2021 Subaru Impreza 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, from the speakers to the air vents, and the premium feel was unmatched in cars of its size.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Impreza adopted a more conservative design compared to its predecessors. Both the sedan and hatchback featured sleek headlights and taillights, a nicely-tapered front end, and some scalloping for visual flair. The Impreza Sport models had specific styling touches, including 18-inch alloy wheels. Built on the Subaru Global Platform, the Impreza shared its underpinnings with other Subaru models, contributing to its overall refinement. Inside, the Impreza's design was typical of compact cars, with a split dashboard housing the infotainment touchscreen and various forms of plastic. The Sport trim added contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals, while the Limited trim offered leather upholstery and LED headlights.

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's immediate torque delivery made it feel just as quick as the Cooper S, despite a 300-pound weight penalty due to the battery. The SE's regenerative braking system was aggressive, allowing for one-pedal driving, although a less-aggressive setting was available. The SE maintained a low center of gravity, thanks to the battery's "T" shape beneath the floor, ensuring a planted feel in corners. Gas-powered Coopers offered 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 Subaru Impreza featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Most models came with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while a five-speed manual was available on the base sedan and hatchback, and the Impreza Sport hatchback. The Sport trim also had model-specific suspension tuning and torque vectoring for the all-wheel-drive system. The Impreza provided a solid and refined ride, though it lacked the engagement of competitors like the Honda Civic or Mazda 3. The Sport's suspension offered a good balance between ride quality and handling, but the noncommunicative steering and the engine's lack of power kept it from being a true driver's car.

The 2020 MINI Cooper hatchback was not ideal for carpooling, road trips, or home-improvement projects. Front-seat space was good, and the large greenhouse prevented a claustrophobic feel. However, 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 increased cargo space to 25.8 cubic feet. Despite limited space, the MINI Cooper was thoughtfully designed, with two-zone automatic air conditioning, chrome toggle switches, and top-notch materials.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback offered reasonable legroom, though headroom was below average. The sedan had 12.3 cubic feet of trunk space, the least among compact sedans, but a 60/40 split-folding rear seat was standard. The hatchback provided 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, more than the Mazda 3 or Toyota Corolla hatchback, but less than the Honda Civic hatchback. With the rear seats folded, the Impreza offered 55.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Higher trim levels included an All-Weather Package with heated front seats, a heated windshield, and heated exterior mirrors. The Sport trim added keyless entry with pushbutton start, while the Limited trim featured a six-way power driver’s seat and automatic climate control.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE featured an "eDrive" driver-information display connected to the steering wheel, which moved with the steering-wheel adjustments. The display showed 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 offered an 8.8-inch screen, a wireless charging pad, and a head-up display.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza's base and Premium trims had a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Bluetooth, while higher trims had an 8-inch touchscreen. An option package for the Limited trim added TomTom-based navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system. A secondary display above the main touchscreen showed information like estimated range. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with large icons and easy access to important functions.

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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but it was not rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2021 Subaru Impreza received an IIHS "Top Safety Pick" award, with "Good" scores in all crash tests. The standard headlights received a "Marginal" rating, while the Limited trim's headlights received a "Good" score. The NHTSA gave the Impreza a five-star overall safety rating. The Impreza's EyeSight safety tech was standard on CVT-equipped models, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and lead vehicle start alert. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and steering-responsive headlights were available as options.