2021 Subaru Legacy 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 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, and a massive circular housing for the touchscreen infotainment system, delivering a premium feel unmatched in cars of its size.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy, a member of the midsize-sedan club, was available in six trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT. The Legacy shared much of its body and mechanics with the Subaru Outback wagon, featuring a matching fascia, headlight design, windscreen angle, and dashboard setup. For 2021, Subaru added standard low-beam and high-beam steering-responsive LED headlights and high-beam assist. While not particularly stylish, the Legacy's design held true to Subaru branding, with high-gloss stainless steel side-window and shoulder-line moldings adding a bit of flash. Seventeen-inch steel wheels were standard, with options for alloy and machine-finished wheels. The Legacy also featured power-folding outside mirrors, a power moonroof, and an All-Weather Package.

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 placed it 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 immediacy in 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 battery pack was mounted in a "T" shape beneath the floor, maintaining a low center of gravity and ensuring a planted feel in corners. The SE used a single-speed gearbox, while gas-powered Coopers employed either a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or an eight-speed automatic in the John Cooper Works trim. No manual transmission was offered for 2020, but a six-speed manual was set to return in 2021.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine in the Limited XT and Touring XT grades, producing 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Legacy's all-wheel-drive system was standard, providing stability over rough terrain. The 2.5-liter engine achieved an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined, while the turbocharged engine earned 24 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg combined. Steering was well-balanced at low speeds but required lane-centering technology for highway driving.

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 limited space, the MINI Cooper featured thoughtful design elements, such as two-zone automatic air conditioning, chrome toggle switches, and ergonomic steering wheel, with high-quality materials throughout.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy focused on comfort, with a sound-insulation windshield reducing wind and engine noise. The seats provided a natural sitting position, with a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat standard on all trims except the Base model. The five-seater offered ample back seat room for adults, with additional legroom from the 2020 redesign. Heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel were available. The Legacy had 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space, with a wide opening for easy access.

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 offered an 8.8-inch screen, wireless charging pad, and head-up display.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy's base model had dual 7-inch infotainment and climate control displays, while higher trims featured an 11.6-inch infotainment screen with on-screen buttons for various controls. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a 12-volt power outlet, USB ports, and automatic climate control. Upmarket trims added more USB ports, Subaru Starlink Connected Services, navigation, a Harman Kardon premium audio system, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The 11.6-inch screen had an unsophisticated appearance but was easy to navigate.

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 marks, earning "Good" scores in all crash tests, but the NHTSA had not rated it.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy earned top scores in every category from the IIHS and was named a Top Safety Pick. The NHTSA gave the Legacy a five-star overall rating. The Legacy came standard with Subaru EyeSight technology, including adaptive cruise control, pre-collision automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and a head-up display. Additional safety features included reverse automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring. The EyeSight system was easy to use but could be annoying with frequent alerts.