Mini Cooper vs Renault Megane

What's the difference?

VS
Mini Cooper
Mini Cooper

$41,990 - $63,990

2025 price

Renault Megane
Renault Megane

2020 price

Summary

2025 Mini Cooper
2020 Renault Megane
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 2.0L

Turbo 4, 1.8L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
6.3L/100km (combined)

8.0L/100km (combined)
Seating
4

5
Dislikes
  • Expensive
  • Petrol-powered Minis aren't a great leap forward
  • No manual gearbox availability

  • Not as good as previous RS Meganes
  • Four-wheel steering vagueness
  • Better options out there
2025 Mini Cooper Summary

Can it be possible that, between 1959 and 2023, there have only been four distinct generations of Mini? 

Besides the 1959 British Motor Corporation (BMC) original, it’s just been a trio of hatchback versions under BMW stewardship – the R50 of 2001, 2006’s R56 and the 2014 F56.

Now, in 2024, that number has suddenly jumped to six. 

The F56 has morphed into the lightly restyled and solely petrol-powered F66 Cooper range in F66 three-door (3DR) and coming F65 five-door (5DR) hatchback guises like before.

Meanwhile, the completely new and electric-only J01 Cooper 3DR joins the fold, along with its J05 Aceman 5DR crossover spin-off.

Despite their shared name and similar styling inside and out, the British-built Cooper and electric Cooper from China are two different cars. You can read all about the latter in another review, as this is about the petrol-powered Cooper range.

More of a thorough makeover and less of a total redesign, has it changed enough? Let’s find out. 

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2020 Renault Megane Summary

The Renault Megane RS is still here, in case you were wondering. 

You may have let it slip your mind in recent times, because there’s been a lot of action in the hot hatch scene with the release of the new-generation Ford Focus ST, a fond farewell to the VW Golf R, and consistent talk of the upcoming Toyota Corolla GR hot hatch.

The Megane RS is more than just ‘here’, though. The RenaultSport Megane hatch range has expanded in recent times, and we’ve just spent some time with the Trophy model which first arrived in Australia late in 2019.

It is certainly keeping its presence known in 2020 Renault Megane RS Trophy spec, which represents the most powerful and fastest version of the standard model range before you get to the rip-snorting (and eye-wateringly expensive) Trophy R. 

So what’s it like? Read on and you’ll find out all about it.

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Deep dive comparison

2025 Mini Cooper 2020 Renault Megane

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