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2014 MINI Cooper vs 2014 Ford Fiesta Comparison Test

When you’re thinking about the US market, 1-liter turbocharged engines are definitely not the first thing to pop into your head. It would probably be the LS7 engine used on the Corvette or some HEMI creation but definitely not such a powerplant.
Ford Fiesta vs MINI Cooper 1 photo
Photo: Screenshot from Youtube
And yet, Americans had to change in the last few years, whether they liked it or not. Regulations and different taxation forced them to look into new vehicles that care more about the environment and sip less fuel.

One such example is the EcoBoost range from Ford. Those turbocharged petrol engines available now have received plenty of awards so far and are beginning to gain traction, even in the US.

Proof of this new trend is the new Ford Fiesta that can be ordered with a small 3-cylinder turbocharged 1-liter petrol engine that is potent enough for the small hatch.

Unfortunately, even though you can get one, you can’t make it your own. That’s because Ford doesn’t let you tick all the right boxes. You’re stuck with an old 5-speed manual gearbox and only a couple of optional features that don’t include, amongst others, a rear-view camera.

It’s competition is fierce though. Looking over 3-cylinder-equipped cars in the same hatchback segment, you’ll surely stumble upon the MINI Cooper.

Sure, the price might differ but it’s not an extreme difference. The Brit uses a 3-cylinder 1.5-liter turbocharged plant developed by BMW that is more than capable of handling its 2,600 lbs weight. It can also be hooked up to either a manual or automatic 6-speed gearbox that is miles ahead of the one used by Ford.

You can also deck it with every possible option you want, getting yourself a panoramic sunroof, dual climate control, leather seats and other stuff.

On the road, the MINI wins again, due to its magnificent gearbox and the down-low torque. However, you might have a problem with the space inside the Cooper and the 3-door configuration that has you getting out of the car everytime someone needs to get in. You’ll have to wait for the 5-door version if that’s too much of a hassle.

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