2020 Nissan Altima vs 2020 MINI Cooper

The 2020 MINI Cooper stood out on the road with its distinctive design, featuring wide-eyed LED-ringed headlights, a grinning front grille, and vibrant color options. The Union Jack taillights were a crowd-pleaser, adding to the car's charm without appearing wasteful or gaudy. Initially available only 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, which we tested, maintained the classic Cooper S design but sat slightly higher to accommodate the battery cells. Inside, the MINI Cooper's design was dominated by circular elements, from the speakers to the air vents, and the premium feel of the materials was unmatched in cars of its size.

In contrast, the 2020 Nissan Altima, particularly the Platinum trim we tested, featured a clean and contemporary design with ergonomic simplicity. Equipped with 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels, the Altima Platinum looked terrific, although some design details like the door handles and rear roof pillars were questionable. The interior boasted a high-mounted touchscreen infotainment system, clearly legible climate controls, and a traditional PRNDL transmission shifter. The materials quality was on par with the midsize sedan segment, with matte chrome detailing and simulated wood trim adding a touch of elegance. However, the color options were limited to black or gray.

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. 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 off the line due to the immediacy of the electric motor's torque delivery. The SE also featured regenerative braking, which could be aggressive but helped keep the battery charged. Despite weighing 300 pounds more than the Cooper S, the SE maintained a low center of gravity, providing a planted feel in corners. Gas-powered Coopers offered either a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or an eight-speed automatic, while the SE used a single-speed gearbox.

The 2020 Nissan Altima offered a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine making up to 188 horsepower, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that powered the front wheels, with an option for all-wheel drive. Our test car featured the optional turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, known as the VC-Turbo, which provided 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. The Altima's ride and handling were impressive, thanks to standard Active Ride Control and Intelligent Trace Control. The CVT was programmed to mimic a traditional automatic, producing sudden surges in power when changing ratios. The Altima VC-Turbo was quick, sharp, and responsive, making it satisfying to drive in various settings.

The 2020 MINI Cooper hatchback was not ideal for carpooling or long road trips due to its limited space. The front seats offered good space, but the backseat was tiny and best suited for children. The two-door Cooper provided 8.7 cubic feet of cargo space, while the four-door variant offered 13.1 cubic feet. The Convertible had only 5.7 cubic feet of cargo space. Dropping the rear seats in the SE trim provided a maximum of 25.8 cubic feet. Despite the limited space, the MINI Cooper featured thoughtful design elements like two-zone automatic air conditioning, chrome toggle switches, and ergonomic steering wheel.

The 2020 Nissan Altima's seats were designed for superior comfort, inspired by NASA. However, the lack of a front passenger's seat height adjuster and ventilated front seats was a drawback. The Altima offered heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a remote engine starter with climate control operation. Rear air conditioning vents were available, but heated rear seats were not. The Altima provided substantial in-cabin storage space, although it lacked a wireless smartphone charging pad. The trunk offered 15.4 cubic feet of space, with optional grocery bag hooks and an interior grab handle for convenience.

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

The 2020 Nissan Altima offered an 8-inch infotainment display with Bluetooth connectivity, a text-messaging assistant, Siri Eyes Free, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Available features included satellite radio, a navigation system, a 9-speaker Bose premium audio system, and Nissan Connect Services. NissanConnect Services provided connected services technology, free for the first six months, with various plans offering features like automatic collision notification, emergency calling, and hands-free 24-hour destination assistance. The door-to-door navigation function was especially helpful in urban settings.

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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) did not rate the MINI Cooper, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave it top marks with "Good" scores in all crash tests.

The 2020 Nissan Altima included Nissan Safety Shield 360, with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking standard on the base S trim. Other trims included pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking, and automatic high-beam assistance. Additional safety systems included a driver monitoring system, a road-sign recognition system, and a surround-view camera. ProPilot Assist, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving aid, was available but proved hard to trust. The NHTSA gave the Altima an overall rating of 5 stars, while the IIHS assigned it a Top Safety Pick with the automatic high-beam LED headlights.