2021 Honda Accord 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-pleaser, 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, which we tested, mimicked the design of the Cooper S but sat slightly higher to accommodate the battery cells. Inside, the MINI Cooper's design was dominated by circles, with a premium feel unmatched in cars of its size.

The 2021 Honda Accord received a mid-generation refresh, featuring a wider, restyled grille for a more sculpted face. The Honda Sensing safety system's radar unit was better disguised, enhancing the vehicle's appearance. All Accords except the base model came with LED headlights and lowlights, providing good visibility at night. The Accord LX, EX-L, and Touring received new alloy wheel designs, with the base model sporting 17-inch wheels and other models featuring 19-inch wheels. The new Sonic Gray Pearl paint job was available for Sport, Sport SE, and Touring models, adding a unique touch to the segment. The interior of the Accord was sophisticated, with high-quality cloth seats in lower trims and leather-trimmed seats in higher trims.

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 due to the immediacy of the electric motor's torque delivery. The SE also featured regenerative braking, which some drivers enjoyed for its one-pedal driving style. Despite a 300-pound weight penalty due to the battery, the SE maintained a low center of gravity, providing a planted feel in corners. 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.

The 2021 Honda Accord offered two engine choices: a 192-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a more powerful 2.0-liter turbo-four producing 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. The 1.5-liter engine, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), was standard on the LX, Sport, Sport SE, and EX-L trims. The 2.0-liter engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, was available in Sport 2.0T and Touring grades. The 1.5-liter engine achieved an EPA-estimated 30 mpg in the city, 38 mpg on the highway, and 33 mpg combined, while the 2.0-liter engine achieved 22 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined. The Accord Sport and Sport SE featured paddle shifters, and Honda upgraded the braking system for smoother engagement.

The 2020 MINI Cooper hatchback was not ideal for carpooling, road trips, or home-improvement projects. Front-seat space was good, but 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 model provided 13.1 cubic feet. The Convertible had only 5.7 cubic feet of cargo space. Dropping the rear seats in the SE tester provided a maximum of 25.8 cubic feet. Despite limited space, the MINI Cooper was thoughtfully designed with two-zone automatic air conditioning, chrome toggle switches, and high-quality materials.

The 2021 Honda Accord was designed for daily drivability, with seating for five and ample head-, hip-, and legroom in both the front and back seats. Standard convenience features included dual-zone automatic climate control, auto up/down power windows, push-button start, and front and rear 12-volt power outlets. Higher trims added leather-wrapped steering wheels, leather-trimmed seats, heated seats, and ventilated seats in the Touring 2.0T trim. The rear seats featured a 60/40 split and center armrest, folding down to allow pass-through from the 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space. The cabin was well-designed, with all essential controls within easy reach of the driver.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE featured a unique “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. The SE Iconic trim added an 8.8-inch screen, a wireless charging pad, and a head-up display.

The 2021 Honda Accord came with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, physical volume and tuning knobs, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, hands-free text messaging, and two USB ports. Higher trims added satellite radio, HD radio, a wireless phone charger, a 10-speaker premium audio system, an additional USB port, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi hot spot, and Near Field Communication. The Accord Touring 2.0T featured a head-up display and HomeLink Remote.

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 IIHS gave the 2020 MINI Cooper top marks, earning "Good" scores in all crash tests.

The 2021 Honda Accord came standard with a long list of safety features, including vehicle stability assist with traction control, brake assists, a rearview camera, LED daytime running lights, and automatic high beams. The Honda Sensing suite included lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added rear-seat reminder, low-speed braking control, and blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert. The IIHS awarded the Accord its highest rating—Top Safety Pick+, and the NHTSA gave it a five-star overall safety rating.