MINI vs. Volkswagen
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of cars from MINI and Volkswagen contrasts the two brands across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which one is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of vehicle models, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and projected lifetime recalls based on recall history. This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which brand represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both MINI and Volkswagen cars.
When comparing the MINI brand to the Volkswagen brand, MINI has the advantage in the areas of fuel efficiency, towing capacity and reliability. Volkswagen has the advantage in the areas of new car pricing, depreciation, horsepower, overall quality, retained value and variety of models offered.
MINI versus Volkswagen: Pricing and Value: Analyzing MINI versus Volkswagen pricing we see a lower new vehicle starting price for Volkswagen in 2 out of 2 vehicle comparisons. MINI and Volkswagen both also have lower used vehicle starting prices in 4 out of 8 comparisons. Volkswagen models depreciate at a lower (better) rate in 3 out of 4 comparisons.
MINI versus Volkswagen: Horsepower, Fuel Efficiency and Towing Capacity: Volkswagen vehicles offer higher maximum horsepower numbers in their base trim in 5 out of 9 model comparisons, with MINI offering more horsepower in 3 comparisons. MINI and Volkswagen vehicles have similar horsepower in 1 comparisons. MINI offers higher MPG for its vehicles in their base trim in 3 out of 5 comparisons. MINI offers a greater towing capacity in 1 out of 1 comparisons.
MINI versus Volkswagen: Quality, Reliability, Safety, and Value Retention Ratings: A comparison of MINI versus Volkswagen overall quality ratings shows Volkswagen with higher quality ratings in 1 out of 3 model comparisons. MINI has higher quality ratings in 1 out of 3 comparisons, and both MINI and Volkswagen are tied for overall quality in 1 comparisons. In terms of reliability ratings, MINI has the advantage in 2 out of 3 comparisons. Volkswagen shows higher ratings for retained value in 3 out of 4 comparisons.
Best Car Rankings:
Most Reliable Car Rankings:
Best Cars for the Money Rankings:
Available Body Styles: MINI offers 2 SUVs, 1 wagon, 1 convertible, and 2 hatchbacks. In comparison, Volkswagen offers 5 SUVs, 2 sedans, 2 hatchbacks, and 1 minivan.
Drivetrain Options: MINI offers 4 gasoline vehicles and 2 electric vehicles. Volkswagen offers 8 gasoline vehicles and 2 electric vehicles.
MINI offers 2 all-wheel-drive models and 3 front-wheel-drive models. Volkswagen offers 7 all-wheel-drive models, 7 front-wheel-drive models, and 2 rear-wheel-drive models.
New Car Pricing
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not Yet Available
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
Not Yet Available
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not Yet Available
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not Yet Available
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
Not Yet Available
MINI Clubman
$34,489 - $50,960
MINI Countryman
$41,610 - $51,855
MINI Countryman
$41,610 - $51,855
MINI Countryman
$41,610 - $51,855
New Car Pricing
Volkswagen Beetle (convertible)
Not Yet Available
Volkswagen Golf
Not Yet Available
Volkswagen Golf GTI
$33,305 - $42,915
Volkswagen Golf R
Not Yet Available
Volkswagen GTI
Not Yet Available
Volkswagen Golf
Not Yet Available
Volkswagen Golf
Not Yet Available
Volkswagen Tiguan
$30,884 - $42,730
Volkswagen Golf GTI
$33,305 - $42,915
Used Car Pricing
MINI Cooper (convertible)
$5,194 - $13,855
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
$3,999 - $10,995
MINI Cooper (convertible)
$5,194 - $13,855
MINI Cooper (convertible)
$5,194 - $13,855
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
$3,999 - $10,995
MINI Clubman
$28,590 - $43,048
MINI Countryman
$41,490 - $50,600
MINI Countryman
$41,490 - $50,600
MINI Countryman
$41,490 - $50,600
Used Car Pricing
Volkswagen Beetle (convertible)
$20,747 - $36,977
Volkswagen Golf
$14,517 - $22,997
Volkswagen Golf GTI
$33,860 - $41,026
Volkswagen Golf R
Not Yet Available
Volkswagen GTI
$6,914 - $16,277
Volkswagen Golf
$14,517 - $22,997
Volkswagen Golf
$14,517 - $22,997
Volkswagen Tiguan
$28,038 - $42,186
Volkswagen Golf GTI
$33,860 - $41,026
5-Year Depreciation (Lower is better)
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not Yet Available
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
Not Yet Available
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not Yet Available
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not Yet Available
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
Not Yet Available
MINI Clubman
44.2%
MINI Countryman
45.9%
MINI Countryman
45.9%
MINI Countryman
45.9%
5-Year Depreciation (Lower is better)
Volkswagen Beetle (convertible)
Not Yet Available
Volkswagen Golf
41.7%
Volkswagen Golf GTI
41.4%
Volkswagen Golf R
40.8%
Volkswagen GTI
Not Yet Available
Volkswagen Golf
41.7%
Volkswagen Golf
41.7%
Volkswagen Tiguan
47.8%
Volkswagen Golf GTI
41.4%
Horsepower / Torque
MINI Cooper (convertible)
121 hp / 114 foot-lbs
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
121 hp / 114 foot-lbs
MINI Cooper (convertible)
121 hp / 114 foot-lbs
MINI Cooper (convertible)
121 hp / 114 foot-lbs
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
121 hp / 114 foot-lbs
MINI Clubman
189 hp / 206 foot-lbs
MINI Countryman
241 hp / 295 foot-lbs
MINI Countryman
241 hp / 295 foot-lbs
MINI Countryman
241 hp / 295 foot-lbs
Horsepower / Torque
Volkswagen Beetle (convertible)
174 hp / 184 foot-lbs
Volkswagen Golf
147 hp / 184 foot-lbs
Volkswagen Golf GTI
241 hp / 273 foot-lbs
Volkswagen Golf R
328 hp / 295 foot-lbs
Volkswagen GTI
200 hp / 207 foot-lbs
Volkswagen Golf
147 hp / 184 foot-lbs
Volkswagen Golf
147 hp / 184 foot-lbs
Volkswagen Tiguan
201 hp / 207 foot-lbs
Volkswagen Golf GTI
241 hp / 273 foot-lbs
MPG (city/highway/combined)
MINI Cooper (convertible)
28 / 35 / 31
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
29 / 37 / 32
MINI Cooper (convertible)
28 / 35 / 31
MINI Cooper (convertible)
28 / 35 / 31
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
29 / 37 / 32
MINI Clubman
25 / 35 / 29
MINI Countryman
Not Yet Available
MINI Countryman
Not Yet Available
MINI Countryman
Not Yet Available
MPG (city/highway/combined)
Volkswagen Beetle (convertible)
26 / 33 / 29
Volkswagen Golf
29 / 39 / 33
Volkswagen Golf GTI
24 / 32 / 27
Volkswagen Golf R
Not Yet Available
Volkswagen GTI
21 / 31 / 25
Volkswagen Golf
29 / 39 / 33
Volkswagen Golf
29 / 39 / 33
Volkswagen Tiguan
26 / 34 / 29
Volkswagen Golf GTI
24 / 32 / 27
iSeeCars Overall Quality Ratings
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not available
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
Not available
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not available
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not available
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
Not available
MINI Clubman
Not available
MINI Countryman
8.0 / 10
MINI Countryman
8.0 / 10
MINI Countryman
8.0 / 10
iSeeCars Overall Quality Ratings
Volkswagen Beetle (convertible)
Not available
Volkswagen Golf
8.1 / 10
Volkswagen Golf GTI
8.0 / 10
Volkswagen Golf R
Not available
Volkswagen GTI
Not available
Volkswagen Golf
8.1 / 10
Volkswagen Golf
8.1 / 10
Volkswagen Tiguan
7.6 / 10
Volkswagen Golf GTI
8.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Ratings
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not available
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
Not available
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not available
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not available
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
Not available
MINI Clubman
Not available
MINI Countryman
7.8 / 10
MINI Countryman
7.8 / 10
MINI Countryman
7.8 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Ratings
Volkswagen Beetle (convertible)
Not available
Volkswagen Golf
7.9 / 10
Volkswagen Golf GTI
7.6 / 10
Volkswagen Golf R
Not available
Volkswagen GTI
Not available
Volkswagen Golf
7.9 / 10
Volkswagen Golf
7.9 / 10
Volkswagen Tiguan
7.5 / 10
Volkswagen Golf GTI
7.6 / 10
iSeeCars Safety Ratings
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not available
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
Not available
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not available
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not available
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
Not available
MINI Clubman
Not available
MINI Countryman
Not available
MINI Countryman
Not available
MINI Countryman
Not available
iSeeCars Safety Ratings
Volkswagen Beetle (convertible)
Not available
Volkswagen Golf
8.0 / 10
Volkswagen Golf GTI
8.0 / 10
Volkswagen Golf R
Not available
Volkswagen GTI
Not available
Volkswagen Golf
8.0 / 10
Volkswagen Golf
8.0 / 10
Volkswagen Tiguan
7.4 / 10
Volkswagen Golf GTI
8.0 / 10
iSeeCars Resale Value Ratings
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not available
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
Not available
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not available
MINI Cooper (convertible)
Not available
MINI Cooper (hatchback)
Not available
MINI Clubman
8.2 / 10
MINI Countryman
8.1 / 10
MINI Countryman
8.1 / 10
MINI Countryman
8.1 / 10
iSeeCars Resale Value Ratings
Volkswagen Beetle (convertible)
Not available
Volkswagen Golf
8.4 / 10
Volkswagen Golf GTI
8.4 / 10
Volkswagen Golf R
8.4 / 10
Volkswagen GTI
Not available
Volkswagen Golf
8.4 / 10
Volkswagen Golf
8.4 / 10
Volkswagen Tiguan
8.0 / 10
Volkswagen Golf GTI
8.4 / 10
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings
MINI Countryman
#2 of 21 in
Best Subcompact SUVs
MINI Countryman
#14 of 67 in
Best Crossover SUVs
MINI Countryman
#2 of 21 in
Best Subcompact SUVs
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings
Volkswagen Golf
#7 of 23 in
Best Hatchbacks
Volkswagen Tiguan
#31 of 67 in
Best Crossover SUVs
Volkswagen Golf GTI
#9 of 23 in
Best Hatchbacks
iSeeCars Most Reliable Car Rankings
MINI Countryman
#3 of 21 in
Most Reliable Subcompact SUVs
MINI Countryman
#11 of 67 in
Most Reliable Crossover SUVs
MINI Countryman
#3 of 21 in
Most Reliable Subcompact SUVs
iSeeCars Most Reliable Car Rankings
Volkswagen Golf
#7 of 37 in
Most Reliable Small Cars
Volkswagen Tiguan
#29 of 67 in
Most Reliable Crossover SUVs
Volkswagen Golf GTI
#12 of 37 in
Most Reliable Small Cars
iSeeCars Best Cars for the Money Rankings
MINI Countryman
#16 of 56 in
Best Crossover SUVs for the Money
MINI Countryman
#6 of 14 in
Best Subcompact SUVs for the Money
iSeeCars Best Cars for the Money Rankings
Volkswagen Tiguan
#13 of 56 in
Best Crossover SUVs for the Money
Volkswagen Golf GTI
#13 of 22 in
Best Small Cars for the Money