2019 Toyota Camry vs 2020 MINI Cooper

When purchasing a 2019 Toyota Camry, buyers had to choose between standard and sporty styling, and then decide among a 4-cylinder, a V6, and a hybrid powertrain. Trim levels varied based on engine selection, including L, LE, XLE, SE, and XSE. The review focused on the Camry XSE with a V6 engine, featuring Toyota's Driver Assist package, carpeted floor mats, and a two-tone Blue Streak paint with a Midnight Black roof. The sticker price was $39,669, including the $955 destination charge.

Despite the Camry XSE V6 being quick and entertaining to drive, it wasn’t the recommended trim. For better value, the standard 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine in LE trim was suggested. The Hybrid, starting at $28,400 for an LE trim, offered excellent gas mileage but required nearly a decade to realize savings at the pump. The Camry's styling, especially in XSE trim, was daring but not cohesive, with oversized forms. Inside, the Camry XSE had high-quality materials but some switchgear seemed out of place, and the front fascia and side mirrors creaked under pressure, affecting perceived quality.

The 2020 MINI Cooper stood out on the road with its unique styling, featuring wide-eyed LED headlights, a grinning front grille, vibrant color options, and Union Jack taillights. Initially available as 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 trim offered similar performance and refinement as the Cooper S but with a battery and electric motor.

The SE trim mimicked the design of a regular Cooper S, sitting slightly higher to accommodate the battery cells. Unique paint schemes and EV-exclusive wheels were available. Inside, the MINI Cooper’s design was dominated by circles, with circular speakers, air vents, door handles, and a massive circular housing for the touchscreen infotainment system. The Cooper delivered a premium feel, unmatched in cars of its size.

Most drivers found the 2019 Toyota Camry’s standard 203-horsepower, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine suitable for daily driving. However, the available 301-hp, 3.5-liter V6 engine, with 83 more pound-feet of torque, offered a thrilling experience. The V6 added weight to the front end but didn’t limit handling, and the 8-speed automatic transmission provided quick, satisfying shifts in Sport mode. The Camry XSE, with a sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch aluminum wheels, offered responsive handling without traditional sport-sedan stiffness, making it a comfortable daily driver and a competent canyon carver.

Steering effort was firm in normal mode and heavy in Sport mode, feeling natural rather than artificial. The XSE’s brakes performed well under repeated use, though the pedal exhibited a dissatisfying “thunk” when released quickly. Fuel economy during testing was 21.9 mpg, short of the EPA’s 26-mpg rating, possibly due to the need to run the air conditioning continuously in hot weather.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE excelled in performance with its 181-horsepower electric motor 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 and outpaced the base Cooper with its 1.5-liter turbo three-cylinder engine.

The SE used regenerative braking to help keep its battery charged, with an aggressive default setting that allowed for one-pedal driving. The SE weighed roughly 300 pounds more than a Cooper S due to the battery, but the low center of gravity helped it feel planted in corners. The SE maintained the classic MINI driving experience with direct steering, limited body roll, and wide-open sight lines. Gas-powered Coopers used either a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or an eight-speed automatic, while the SE used a single-speed gearbox. No manual transmission was offered for 2020, but a six-speed manual was set to return in 2021.

Toyota carved out plenty of storage in the 2019 Camry’s cabin, including a large center console bin and a hidden compartment under the wireless charging pad. However, the glove box was small and the door-panel storage pockets were narrow. The Camry’s trunk was unexpectedly small for a midsize car, measuring just 15.1 cubic feet, which was 1.6 cubic feet less than the Honda Accord. The trunk’s floor was short, making it difficult to fit a full-size suitcase and a stroller.

The front seats provided 8-way power adjustment and were heated, but ventilated seats were unavailable. The Camry XSE offered a comfortable driving position with a padded center armrest, padded door panels, and a thick-rimmed steering wheel. Rear-seat passengers had less space, with narrow rear-door openings and a low seating position making it hard to enter and exit. Rear air-conditioning vents were only available in upper trim levels. The climate control system performed well during a heatwave, quickly cooling the car.

The 2020 MINI Cooper hatchback was not ideal for carpooling, road trips, or home-improvement projects. Front-seat space was good, and the large greenhouse prevented a claustrophobic feel. The backseat was tiny, best suited for children, and even they might complain during growth spurts. 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 tester provided a maximum of 25.8 cubic feet, still less than half of what a Volkswagen Golf offered.

Despite limited space, the MINI Cooper was thoughtfully designed. It featured two-zone automatic air conditioning and an efficient heat pump for the SE’s battery. The chrome toggle switches on the dashboard were fun to use, the steering wheel was ergonomic, and the materials felt top-notch, reflecting BMW’s investment in the MINI brand.

The 2019 Toyota Camry’s dashboard layout was dramatic yet smart, with intuitive controls. The Entune 3.0 infotainment system featured stylish buttons for main screen menus and large volume and small tuning knobs. The system included Apple CarPlay and a 6-month/2GB subscription to WiFi Connect service by Verizon but lacked Android Auto. The Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging pad securely held the phone during enthusiastic driving.

The navigation system worked well but took a long time to load traffic data on one occasion. The 9-speaker JBL premium sound system lacked clarity, producing a bass-heavy listening experience. A 10-inch head-up display (HUD) made it easier to reference important data and remained visible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE featured a unique “eDrive” driver-information display connected to the steering wheel, which moved with steering-wheel adjustments. The eDrive screen displayed vehicle speed, time, mileage, remaining charge, and drive mode. The SE had a 32.6-kilowatt-hour battery, providing an EPA-estimated range of 110 miles, suitable for urban drivers.

The 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display was housed in a circular unit in the center of the dash, including Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, and Apple CarPlay. The SE was available in three levels—Signature, Signature Plus, and Iconic—with the top-tier SE Iconic featuring an 8.8-inch screen, a wireless charging pad, and a head-up display.

The 2019 Toyota Camry excelled in safety, earning 5-star ratings in every NHTSA assessment and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. The Camry included a standard Toyota Safety Sense suite with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The lane-departure warning system’s beeping could be irritating, prompting drivers to shut it off. Toyota also provided a standard subscription to its Safety Connect service for the first three years.

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