2019 MINI Cooper vs 2019 Kia Forte

The 2019 Kia Forte might have appeared to be a mere facelift, but it was actually an all-new generation. It retained its familiar jellybean shape and plucky front-end design, with a subtle swoop along the side. However, the taillight band connecting each side above the license plate was a design element that seemed cheap. Despite this, the Forte's overall design was more mature compared to previous generations. The new model also featured additional small rear quarter windows and flatter, lower windowsills, taking styling cues from the sporty Kia Stinger, including a powerful grille shape, futuristic headlights, and an aggressive lower-grille design.

Inside, the Forte's cabin was contemporary and high-tech, with a simple layout influenced by the Stinger. It featured a sport steering wheel, floating touchscreen, and big circular HVAC vents pushed to the corners. The instrument panel's crisp look and general layout had hints of Audi’s small car, thanks to Peter Schreyer, the head of design at Hyundai and Kia, who previously worked at Audi. The Forte came in FE, LXS, S, and EX trims, with the base FE trim offering plenty of standard features, including electric power side mirrors, remote keyless entry, forward-collision avoidance, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added more features, with the range-topping EX offering power heated side mirrors, leatherette upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat.

The 2019 MINI Cooper, while maintaining its classic Mini styling, had grown bigger inside and out, becoming more technologically sophisticated. The latest model's design elements, such as oversized headlights and taillights, and a longer front overhang, made it less elegant than previous Coopers. Inside, the iconic pie-plate-size speedometer was replaced by a rectangular infotainment screen within a round housing ringed by mood lighting. The toggle switches and motorcycle-style gauges remained, joined by an available head-up display. The 2019 MINI Cooper still conveyed individuality, but the added technology introduced complexity. The Knight’s Edition, limited to 150 examples, featured unique elements like Melting Silver paint for the roof and mirror caps, gloss black MINI badges, and matching stripes on the hood and sides.

The 2019 Kia Forte came with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with either a 6-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The FE trim offered the manual as standard, while all other trims came with the CVT. Kia's CVT, called iVT, managed power well, providing an immediate response when accelerating. The Forte was quick off the line and had sufficient power for highway passing, with handling that was impressive, taking corners with confidence and minimal body roll. The steering had a performance-like weight, and the car displayed refined handling without being too harsh over bumps. The CVT-equipped Forte featured a Drive Mode Selector with Normal, Sport, and Smart modes, optimizing comfort, efficiency, and throttle response. Fuel economy for the CVT was 30 mpg city, 40 highway, 34 combined, with the FE trim offering the best efficiency at 31/41/35 combined.

The 2019 MINI Cooper John Cooper Works version was the highest-performing model, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. With a base curb weight of 2,845 pounds, it could accelerate to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds with the optional 6-speed automatic transmission, or 6.1 seconds with the 6-speed manual. The John Cooper Works Pro Exhaust Valve added plenty of noise, especially in Sport mode. The Knight’s Edition test car had 17-inch double-spoke aluminum wheels with Pirelli Cinturato P7 all-season tires, which provided good grip but squealed in sharp curves. Torque steer was noticeable when accelerating hard on uneven pavement. The bigger brakes were effective most of the time, but during enthusiastic driving, they sometimes experienced a reduction in braking response when turning into a corner. This trait made the performance-tuned John Cooper Works hardtop less trustworthy for maximum driving enjoyment.

The 2019 Kia Forte's exterior length grew by 3.2 inches, and it was just under an inch wider, resulting in a noticeably larger interior. The front seat had plenty of legroom, though headroom was tight for occupants over 6 feet tall. The backseat offered adequate headroom and legroom for taller occupants, as long as the front seats were not all the way back. The Forte had 15.3 cubic feet of trunk space, one of the largest in its class, with the EX trim featuring a smart trunk system that automatically deployed when you stood behind the car for a few seconds.

The 2019 MINI Cooper, even in 2-door hardtop form, was more useful than expected. The back seat could accommodate a passenger if the front seat was slid forward, and the 8.7-cubic-foot trunk could hold a full-size suitcase and a backpack. As a 2-seater, the Cooper offered a huge 34-cubic-foot trunk. The front seats had a range of adjustment, with significant side bolsters and manual thigh-support extensions in the John Cooper Works version. Controls adhered to a form-over-function ethos, with chrome toggle switches, unconventional door release handles, and a wireless device charger that consumed the center armrest console's storage space.

The 2019 Kia Forte came standard with an 8-inch UVO touchscreen, featuring a vivid and intuitive layout. The combination of colors and fonts made for crisp visuals, and the logical menu layout kept the experience straightforward. Physical buttons lined the bottom of the screen, and conventional tuning and volume dials were retained. The UVO e-services provided enhanced roadside assistance, in-depth vehicle diagnostics, and a smartphone app to remind you where you parked.

The 2019 MINI Cooper's top-level infotainment system, based on BMW iDrive technology, featured an 8.8-inch display screen, navigation, and MINI Connected Services. It offered voice control, a touchscreen, and physical controls, but the physical controls were difficult to see and access. The voice controls worked reasonably well, and the touchscreen was welcome, though some virtual buttons were too small. The system sometimes behaved unexpectedly, changing screens without input. Wireless charging and Apple CarPlay were available, but Android Auto was not. The Harman Kardon audio system provided impressive sound, and the head-up display showed various information. The Parking Assistant helped with parallel parking, useful for protecting the Knight’s Edition’s bulging wheel spokes.

The 2019 Kia Forte offered standard forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. It also included a reversing camera, traction control, and front- and side-impact airbags. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and adaptive cruise control. The lane-keeping assist was active, providing minor steering inputs to keep the car centered in the lane.

The 2019 MINI Cooper had eight airbags and a reversing camera, with an Active Driving Assistant that included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, and a speed-limit information system. Adaptive cruise control was available with the Parking Assistant and front parking sensors in the Driver Assistance Package. However, it lacked blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The MINI Cooper was a Top Safety Pick in 2018 but lost the rating in 2019. The federal government gave it a 4-star overall rating, with a 3-star rating for rear seat occupant protection in a side-impact collision.