2021 Mazda MAZDA3 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 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 it offered a premium feel unmatched in cars of its size.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3, after its 2019 redesign, won the World Car Design of the Year for 2020. Its bodywork reflected drama and sophistication, with the 4-door sedan being more conservative and the 5-door hatchback adopting an aggressive stance. The 2.5 Turbo model, available in both body styles, featured all-wheel drive and came in standard or Premium Plus trim. The interior offered choices of black or greige leatherette, with the Premium Plus trim upgrading to Nappa leather. The test car's white leather interior supported Mazda's premium aspirations, featuring bright metallic accents and clear gauges. Despite some hard plastic, the design and quality were impressive, with the driver-focused cabin revolving around the person in control.

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 was just below the Cooper S's 2.0-liter turbocharged 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. 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, ensuring a planted feel in corners. Gas-powered Coopers offered either a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic or an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the SE used a single-speed gearbox.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 Turbo featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque with 93-octane fuel, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft with 87-octane. The engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and Mazda's i-Activ AWD system. The turbocharged powertrain added only 120 pounds to the car, significantly enhancing performance. The Mazda3 Turbo's Sport mode adjusted the transmission and G-Vectoring Control Plus software for improved cornering. The car's steering feel and response were improved, and it featured stiffer front suspension springs and dampers. Despite lacking summer tires, the Mazda3 Turbo was delicately calibrated for maximum driving pleasure, averaging 20.4 mpg during testing.

The 2020 MINI Cooper hatchback was not ideal for carpooling or long trips, with good front-seat space but a tiny backseat 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 cubes, and the SE trim maintained the same interior space. Dropping the rear seats in the SE provided a maximum of 25.8 cubic feet. Despite limited space, the MINI Cooper featured thoughtful design elements like two-zone automatic air conditioning, chrome toggle switches, and ergonomic steering wheel, with high-quality materials reflecting BMW's investment in the brand.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 2.5 Turbo's interior, lined in Nappa leather with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, felt luxurious. However, it lacked some premium details, such as power adjustment for the front passenger seat and rear-seat amenities like air conditioning vents and USB ports. In-cabin storage was adequate but limited, especially if opting for wireless smartphone charging. The sedan's trunk offered 13.2 cubic feet of space, while the hatchback provided 20.1 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 47.1 cubic feet with it folded down.

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, 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 2021 Mazda MAZDA3's Mazda Connect infotainment system combined an 8.8-inch display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year trial subscription to Mazda Connected Services. It also offered a WiFi hotspot and a MyMazda smartphone app for remote operation. However, the lack of a touchscreen and poor voice-recognition technology were drawbacks. The system was paired with a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, which sounded best with FLAC files. The car also featured an Active Driving Display (HUD) that remained visible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE lacked advanced safety features, with only front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera included in the Iconic package. Forward-collision warning was standard, but automatic emergency braking was unavailable. The MINI Cooper received "Good" scores in all crash tests from the IIHS, but the NHTSA had not rated it.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 featured the i-ActiveSense collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), designed to support the driver. The Premium Plus trim included a high-definition surround-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, low-speed reverse automatic braking, and Traffic Jam Assist. The Mazda3 earned top five-star ratings in every NHTSA assessment and retained its "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS.