Ford Fiesta vs MINI Hatch
Figures updated
The Ford Fiesta and MINI Hatch are two of the UK's most popular superminis. We compare the Mk8 (2017–2023) Fiesta and the F66 (2024–) Hatch on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 1,999,564 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Ford Fiesta for the bigger boot and lower fuel costs, or the MINI Hatch for the better MOT record.
- The Ford Fiesta has the biggest boot: 311 litres, 101 more than the MINI Hatch.
- The MINI Hatch has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Ford Fiesta fails its MOT about 31% more often.
- The Ford Fiesta is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £208 a year less than the MINI Hatch at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the steering on a Ford Fiesta: it fails on them 1.8 times as often as the average car.
- Watch the exhaust and emissions on a MINI Hatch: it fails on them 1.4 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Ford FiestaMk8 (2017–2023), 3/5-door hatchback | MINI HatchF66 (2024–), 3-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | – | from £24,735May 2026 price list |
| Body | 3/5-door hatchback | 3-door hatchback |
| Seats | 5 (best) | 4 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 311 litres / 1,093 (best) | 210 litres / 725 |
| Length | 4,048mm | 3,876mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,735mm | 1,744mm |
| Height | 1,490mm | 1,432mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 70–200 PS | 121–231 PS (best) |
| 0–62mph | 6.5–14.9 sec | 6.1–9.3 sec (best) |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2017) | ★★★★★ (2025) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Hybrid, Petrol | Electric, Petrol |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 43.5–58.9 mpg | 41.5–46.3 mpg |
| CO2 | 110–147 g/km | 134–147 g/km |
| Electric range | – | 180–239 miles |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.4p a litre, today's UK average | £1,096 (53.3 mpg) (best) | £1,304 (44.8 mpg) |
| Electric, charged at home26.3p per kWh standard tariff | – | £438 (5 mi/kWh) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,096 (petrol) | £438 (electric) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 86Below average | 113Above average (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 34.3% | 24.7% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 13.2% | 10.8% (best) |
| Failed at 5 years old | 14.6% | 12.7% (best) |
| Failed at 10 years old | 36.6% | 23.3% (best) |
| Most common MOT fault | Stop lamp (6.1% of tests) | Position lamp (3.9% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Steering (1.8×), Lights and electrics (1.4×) | Exhaust and emissions (1.4×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 1,368,897 | 630,667 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Supermini | Supermini |
| Owners' average miles a year | 6,800 | 6,500 |
| On sale | 2017–2023 | 2024 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Ford Fiesta or the MINI Hatch more reliable?
The MINI Hatch. Like for like on age and mileage, the Ford Fiesta fails its MOT about 31% more often (reliability scores 113 and 86, where 100 is average). 24.7% of MINI Hatches and 34.3% of Ford Fiestas failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Ford Fiesta or the MINI Hatch?
The Ford Fiesta is 172mm longer (4,048mm against 3,876mm). The Ford Fiesta has the bigger boot: 311 litres against 210.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Ford Fiesta or the MINI Hatch?
Comparing petrol versions, the Ford Fiesta costs about £208 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,096 against £1,304), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Ford Fiesta or the MINI Hatch?
Euro NCAP gave the Ford Fiesta 5 stars (2017) and the MINI Hatch 5 stars (2025). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Ford Fiesta or the MINI Hatch?
Pick the Ford Fiesta for the bigger boot and lower fuel costs, or the MINI Hatch for the better MOT record. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.