2019 Toyota Prius vs 2020 MINI Cooper

The 2019 Toyota Prius was never known for its looks. Its design, especially the fourth-generation model introduced in 2016, was more about making a statement than winning beauty contests. The Prius featured a boomerang-shaped profile and a hatchback with split rear glass, which early hybrid adopters found appealing. However, by 2019, hybrids were common, and the Prius's extroverted design seemed to hurt its sales more than help. Despite its unconventional exterior, the Prius offered a practical solution for daily driving, with a new lineup that included L Eco, LE, XLE, and Limited trims. The XLE with AWD, painted in Electric Storm Blue, came loaded with features like a head-up display and aluminum wheels, bringing its price to $32,146.

Inside, the Prius continued its offbeat design with centralized controls, a digital instrumentation strip, and a joystick-style gear selector. While the interior's functionality was commendable, the gloss black trim attracted dust, which could be a nuisance for meticulous owners. The Prius's interior was unusual but worked well once drivers acclimated to it.

The 2020 MINI Cooper, on the other hand, stood out with its unique and charming design. Its wide-eyed LED headlights, grinning front grille, and vibrant color options made it an enthusiast's dream. The Union Jack taillights were a crowd-pleaser, and the car's overall styling was far from 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 trim, which we tested, mimicked the design of the Cooper S but sat slightly higher to accommodate the battery cells. The SE also featured unique paint schemes and EV-exclusive wheels.

Inside, the MINI Cooper's design was dominated by circles, from the speakers and air vents to the massive circular housing for the touchscreen infotainment system. The interior delivered a premium feel, unmatched by other cars of its size. The SE trim maintained the classic MINI driving experience with its low center of gravity, direct steering, and limited body roll.

The 2019 Toyota Prius combined a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor to produce 121 horsepower. The optional AWD-e system added a 5-kilowatt rear electric motor and a nickel-metal hydride battery. The rear motor powered the wheels up to 6 mph and provided extra traction up to 43 mph, after which the Prius operated as a front-wheel-drive vehicle. The AWD-e system resulted in lower gas mileage, with the standard FWD Prius achieving 52 mpg combined, while the AWD-e version managed 50 mpg. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) handled power to the front wheels, and the Prius offered a smooth ride with decent handling. The EV driving mode allowed the Prius to run on electricity at speeds under 25 mph, and the blended regenerative brakes recharged the battery. Despite its complex-sounding system, the Prius was easy to drive and offered a quiet ride in urban environments.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE excelled in performance with its 181-horsepower electric motor and 199 pound-feet of torque, powered by a 32.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack. The SE's performance was comparable to the Cooper S's 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, which produced 189 hp and 207 lb-ft. The SE's immediate torque delivery made it feel quick off the line, and its regenerative braking system helped keep the battery charged. The SE weighed about 300 pounds more than the Cooper S due to the battery, but its low center of gravity maintained the classic MINI driving experience. The SE used a single-speed gearbox, while gas-powered Coopers employed either a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic or an eight-speed automatic transmission. For 2020, no manual transmission was offered, but a six-speed manual was set to return in 2021.

The 2019 Toyota Prius offered comfortable seating for four adults, with manual height adjustment for the driver's seat and a high seating position for the front passenger. Both front seats were heated, as was the steering wheel. Rear passengers enjoyed good thigh support and decent legroom, though air conditioning vents were absent in the second row. The Prius's trunk provided up to 27.4 cubic feet of luggage space, expandable to 65.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The AWD-e version offered slightly less cargo space. The Prius's hatchback design made it a practical alternative to small crossover SUVs, though it lacked the ground clearance for more challenging terrains.

The 2020 MINI Cooper, especially the two-door hatchback, was not ideal for carpooling or long road trips. Front-seat space was good, and the large windows prevented a claustrophobic feel. However, the backseat was tiny and 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 of cargo space. Folding the rear seats in the SE trim increased cargo space to 25.8 cubic feet. Despite its limited space, the MINI Cooper was thoughtfully designed, with two-zone automatic air conditioning, chrome toggle switches, and high-quality materials.

The 2019 Toyota Prius's most impressive infotainment system was limited to the Limited trim, featuring an 11.6-inch touchscreen, navigation, JBL sound system, and more. The XLE AWD-e test car had a standard 6.1-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and a CD player. The infotainment system looked sophisticated but lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Advanced Technology Package included a head-up display, adaptive headlights, and a Hybrid System Indicator, but overall, the Prius's technology was underwhelming.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE featured an "eDrive" driver-information display connected to the steering wheel, which could be adjusted with the seat controls. The eDrive screen displayed vehicle speed, time, mileage, remaining charge, and drive mode. The SE's 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display included Bluetooth, navigation, and Apple CarPlay. The SE Iconic trim offered an 8.8-inch screen, wireless charging pad, and a head-up display, providing a more advanced and user-friendly experience.

The 2019 Toyota Prius's Safety Connect service was limited to the Limited trim, offering automatic collision notification, emergency assistance, and more. However, Toyota made important driver-assistance technologies standard on all Prius models, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The LE trim added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking-assist functions. The Prius received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE lacked advanced safety features, with only front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera 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.