Fiat 500 Sport

Where picking a favorite Fiat 500 Sport of these two cars based on steering, handling, and ride quality almost comes down to a matter of taste, choosing the best powertrain is pretty straightforward. The Mini wins. Of course the Cooper has got more power and torque, but it also delivers such in a more urgent fashion, and with better spacing between the gears. The Mini offers a much better-feeling gas pedal than the fairly rubbery one of the Fiat, and offers better acceleration from a standstill and from mid-range speeds. What’s more, the gearlever in the Cooper was better to engage—with good weight and a shorter, more precise throw—than the merely average stick shift of the Cinquecento.

It’s not complete domination by the Mini Cooper, though; we like the clutch engagement of the 500 better than the heavier unit of its competitor, and the sound from engine and exhaust of the Fiat is a lot more sporting.

Stopping—every bit as critical as accelerating—is easier to do in the Fiat, too. The 500 again uses its weight to its advantage with sharper brakes that pulled us up harder than those of the Mini.

Of course, the three grand extra you pay for the Mini doesn’t come without tangible benefit either. The Cooper’s 1.6-liter four is slightly bigger than the Fiat’s 1.4-liter, makes more power (121 versus 101 horsepower), and makes more torque (114 versus 98 pound-feet). And even though the Mini is a few hundred pounds heavier, its greater power means it only needs move 20.95 pounds per horsepower offered, against 23.40 pounds per horsepower for the 500.

If that weight/power ratio seems pretty close to you (it is), consider also that the Mini Cooper has a six-speed manual transmission with which to work, while the Italians will only give us five speeds to row through.

More boring, but important, comparative data for the pair: the Cinquecento has got mildly better fuel economy figures at 30/38 mpg city/highway (29/37 for Mini), but the Cooper has got a better overall highway range (488 versus 399 miles) thanks to a gas tank that’s about three gallons more voluminous. The Mini has a smaller cargo area with the rear seats up (5.7 versus 9.5 cubic feet), but the Mini’s interior volume is larger overall. The “British” Mini is a pastiche of European parts and labor, with an engine from France, a transmission from Germany (and German corporate owners in BMW), and final assembly taking place in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile the “Italian” Fiat gets its engine and trans from its home country, while many parts are sourced in Mexico and the US—final assembly of North American 500s takes place in Mexico, too. No matter where they’re built, both companies stand behind their products in a similar fashion: both Fiat and Mini offer basic warranties of 4 years/50,000 miles, and roadside assistance programs for 4 years and unlimited miles.