2020 MINI Cooper vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The 2020 MINI Cooper stood out on the road with its unique design, featuring wide-eyed LED 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, from the speakers to the air vents, and the premium feel was unmatched in cars of its size.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, with its Sensuous Sportiness design language and Parametric surfacing, featured sharp creases and dramatic angles, making it a distinctive and appealing compact sedan. The Z-shaped dent in the car’s doors, a controversial design cue, helped the Elantra stand out. Available in SE, SEL, N Line, and Limited trims, with a hybrid powertrain option, the Elantra's prices ranged from $19,650 to $25,450. The high-performance Elantra N, debuting early next year, promised serious power and Nurburgring-tuned handling. Inside, the Elantra had a driver-focused dashboard and center console, with higher trims offering a modern and upscale look and feel.

The 2020 MINI Cooper continued its legacy of nimble quickness and corner-carving prowess. The Cooper SE, with its 181-horsepower electric motor and 199 pound-feet of torque, felt nearly as quick as the 189-horsepower Cooper S. The SE's regenerative braking system, though aggressive, helped keep the battery charged. Despite a 300-pound weight penalty due to the battery, the SE maintained a low center of gravity, 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 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of powertrain options. The Elantra SEL, with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT, felt athletic in urban settings but lacked highway merging power. The Elantra Limited Hybrid, with a 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle engine and electric motor, produced 139 horsepower and achieved 42.2 mpg in our tests. The Elantra N Line, with a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine making 201 horsepower, offered a fun driving experience with its sport suspension and manual transmission. The high-performance Elantra N, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine generating 276 horsepower, provided an exhilarating driving experience with its advanced features and N Grin Shift mode.

The 2020 MINI Cooper hatchback offered good front-seat space, but the backseat was tiny and best suited for children. Cargo space was limited, with 8.7 cubic feet in the two-door Cooper and 13.1 cubic feet in the four-door variant. The Convertible offered only 5.7 cubic feet. Dropping the rear seats in the SE 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 and chrome toggle switches on the dashboard.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, classified as a midsize car by the EPA, offered a roomy interior. The driver’s seat was height-adjustable, and the tilt/telescopic steering wheel made it easy to get comfortable. The rear seat provided ample legroom and foot space, though the backrest shape and angle lacked upper back support. The trunk measured 14.2 cubic feet, and a 60/40-split folding rear seat enhanced utility. However, the Elantra lacked air conditioning vents and USB charging ports for rear-seat passengers. Storage space was useful, and some versions included a hands-free trunk lid release.

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. The SE Iconic trim offered an 8.8-inch screen, wireless charging pad, and head-up display.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, in SE, SEL, and N Line trims, featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Limited trim offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation screen, dynamic natural voice recognition, and a Sounds of Nature function. The Limited Hybrid's voice recognition system performed inconsistently, but a Hyundai spokesperson demonstrated better results in a different car. A new Bose premium sound system and Hyundai Digital Key were also available.

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

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra featured SmartSense, Hyundai’s collection of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and more. Safety-related upgrades included cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, rear automatic braking, and Highway Drive Assist. The new platform was engineered to absorb and disperse collision energy away from the cabin.