2019 Honda Civic vs 2020 MINI Cooper

The 2019 Honda Civic, while not as stylish as the 2019 Mazda3, still brought its own brand of upscale style. It featured a new gloss-black upper grille, a revised lower bumper, and larger 18-inch wheels. The sedan's silhouette was graceful, with a long hood balancing the sizable cabin and short tail, which had unique wraparound LED lights. The Touring-trim test car came with chrome door handles and LED headlights that looked like hundreds of tiny crystals. For 2019, Honda added a new Sport trim with a center-mounted exhaust and some exterior flash of the performance-oriented Si trim for thousands of dollars less.

The Civic Hatchback, listed as a separate model, had a tall and aggressive rear end, while the Coupe model offered a more balanced alternative. The max-attack Civic Type R, available only in hatchback form, was basically a race car. The interior kept a high-tech, yet simplified theme with a central LCD screen for the tachometer and speedometer, a thin center stack with minimal buttons, and clean, linear lines. Despite a starting price under $20,000, the Civic had switchgear, buttons, and fabrics that felt built to last.

The 2020 MINI Cooper looked like nothing else on the road, flaunting wide-eyed headlights with LED rings, a grinning front grille, and vibrant color options. The Union Jack taillights were a real crowd-pleaser. The Cooper was a certified enthusiast machine, dripping charm and inviting praise without being wasteful or gaudy. Originally a two-door hardtop, the MINI Cooper evolved to include a convertible variant, a four-door body style, and an all-electric SE trim. The SE mimicked much of the regular Cooper S design but sat slightly higher to accommodate the battery cells under its floor.

Inside, the MINI Cooper’s design was dominated by circles, with circular speakers, air vents, and door handles. The massive circular housing for the touchscreen infotainment system was a standout feature. The Cooper delivered a premium feel, unmatched in cars of its size, with high-quality materials and thoughtful design elements like chrome toggle switches and an ergonomic steering wheel.

The 2019 Honda Civic offered a range of engines. The LX and Sport sedans and coupes came with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. The sedans had a standard 6-speed manual transmission, while the coupe's manual was standard only on the Sport. EX and above trims, like the Touring, received a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 with 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The hatchback exclusively featured the turbo engine on all trims, making 180 hp in the Hatchback Sport with a standard manual. The Si and Type R trims offered more power, with the Si boosting the 1.5-liter engine to 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, and the Type R producing 306 hp and 295 lb-ft from a heavily boosted 2.0-liter engine.

The Civic's engines delivered smoothness and refinement, with the turbo engine offering better mid-range acceleration. The manuals were praised for their near-perfect clutch and shifter engagement, while the CVT impressed by not straining the engine at high revs. The Civic's handling was superb, with excellent steering feel, a well-balanced suspension, and strong brakes. It was set up for sportier drivers but remained comfortable and reliable for everyday use.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE excelled in performance with its electric motor producing 181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, fed by a 32.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack. These figures were just below the Cooper S’s 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, which generated 189 hp and 207 lb-ft. The SE felt quick due to the immediacy of the electric motor's torque delivery. The SE also used regenerative braking to help keep its battery charged, with an aggressive default setting that could be adjusted.

The SE had a weight penalty due to the battery, weighing roughly 300 pounds more than a Cooper S. However, the battery's placement kept the center of gravity low, helping the car feel planted in corners. The gas-powered Coopers employed either a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) or an eight-speed automatic, while the SE used a single-speed gearbox. For 2020, no manual transmission was offered, but a six-speed manual was set to return in 2021.

The 2019 Honda Civic's interior featured a touchscreen with a volume knob and five shortcut buttons, making it easier to use than previous models. The three-spoke steering wheel controlled the central display in the instrument panel, providing quick access to various functions. The rear seat offered surprising roominess, with optional two-stage heated outboard seats. Cargo space was significant, with 15.1 cubic feet in the trunk for sedans, 11.9 to 12.1 cubic feet for the coupe, and up to 46.2 cubic feet for the hatchback with the rear seats folded. The center console offered ample storage, and visibility was good in all directions.

The 2020 MINI Cooper hatchback was not ideal for carpoolers or long trips, with limited rear-seat space best suited for children. The two-door Cooper offered 8.7 cubic feet of cargo space, while the four-door version provided 13.1 cubic feet. The Convertible had only 5.7 cubic feet. Dropping the rear seats in the SE trim provided a maximum of 25.8 cubic feet. Despite the limited space, the MINI Cooper was thoughtfully designed, with two-zone automatic air conditioning, chrome toggle switches, and high-quality materials.

The 2019 Honda Civic's Android-based infotainment system felt dated compared to newer Honda models. However, it redeemed itself with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo on the Touring trim was improved, and Honda's LaneWatch provided a live feed of the blind spot. The Garmin-based navigation system was a standout, with better graphics and quick, accurate voice-based input.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE featured a unique “eDrive” driver-information display connected to the steering wheel, displaying vehicle speed, time, mileage, remaining charge, and drive mode. The 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display included Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, and Apple CarPlay. The SE Iconic trim offered an 8.8-inch screen, a wireless charging pad, and a head-up display.

The 2019 Honda Civic came standard with Honda Sensing on all trims except the Si and Type R. This included forward-collision alert with emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The IIHS rated various 2016–2018 Civic models with top Good ratings in all crash tests and Superior for crash-prevention features. The NHTSA awarded the 2019 Civic five stars in all categories, except for four stars for the coupe's passenger-side frontal crash rating.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE lacked advanced safety features, with only front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera system included in the Iconic package. Forward-collision warning was standard, but automatic emergency braking was unavailable. The NHTSA had not rated the MINI Cooper, but the IIHS gave it top marks with Good scores in all crash tests.