Would Buying a Chevy Bolt Over a Mini Cooper Be a Huge Mistake?
The 2021 Mini Cooper is fun to drive and has a distinctive design, but are there alternatives? There are other subcompact cars out there that are also fun to drive, and one is the 2021 Chevy Bolt. Would buying the Chevy Bolt instead of the Mini Cooper be a huge mistake?
The 2021 Chevy Bolt
The 2021 Chevrolet Bolt has an overall score of 7.8 out of 10 from U.S. News. This four-door hatchback is an electric vehicle, and it has good acceleration and handling, going from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. The electric motor generates 200 hp. The Bolt has an excellent range of 259 miles with a full charge. It’s rated for 127 MPGe in the city and 108 MPGe on the highway.
Its interior isn’t as great, with some cheaper materials and hard plastics. There is plenty of room for passengers and cargo, although the seats are a little hard. The Bolt comes with a good assortment of tech and safety features. The infotainment system has a 10.2-inch touchscreen and is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The 2021 Chevy Bolt does have a lower safety score from U.S. News with a 9.0 out of 10. While a number of advanced safety features are available, only a rearview camera and teen driver settings come standard. Its price starts at $36,620, which is higher than the Mini Cooper’s starting price.
The 2021 Mini Cooper
The 2021 Mini Cooper has a unique design along with “near-luxury design and build quality,” says U.S. News. It has a U.S. News overall score of 7.7 out of 10. It’s available with two doors or four and as a hardtop or a convertible.
The Mini Cooper is fun to drive with any of its various engine options. The base engine is a 134-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder. Other engine options include a 189-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a 228-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, and a 301-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, explains U.S. News. The different engines get between 24 and 28 MPG in the city and 30 and 37 MPG on the highway.
There is also the Mini Electric (also called the Mini Cooper SE), which has a 181-hp electric motor. It has a range of 110 miles, which isn’t super far. It’s rated for 115 MPGe in the city and 100 MPGe on the highway. It’s a touch slower than the Chevy Bolt, going from 0 to 60 MPH in about seven seconds.
There is space for adults in the four-door Mini Cooper, but the rear seat is cramped in the two-door version. There also isn’t much cargo space. However, the interior is nicely done and well finished. The infotainment system has a 6.5-inch touchscreen and an 8.8-inch display is available. They are compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Mini Cooper has a safety score from U.S. News of 9.5 out of 10. However, it doesn’t offer a long list of advanced safety features. It comes standard with a rearview camera, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and rear parking sensors. It only has a few other available safety features. The 2021 Mini Cooper has a starting price of $22,400 for the two-door gas-powered version. The Mini Cooper SE starts at $29,900.
Would buying the Chevy Bolt be disappointing if you wanted a Mini Cooper?
The 2021 Chevrolet Bolt is more expensive than the Mini Cooper, but the Chevy Bolt also provides more features and space along with electric efficiency. However, buyers looking for style should stick with the Mini Cooper or the Mini Electric. It has a unique look and nicer finishes. Both are fun cars to drive.
If you’re thinking about getting a Mini Cooper, it’s still worth considering other subcompact car options to be certain you’ve made the right decision.
