2021 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-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 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 circles, with circular speakers, air vents, door handles, and a massive circular housing for the touchscreen infotainment system. The interior delivered a premium feel unmatched by other cars of its size.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima, as a flagship sedan, set the tone for other Nissan models with its bold styling elements like the "floating" roofline and "V-Motion" grille. The Maxima distinguished itself with a steeply-angled front end and massive grille, giving it an Art Deco locomotive appearance. The 40th Anniversary Edition featured a two-tone exterior, model-specific 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels, black exterior trim, red semi-aniline leather upholstery, white speedometer and tachometer faces, and heated rear seats. The interior was dressed up with dark-red leather seats and stylish white gauge faces, providing both style and functionality.

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 and used regenerative braking to help keep its battery charged. Despite weighing roughly 300 pounds more than the Cooper S, the SE maintained a low center of gravity, providing a planted feel in corners. Gas-powered Coopers offered either a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or an eight-speed automatic, while the SE used a single-speed gearbox.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. The Maxima felt as quick as its 300 hp suggested, with a responsive CVT that meted out power effectively. While the Maxima was agile for a big sedan, its steering lacked feel and precision, and the front end lacked grip, leading to torque steer under heavy throttle. Compared to competitors like the Toyota Avalon TRD and Volkswagen Arteon, the Maxima felt more coherent and sporty. At a relaxed pace, the Maxima's cabin was quiet, and the ride was comfortable despite the stiff suspension and 19-inch wheels.

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. Despite the limited space, the MINI Cooper was thoughtfully designed with two-zone automatic air conditioning, chrome toggle switches, and high-quality materials.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima provided generous front-seat space but compromised rear-seat comfort. Front headroom and legroom were the highest among its competitors, but rear headroom and legroom were near the bottom of the class. The seats were positioned far inboard, creating a cramped feeling despite the generous front space. The Maxima featured Nissan's "Zero Gravity" front seats, designed for optimum support with eight-way power adjustment for the driver and four-way for the passenger. The Maxima had 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the least among its competitors, but still functional for a sedan.

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 SE had a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Bluetooth, navigation, and Apple CarPlay. The SE Iconic trim included an 8.8-inch screen, a wireless charging pad, and a head-up display.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The Maxima's infotainment system, however, had dated graphics and small icons, making it difficult to navigate. The Maxima also featured an 11-speaker Bose audio system and plenty of analog controls for climate and audio settings.

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 "Good" scores in all crash tests.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima received an IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" rating and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic emergency braking. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, a driver-alertness monitor, and a 360-degree camera system.