2021 Lexus ES vs 2020 MINI Cooper

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 Lexus ES expanded its lineup to include the new ES 250 series, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The ES 350, with a 3.5-liter V6 and front-wheel drive (FWD), was also available. The ES 300h hybrid version offered significant fuel economy gains. The ES 350 F Sport Black Line Special Edition, which we tested, came with extra-cost paint, triple-beam LED headlights, and a host of luxury features. The F Sport trim added 19-inch wheels, unique styling details, and a black headliner. The Black Line Special Edition featured black wheels, side mirrors, and a rear spoiler, with only 1,500 units produced. The ES's dramatic grille required some acclimation, but the overall design was long, lean, and artfully detailed.

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 could be aggressive but helped keep the battery charged. Despite weighing 300 pounds more than the Cooper S, the SE's low center of gravity and direct steering maintained the classic MINI driving experience. 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 Lexus ES 350 featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 302 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The ES 350 accelerated to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, with an EPA fuel economy rating of 25 mpg in combined driving. Our F Sport test vehicle, equipped with an adaptive damping suspension, offered Sport+ and Custom driving modes. The ES 350 F Sport felt quicker than its claimed acceleration time, though it could benefit from a torque-vectoring AWD system. The car's firm ride, flat cornering stance, and overall athleticism were remarkable for a sedan known for comfort. However, it was not an outright sports sedan, a role better suited for the Lexus IS models.

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 version provided 13.1 cubic feet. The Convertible had only 5.7 cubic feet. Dropping the rear seats in the SE trim 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 Lexus ES featured sport-bolstered front seats with 10-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The NuLuxe synthetic leather provided excellent comfort. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed good foot and legroom, rear air conditioning vents, and an available power rear window sunshade. Outward visibility was excellent, and storage was plentiful, though oddly configured. The trunk measured 13.9 cubic feet, with an optional hands-free power trunk opener. The ES's interior layout was daring yet useful, with a few exceptions.

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's 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 Lexus ES had a problematic touchpad interface, requiring drivers to look at the screen while navigating. However, the climate controls and primary stereo controls were separate, and the dynamic voice command technology was excellent. The optional 12.3-inch widescreen display looked terrific but needed to be a touchscreen. All ES trims included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and connected services. The ES also offered a 10-speaker premium sound system, with an available 17-speaker Mark Levinson high-end sound system.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE lacked advanced safety features, with only front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera system included. 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 Lexus ES included Lexus Safety System 2.0 (LSS 2.0), which bundled forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, adaptive cruise control, road-sign recognition, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on all trims except the base. The ES received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.