Mercury Cougar vs MINI Cooper
Side-by-side comparison from manufacturer specifications, NHTSA safety data, and live dealer listings.
Vehicles
Vehicles
2026 MINI Cooper
Overview
| Spec | Mercury CougarBase | MINI CooperOxford Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Selected trim | Base | Oxford Edition |
| Body style | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Drivetrain | front wheel drive | front wheel drive |
| Fuel type | regular unleaded | premium unleaded (recommended) |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual | 7-speed automated manual |
| Engine type | gas | gas |
| Model year | 2002 | 2026 |
Pricing & market
| Spec | Mercury CougarBase | MINI CooperOxford Edition |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $16,520 (best) | $25,500 |
| For sale now | 0 | 0 |
Fuel economy & range
| Spec | Mercury CougarBase | MINI CooperOxford Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Combined MPG | 24 MPG | 32 MPG (best) |
| City MPG | 21 MPG | 27 MPG (best) |
| Highway MPG | 31 MPG | 39 MPG (best) |
| Fuel tank | 15.5 gal (best) | 11.6 gal |
Performance
| Spec | Mercury CougarBase | MINI CooperOxford Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 125 hp | 161 hp (best) |
| Torque | 130 lb-ft | 184 lb-ft (best) |
| Engine size | 2 L | 2 L |
| Cylinders | I4 | I4 |
Size & capability
| Spec | Mercury CougarBase | MINI CooperOxford Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Doors | 3 (best) | 2 |
| Cargo volume | — | 34.4 cu ft (best) |
| Towing capacity | 1,000 lbs (best) | — |
| Payload | — | 785 lbs (best) |
| Curb weight | 2,892 lbs (best) | 3,014 lbs |
| Ground clearance | — | 5.1 in (best) |
| Wheelbase | 106.4 in (best) | 98.2 in |
| Length | 185 in (best) | 152.6 in |
| Width | 69.6 in (best) | 68.7 in |
| Height | 52.2 in | 56.4 in (best) |
Safety & recalls
| Spec | Mercury CougarBase | MINI CooperOxford Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Open recalls (YMM scope) | 1 | 1 |
Highlighted values indicate the better figure for that spec when a clear winner exists. Specs reflect the selected trim for each vehicle. Drag a vehicle header to reorder columns. MSRP and specifications are manufacturer data; listing prices and inventory come from live dealer listings. Safety ratings are from NHTSA.
Trim overview
All available trims with MSRP. The trim selected above is highlighted; comparison specs use that selection.
| Trim | Mercury Cougar | MINI Cooper |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Base $16,520 MSRP(Currently comparing) | Oxford Edition $25,500 MSRP(Currently comparing) |
| 2 | Base $17,020 MSRP | Oxford Edition $26,500 MSRP |
| 3 | Sport $17,520 MSRP | Signature $29,500 MSRP |
| 4 | Sport Premium $18,520 MSRP | Signature $30,500 MSRP |
| 5 | Sport Ultimate $19,920 MSRP | Signature $34,600 MSRP |
| 6 | — | Signature Plus $31,900 MSRP |
| 7 | — | Signature Plus $32,900 MSRP |
| 8 | — | Signature Plus $37,000 MSRP |
| 9 | — | S Signature $32,800 MSRP |
| 10 | — | S Signature $33,800 MSRP |
| 11 | — | S Signature $37,900 MSRP |
| 12 | — | Iconic $33,600 MSRP |
| 13 | — | Iconic $34,600 MSRP |
| 14 | — | Iconic $38,700 MSRP |
| 15 | — | S Signature Plus $35,200 MSRP |
| 16 | — | S Signature Plus $36,200 MSRP |
| 17 | — | S Signature Plus $40,300 MSRP |
| 18 | — | S Iconic $36,900 MSRP |
| 19 | — | S Iconic $37,900 MSRP |
| 20 | — | S Iconic $42,000 MSRP |
| 21 | — | JCW Signature $38,900 MSRP |
| 22 | — | JCW Signature $44,600 MSRP |
| 23 | — | JCW Signature Plus $41,300 MSRP |
| 24 | — | JCW Signature Plus $47,000 MSRP |
| 25 | — | JCW Iconic $43,300 MSRP |
| 26 | — | JCW Iconic $49,000 MSRP |
Mercury Cougar vs MINI Cooper FAQ
- Which is better: 2002 Mercury Cougar or 2026 MINI Cooper?
- It depends on priorities. OpenDealer compares 2002 Mercury Cougar vs 2026 MINI Cooper on MSRP, fuel economy, horsepower, seating, towing, NHTSA safety ratings, and live market prices so you can weigh the tradeoffs.
- Which costs less: 2002 Mercury Cougar or 2026 MINI Cooper?
- Based on starting MSRP, the 2002 Mercury Cougar starts lower at $16,520.
- Which has better startingMsrp: 2002 Mercury Cougar or 2026 MINI Cooper?
- The 2002 Mercury Cougar leads on startingMsrp in this comparison (16,520).
- Which has better combinedMpg: 2002 Mercury Cougar or 2026 MINI Cooper?
- The 2026 MINI Cooper leads on combinedMpg in this comparison (32).
- Which has better horsepower: 2002 Mercury Cougar or 2026 MINI Cooper?
- The 2026 MINI Cooper leads on horsepower in this comparison (228).
- Which has better seats: 2002 Mercury Cougar or 2026 MINI Cooper?
- The 2026 MINI Cooper leads on seats in this comparison (5).
- Which has better maxTowingLbs: 2002 Mercury Cougar or 2026 MINI Cooper?
- The 2002 Mercury Cougar leads on maxTowingLbs in this comparison (1,000).