2020 Nissan Maxima vs 2020 MINI Cooper

The 2020 MINI Cooper stood out on the road with its unique design, featuring wide-eyed LED-ringed headlights, a grinning front grille, and vibrant color options. The Union Jack taillights were a crowd favorite, adding to the car's charm without appearing wasteful or gaudy. 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 maintained the design elements of the Cooper S 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 was unmatched in cars of its size.

In contrast, the 2020 Nissan Maxima shared design elements with other cars in Nissan's lineup, featuring the signature V-Motion grille, jewel-like LED headlights, and a floating-roof design with a dual-pane panoramic moonroof. The Maxima SR models included a sporty rear spoiler, while the Platinum trim level, which was tested, featured 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels with Goodyear all-season tires. The cabin of the Maxima was filled with high-quality materials, with the Platinum trim veering into premium territory. The Maxima SR had unique styling elements, including a patterned seat insert and charcoal headliner, while the Platinum Reserve Package added semi-aniline leather appointments and a Rakuda Tan steering wheel insert. The spacious cabin and thick center console created a segmented front row experience, but the overall fit and finish were impressive.

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. This placed it just below the Cooper S's 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, which generated 189 hp and 207 lb-ft. The SE's immediacy in torque delivery made it feel just as quick as the Cooper S, despite a 300-pound weight penalty due to the battery. The SE's regenerative braking system was aggressive, allowing for one-pedal driving, though a less-aggressive setting was available. The SE maintained a low center of gravity, thanks to the battery's "T" shape beneath the floor, ensuring a planted feel in corners. Gas-powered Coopers offered either a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or an eight-speed automatic in the John Cooper Works trim, while the SE used a single-speed gearbox.

The 2020 Nissan Maxima was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), generating 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque. While marketed as a "four-door sports car," the Maxima was more comfortable as a cruiser. The Sport drive mode and paddle shifters in the Maxima SR made the drive more engaging, but the car excelled in soaking up road imperfections and keeping noise at bay with active noise cancellation technology. The Maxima's front-wheel drive and 18-gallon fuel tank were standard, with an EPA estimate of 20 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined. The Maxima did not offer a hybrid option, unlike competitors like the Toyota Avalon.

The 2020 MINI Cooper hatchback was not ideal for carpooling or road 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 variant provided 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, still less than half of what a Volkswagen Golf offered. Despite the limited space, the MINI Cooper featured thoughtful design elements, such as two-zone automatic air conditioning, chrome toggle switches, and a beautifully ergonomic steering wheel.

The 2020 Nissan Maxima offered spacious seating, a large trunk, and modern features. The thick center console created a segmented front row experience, but the cabin was spacious with comfortable seats. The Maxima had 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, less than competitors like the Sonata, Avalon, and Accord. The Maxima's front in-door bottle holders could handle 20-ounce bottles, a handy feature for families. Despite the numbers, the Maxima handled cargo and seating needs well during testing, though those frequently transporting large items might consider other vehicles.

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 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display included Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, and Apple CarPlay, with an 8.8-inch screen available on the SE Iconic trim. The top-tier SE also included a wireless charging pad and a head-up display.

The 2020 Nissan Maxima came standard with an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen on SV-and-up trim levels and a 7-inch driver information display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across all models, with NissanConnect Services available on the Platinum grade. Buyers could upgrade to a Bose Premium Audio system with 11 speakers. The Maxima also offered an Around View Monitor camera system, power rear sunshade, keyless entry, and USB-A and USB-C ports in the front and rear.

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 MINI Cooper received top marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) but was not rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2020 Nissan Maxima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, intelligent forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, rear automatic braking, and a driver alertness monitor. Traffic sign recognition and adaptive cruise control were standard on all trim levels except the base model. The Maxima performed well in IIHS and NHTSA safety tests, with top "superior" ratings for front crash prevention.