2021 Toyota Prius 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 only 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 classic Cooper S design 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 Toyota Prius retained its boomerang-shaped hood and roofline, a design ingrained in its identity since the second-generation model. Despite advancements in aerodynamic vehicle design, the Prius's styling remained unusual and not particularly attractive. The interior featured a strip of displays mounted in the center of the dashboard, a toggle lever for transmission controls, and a narrow center console. Gloss-black trim attracted dust and fingerprints, adding to the car's odd interior design. The Prius was available in multiple trims, including an AWD option, and offered the utility of a five-door hatchback with prices ranging from $24,525 to $32,650.

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 weighing 300 pounds more due to the battery. The SE featured regenerative braking, which could be aggressive or less so, depending on the driver's preference. The SE's battery placement kept the center of gravity low, maintaining the classic MINI driving experience with direct steering and limited body roll.

In comparison, the 2021 Toyota Prius focused on fuel efficiency, with the L Eco version averaging 56 mpg in combined driving, while other FWD models earned 52 mpg, and AWD-e models achieved 49 mpg. The Prius paired a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 53-kilowatt electric motor, producing a total system output of 121 horsepower. The electric motor's 120 pound-feet of torque provided lively acceleration from a stop and allowed for electric-only driving at speeds under 25 mph. The Prius offered Eco, Normal, and Power driving modes, with regenerative braking to capture energy during deceleration. The TNGA platform gave the Prius a lower center of gravity and a more athletic feel, though hard acceleration produced powertrain drone, and the steering lacked road feel.

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 version provided 13.1 cubic feet. The Convertible had only 5.7 cubic feet, 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 the limited space, the MINI Cooper featured thoughtful design elements, such as two-zone automatic air conditioning, chrome toggle switches, and high-quality materials.

The 2021 Toyota Prius, often perceived as a small car, offered more interior space than expected, accommodating up to five people. The seats were comfortable, though the SofTex synthetic leather could be sticky. The test vehicle included an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seats provided adequate foot room, legroom, and headroom for adults, though they lacked air-conditioning vents. Cargo space varied by trim, with 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.9 to 50.7 cubic feet with the seats 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 Toyota Prius came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring stereo-volume and tuning knobs, shortcut buttons, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The Limited trim offered a 10-speaker JBL premium sound system, navigation, and a natural voice recognition system, paired with an 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen. The digital instrumentation on the dashboard had dated graphics and lacked technological sophistication.

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 NHTSA had not rated the MINI Cooper, but the IIHS gave it top marks with "Good" scores in all crash tests.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and road-sign recognition. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Safety Connect services were also standard, offering automatic collision notification, emergency assistance, roadside assistance, and a stolen vehicle locator. The NHTSA had not rated the 2021 Prius, but the IIHS gave it favorable marks.