MINI Cooper vs Subaru Impreza
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular Hatchbacks compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 29 Oct 2026, price 6 Sep 2026
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Subaru Impreza: we're still completing kerb weight, 0-100km/h and braked towing.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
$41,990RRP
- with the Subaru Impreza's standard kit: $41,990 (nothing to add)
$36,490RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Track the MINI Cooper & Subaru Impreza
Get price-drop alerts on these models plus our free weekly new-car rundown. Unsubscribe anytime.
Price Breakdown
The MINI Cooper starts from $41,990 before on-road costs, while the Subaru Impreza opens at $36,490. That makes the Subaru Impreza the more affordable entry point by $5,500.
Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $46,189 and $40,139 respectively.
Over 5 years, the running costs favour the MINI Cooper by roughly $2,140 in fuel alone.
Safety Rundown
We hold no ANCAP data for the MINI Cooper. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Recalls on our record
MINI Cooper
- REC-006442 · published 8 Oct 2025Due to a manufacturing defect, the front passenger and/or driver seatbelts may not meet the required specifications.Year range on the notice: 2025
- REC-006091 · published 2 Oct 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, a component of the brake booster system may have been incorrectly welded and could break.Year range on the notice: 2024
Subaru Impreza
- REC-001603 · published 2 Jun 2021Due to improper Engine Control Module (ECM) programming, the ignition coil may overheat, creating a short circuit which may blow the ignition coil fuse.Year range on the notice: 2016 - 2020
- REC-001222 · published 4 Nov 2019Over time the aluminium positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may fracture, allowing the engine to draw an increased amount of engine oil.Year range on the notice: 2016 - 2019
- REC-001223 · published 1 Nov 2019Due to improper Engine Control Module (ECM) programming, the ignition coil may overheat, creating a short circuit and blowing the fuse.Year range on the notice: 2016 - 2019
- 6 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Feature Showdown
The MINI Cooper features a 9.4-inch touchscreen, while the Subaru Impreza gets a 11.6-inch display and 4.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The MINI Cooper stands out with head-up display and ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the Subaru Impreza. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the MINI Cooper gets synthetic leather / cloth upholstery while the Subaru Impreza offers cloth.
Drivetrain
The MINI Cooper uses a Petrol Turbo producing 115kW and 230Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.7 seconds.
The Subaru Impreza responds with a Petrol I4 Boxer making 115kW and 196Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.
Power output is identical on paper, so the difference comes down to tuning, weight distribution, and suspension. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The MINI Cooper measures 3,876mm long on a 2,495mm wheelbase, 614mm shorter than the Subaru Impreza at 4,490mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Subaru Impreza generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 210L in the MINI Cooper and 291L in the Subaru Impreza, giving the Subaru Impreza a 81L advantage. The Subaru Impreza seats 5 vs 4.
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
10.6m to 10.7m
Based on 10.7m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Based on 10.6m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Turning circle ratings
Compare U-turns side by side
Turning Circle · U-turn compare
kerb-to-kerb, 2 cars0 of 2 clear a 7.0 m street in one sweep
Green cars complete the U-turn; amber need a 3-point turn. Drag the slider to test tighter streets.
Standard widths: AU local streets ~5.5–7 m; main roads ~9–12 m.
True Cost to Own
Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,710/year for the MINI Cooper and $2,138/year for the Subaru Impreza. That is a $428 annual difference in favour of the MINI Cooper.
Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (MINI Cooper) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Subaru Impreza). Both match on warranty length. Capped-price servicing: —5yr (Subaru Impreza).
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the MINI Cooper if: You want lower running costs, or prefer MINI's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the Subaru Impreza if: You want the lower entry price, need more boot space, or prefer Subaru's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
Subaru Impreza: Top CarSorted Score, 74 vs 70
The Subaru Impreza comes out ahead on the CarSorted Score (74 vs 70), taking 2 of 3 key spec rows below and coming in at a lower price. The deciding gaps: safety (Subaru Impreza ahead by 25), fuel economy (MINI Cooper ahead by 14), performance (MINI Cooper ahead by 14). The MINI Cooper will save you roughly $428 a year in fuel. If boot space matters, the Subaru Impreza has a clear edge. The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, MINI Cooper and Subaru Impreza?
The Subaru Impreza is the cheapest at $36,490 before on-road costs. That undercuts the MINI Cooper by $5,500.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The MINI Cooper uses the least fuel at 6L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Subaru Impreza holds a 5-star ANCAP rating. We hold no ANCAP data for MINI Cooper, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The Subaru Impreza has the largest boot at 291L with the seats up.
Stay across the market
Get our weekly new-car rundown of launches, price moves, deals and reviews, straight from the data.
- Weekly new-car rundown
- Price cuts and new deals
- New launches and reviews
No spam, unsubscribe anytime. By subscribing you agree to receive marketing emails.
Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026
Comments (0)
Sign in to join the conversation
No comments yet. Be the first!
