports car. The standard Mini Cooper comes with a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, and it only gets 134 hp. 

When that weak little engine is paired with the Mini Cooper’s small frame, it’s not surprising that many people will call it a compact car. However, owners can also get the JCW trim, which will turn the Mini into a cheap and affordable sports car. The JCW’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gets 228 hp, and that’s not even the most powerful engine option Mini offers on the car. 

Folks who choose the convertible body style will obviously get a car that looks sportier than the standard version. As such, the answer to the question is simple. The Mini Cooper is both a compact and a sports car, especially considering how it is outfitted. 

A brief look at the many different types of Mini Coopers available

The main difference between a two-door and a four-door is size. The four-door has two more doors and gains a bit more room. Folks that want even more space should consider the Countryman or the Clubman. Both are much larger than the regular Mini Cooper, and in the Countryman’s case, it’s a subcompact SUV.

The EV version is one Mini trim that’ll shake things up a lot. However, this won’t be a great EV for everyone as it’ll have a mini-sized battery pack that allows it to get just over 100 miles of range. It’s perfect for more urban areas that require shorter commutes, but falls short for those longer trips where mileage adds up.