MINI Cooper Hardtop vs Fiat 500

Since the company's recent resurgence, MINI quickly became that fun, quirky, somewhat nostalgic compact car brand everyone was dying to drive. And it quickly became apparent the MINI Cooper was here to stay. A stylish compact coupe with completely unique looks, the MINI Cooper Hardtop is one of MINI's earliest creations, and with a recent refresh, has become a must-see and must test drive for anyone looking for a new, fun and sporty car.

But MINI wasn't the only company with the idea to bring back a compact retro car to corner the craze for small and fun imports. The Fiat 500 made its return in 2012, after a nearly 30-year hiatus from US markets. Initially introduced only in hatchback form, the current 500 lineup has expanded to include the 500C convertible, the electric 500E, and the high-performance Abarth edition.

Compact Frames Offer Large Performance

Like the Fiat 500, the Mini Cooper Hardtop is available in a handful of trims in its most recent update. It's currently offered as a two- or four-door hatchback or convertible, with trim levels ranging from the base Cooper, Cooper S versions, and a high-performance John Cooper Works (JCW) edition reserved for the two-door hatch.

The Hardtop also gets two engine options - the base engine is a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder that sees 134-hp and 162 pound-feet of torque, with an EPA estimated 32 mpg combined.

The other engine, installed in the Cooper S, is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 189-hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. Upgrading to the automatic transmission adds wheel-mounted paddle shifters. And lastly, the John Cooper Works edition gets the same turbo-4, but with power output upped to 228 hp. Each comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission with a six-speed automatic optional.

The Fiat 500 is similarly arranged, minus the pep that the BMW-owned company bestowed under the hoods of its MINI Hardtops. The first Fiat engine is an iron-block, 1.4L four-cylinder that only sees 101-hp in the Pop, Easy, and Lounge trims as well as the hatchback-only Sport edition. Unfortunately, this engine is not just small, but lacking the pickup usually seen in compact imports, especially when paired with the optional six-speed automatic transmission, with the five-speed manual coming standard.

The other engine is slightly more powerful, with the Fiat 500 Abarth getting a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 135-hp on front wheels via a standard five-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic, which is still woefully short of the MINI Cooper Hardtop's turbo accomplishments.

In the looks MINI continued to embrace the iconic boxy styling that it's become famous for. However, this MINI gets some higher quality product than other sub-compacts like the Fiat 500. Soft-touch materials are replete on the doors and dashboard, and customizable with several different trim coverings. And ambient lighting on the doors changes color depending on which driving mode is selected.

MINI's also upgraded the tech for the Hardtop, including Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, HD radio, a USB port and an auxiliary input jack, and others.

The Fiat 500 is also retains the European nostalgia factor, but one that isn't as familiar as a MINI. The interior space lacks the room its counterparts, both foreign and domestic, such as the Ford Fiesta, Chevy Spark, or MINI Cooper Hardtop. Inside, a redesigned dashboard is about the only part of the car that shines. The Uconnect infotainment system sits in the center stack, a 5.0 inches touchscreen that replaces the LCD used in earlier 500s, and a digital display replaces the old analog gauge cluster. The materials also feel cheaply used, and with the limited room, make the Fiat 500 seem more like a cage than a smooth compact ride.

All in all, the case for the MINI Cooper Hardtop vs the Fiat 500 rests easily with MINI. The combination of looks, design, and performance easily elevates the Hardtop over the Fiat 500. It's a blend of the classic and the modern into a sub-compact package just about any driver will enjoy.