No one does small quite like Mini, the odd-duckling on many an automotive list. This nimble brand is known for quirky design, quick engines, and a limitless ceiling of customization—literally if you go with the convertible option.

The Mini Cooper, perfect for vibrant drives and fast photo-ops, is the subcompact car of your dreams. Looking for something a bit more down-to-earth, affordable, or powerful? We’ve got you covered.

Jerry

, the top-rated

car insurance

comparison trustworthy super app, has a list of the top eight compact cars to consider over the 2022 Mini Cooper. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of each competitor and provide a complete overview—plus, how you can save on your

Mini Cooper insurance costs

1. 2022 Honda Civic

Starting price: $22,643

Selling points: Comfortable ride, affordably efficient

Weak spot: Not the quickest, saves its best for pricier trims

It’s our honor to present you with the 2022

Honda Civic

. Scratch that—it’s our civic duty.

Starting at $22,643, the 2022 Honda Civic is exactly what a compact car should be. This small-size sedan offers a 158-hp, 2.0-Liter V4 engine, well-balanced handling, and a spunky exterior. Not to mention a 5-star NHTSA safety rating.

Listen up, the 2022 Honda Civic won’t turn heads (or mile times) like the Mini Cooper, but it wins in efficiency, reliability, and space—five seats compared to the Mini’s four. There’s a reason this model has been around for over 50 years.

The 2022 Honda Civic is a reliable, efficient compact car that lasts way longer than the price tag suggests.

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How to pick a Honda car seat

2. 2023 Chevrolet Bolt

Starting price: $26,594

Selling points: Roomy interior, solid EV range

Weak spot: Feels cheap in places

We know you love the Mini Cooper, but maybe it’s just a little too gas-powered?

The 2023

Chevrolet Bolt

is an all-electric subcompact car that focuses on usable space, drivability, and outstanding efficiency. This is Chevrolet's fifth-generation Bolt—first released in October 2016—meaning they’ve got some spark under their shoes.

Looking at the numbers, the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt has a combined EPA rating of 120 MPGe, 57 cubic feet behind the front seats, and gets up to 259 miles on a single charge. Charging time is 100 miles in 30 minutes.

Starting at $26,596, the Chevrolet Bolt is a comparable younger sibling to EVs like the

Tesla Model 3

or Volkswagen e-Golf. It's a great electric alternative to the Mini Cooper—or the pricey

Mini Cooper Electric

MORE:

How to get a hybrid or electric car tax credit

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3. Volkswagen Golf GTI

Starting price: $31,275

Selling points: Amazing handling, speed, and usability

Weak spot: Boring interior space

With best-in-class handling, impressive speed, and sleek stylings, the

Volkswagen GTI

is a hot hatch like no other. On the track, this is an elegantly versatile machine. The 2022 edition sports a 241-hp turbocharged V4, optional manual transmission, and digital gauge cluster.

On the town, the 2022 Volkswagen GTI is wonderfully practical. The engine boasts an EPA-estimated combined 32 mpg, while the hatchback design opens up plenty of usable space—52.7 cubic feet behind the front seat. I’ve moved houses twice in my trusty 2016 VW GTI!

One major downside? The Volkswagen GTI’s interior is a little boring compared to the upscaled Mini. This isn’t the cheapest option on our list, but take it from an expert: The Golf GTI is a stylish hatchback that’s never not exhilarating to put in gear.

4. Kia Soul

Starting price: $21,085

Selling points: Iconic look, spacious compact design

Weak spot: No all-wheel drive, sluggish engine

Value, a prominent theme on this list, is one of the 2023

Kia Soul’s

main selling points.

For just $21,085, you’re getting a stand-out compact car with oodles of cabin space, efficiency, and soul. Maybe you recall the original Kia Soul? A four-wheeled shoebox driven by hamsters. Yes—those ads did happen, but years of iteration have transformed the Kia Soul from a boxy experiment to a peppy daily driver.

The Kia Soul solid has carved a space for itself in the compact market with top-of-the-line safety and unique style. Do 63 feet of cubic storage, 30 combined MPG, and a comfy cabin excite you? Do yourself a favor and give the spacious Kia Soul a test drive.

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Kia Soul towing capacit

5. Mini Cooper Countryman

Starting price: $30,450

Selling points: Practical size, enormously customizable

Weak spot: Less peppy than the coupe

Maybe you love Mini Coopers, but they’re just a little too, well, mini. We get it—and so does the 2023

Mini Cooper Countryman

. This larger-than-your-average mini is a grizzled hatchback perfect for outdoor roads or dense city streets.

The Countryman is a plus-sized mini. It offers all the Mini features you’re used to—zippy engine, smooth handles, quirky interior styling—with a large emphasis on space. The 2023 Mini Cooper country offers a 17 cubic feet trunk, and 40.7 cubic feet behind the front seats.

The 2023 Mini Countryman isn’t the Kia Soul or Volkswagen GTI, but it’s cheaper than the latter and ready to leave the former in the dust. Want a big Mini? This is the car for you.

MORE:

How to build a custom Mini Cooper

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6. Subaru WRX

Starting price: $30,600

Selling points: Conquer any road, smooth drive

Weak spot: Weak in driver assistance

There are plenty of AWD compact vehicles, but the 2022

Subaru WRX

puts each to shame.

Make no mistake: The WRX is a sports car first, compact vehicle second. Let’s get the cons out of the way. The Subaru WRX is more expensive than the Mini Cooper, starting at $36,990. It’s also less spacious and efficient, offering an EPA-estimated 26 combined mpg.

What the WRX lacks in speed, though, it generously makes up for in performance. Thanks to a turbocharged 4.4-liter flat-four engine, the 2022 Subaru WRX goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. Whoa.

Style is also the main draw for this performance car. Stepping in (or better said, down) to a base Subaru WRX feels like entering a refined custom street car. The top-tier handling and optional stick shift? Those are just the cherries.

MORE:

How to build a custom Subaru WRX

7. Mazda MX-5

Starting price: $28,655

Selling points: Joy to pilot

Weak spot: Squished interior

Taking a full, double-flip dive into the sports car side of this list, we proudly showcase the 2022

Mazda MX-5

: Compact speed at its very best and most affordable.

More of a coupe than a hatchback, the MX-5 comes in both top and hardtop editions. Whatever you choose, you'll feel the wind thanks to a 2.0-Liter V4 engine, 5.7 seconds 0 to 60 mph time, and optional stick-shift.

Plain and simple, the MX-5 is fun to drive. So what’s the hold-up? For starters, the Mazda MX-5 isn’t very practical. It offers limited trunk space—think 4.5 cubic feet—and a cramped interior. You’ll feel every bump in the road, but that’s offset by the MX-5’s excellent handling.

The Mazda MX-5 is a fabulous compact sports coupe (emphasis on compact) whose greatest enemy is a long grocery list.

MORE:

Car loans for Mazda 2022

8. Fiat 500 Abarth

Starting price: $21,100

Selling points: Big personality, small size, smooth stick

Weak spot: Lackluster engine

Coming in at two doors, four cylinders, and just over 2,500 lbs, the

Fiat 500 Abarth

is our final (but certainly not farthest) competitor. This is the hot rod of

Fiat 500s

—take that as you will.

Released in 2019, The Fiat 500 Abarth offers a zippy 6.9 seconds 0 to 60 time, retro style, and a five-speed manual transmission. It’s wrapped with an “Abarth racing stripe” and a neat $21,100 starting price tag. Oh—and it houses a meager 9.5 cubic foot cargo space.

For you and a partner, the Fiat 500 Abarth is a true compact car with sports-lite performance. You can stylishly zig and zag to your favorite spots around town, but the Abarth is far from a

road trip essential

item.

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Fiat common problems

Mini Cooper vs. the competition

Want to let the numbers speak for themselves? Here is our side-by-side comparison of Mini Cooper's top competitors.

Model	Starting price range	Engine options	Maximum seating capacity	Maximum cargo volume	Fuel economy (city/highway/combined)
2021 Mini Cooper	$19,750 to $27,040	1.5-Liter V3 or 2-Liter V4	5 seats	40.7 cubic ft	23/32/26 mpg
2022 Honda Civic	$22,550 to $27,650	1.5-Liter V4	5 seats	24.5 cubic ft	31/40/36 mpg
2023 Chevrolet Bolt	$25,600 to $27,200	Magnet synchronized AC motor	5 seats	57 cubic ft	131/109/131 mpg
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI	$29,080 to $45,900	2-Liter V4	5 seats	34.5 cubic ft	24/34/28 mpg
2023 Kia Soul	$19,790 to $21,320	2-Liter V4	5 seats	62.1 cubic ft	29/35/32 mpg
2023 Mini Cooper Countryman	$29,600 to $34,700	TwinTurbo 1.5-Liter V3	5 seats	47.4 cubic ft	24/33/28 mpg
2022 Subaru WRX	$29,605 to $32,570	Turbocharged 2.4-Liter V4	5 seats	36.7 cubic ft	19/26/22 mpg
2022 Mazda MX-5	$27,650 to $32,670	2-Liter V4	2 seats	4.5 cubic ft	26/35/32 mpg
2019 Fiat 500 Abarth	$20,495 to $22,650	1.4-Liter V4	2 seats	26.8 cubic ft	28/33/27 mpg

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MORE:

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