Brandwave

McLaren vs MINI:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, McLaren had more branded searches than MINI among car brands in the United States. McLaren had about 368,000 branded searches, while MINI had 319,000. McLaren made up 0.55% of all car brand searches we track, and MINI accounted for 0.48%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about car brands, MINI appeared in one of the five answers and McLaren in none.

Among car brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

McLaren, about 15% more searches than MINI

McLaren 368K searchesMINI 319K searches

Who does AI mention more?

MINI, mentioned in 1 of 5 answers, McLaren in 0

MINI in 1 of 5McLaren in 0 of 5

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Top car brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, MINI was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. McLaren did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Honda1st
  2. Toyota2nd
  3. Hyundai3rd
  4. Subaru4th
  5. Ford5th
  6. Lexus6th
  7. Kia7th
  8. Nissan8th
  9. +6 more
  10. MINI15th
  11. +1 more
  12. McLaren–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Toyota4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Honda4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Hyundai3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Subaru3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Ford2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kia2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Mazda2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Lexus2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • MINI1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • McLaren0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+7 more

See every answer about car brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 26, 2026.

Is McLaren or MINI more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for McLaren and MINI by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 46 car brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

McLaren and MINI among car brands in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for McLaren, MINI. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthToyotaTeslaHondaFordKiaChevroletHyundaiNissanSubaruMercedes-BenzBMWJeepMazdaPorscheLexusMcLarenMINI
Oct 202510.1%6.4%6.3%6.6%4.5%5.6%4.8%3.6%3.5%3.4%3.5%3.4%3.1%3%2.3%0.54%0.47%
Nov 202510.1%5.6%6.8%6.6%4.8%5.4%4.9%3.7%3.5%3.3%3.7%3.4%3.3%3%2.4%0.57%0.49%
Dec 202510.1%5.5%6.4%6.4%4.7%5.4%4.8%3.6%3.5%3.4%4%3.6%3.1%3%2.8%0.55%0.47%
Jan 202610.5%5.7%7.2%6.3%4.6%5.3%4.7%3.5%3.6%3.3%3.4%3.4%3.3%2.9%2.7%0.43%0.46%
Feb 202610.8%5.7%6.8%6.5%5%5.2%4.4%3.9%3.8%3.1%3.6%3.4%3.1%2.6%2.5%0.46%0.49%
Mar 202610.3%5.6%7.1%6.2%5.1%5.4%4.9%3.6%3.6%3.1%3.3%3.5%3.3%2.8%2.5%0.49%0.52%
Apr 202610.5%6.7%6.7%6.2%5.1%5.3%4.6%3.7%3.1%3.2%3.5%3.3%3%2.9%2.5%0.51%0.54%
May 202610.6%6.7%6.7%6.2%5%5.2%4.2%3.4%3.2%3.1%3.4%3.3%3.4%2.9%2.7%0.5%0.53%
Jun 202610.7%6.4%7.1%6.2%5%5.4%4.5%3.7%3.4%3.2%3.2%3.3%3.4%2.8%2.4%0.45%0.48%
Jul 202611.1%6.1%7.1%6.1%5.5%5.4%4.7%3.9%3.4%2.8%3.2%3%3.4%2.7%2.5%0.45%0.47%
Aug 202610.5%6.7%7%6.3%5.3%5.2%4.9%3.6%3.2%2.9%3%3.2%3.3%2.7%2.7%0.42%0.55%
Sep 202611.2%7%6.8%6.2%5.2%5.2%4.4%3.6%3.3%3.3%3.2%3.2%3.2%2.6%2.5%0.55%0.48%

How has the McLaren and MINI comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: MINI took it in January 2026, McLaren took it in September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, McLaren’s share of searches among car brands in the United States moved from 0.54% to 0.55%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 368K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, MINI’s share of searches among car brands in the United States moved from 0.47% to 0.48%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 319K.

How did search popularity change for United States car brands in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, McLaren rose from 39th to 33rd among car brands in the United States.

  2. In September 2026, MINI fell from 34th to 37th among car brands in the United States.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using McLaren’s and MINI’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

McLaren

1 branded search term

  • mclaren

MINI

2 branded search terms

  • mini cooper
  • mini countryman

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among car brands

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