2020 MINI Cooper vs 2021 Volkswagen Passat

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 favorite, 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.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat retained its exterior styling from the 2020 facelift, which was the first major change in almost a decade. The Passat's design bore a strong resemblance to the smaller Volkswagen Jetta, giving it a more understated look compared to rivals like the Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry. The Passat's aerodynamic shape, with a drag coefficient of 0.28, contributed to better fuel economy. Standard features included LED headlights and taillights, with SE and R-Line models offering larger wheels and sportier styling elements. The interior had a clean, functional design with well-placed analog controls, enhancing forward and side visibility. However, the interior materials were mostly plastic, with cloth upholstery on S models and V-Tex leatherette on SE and R-Line trims.

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, though it could be adjusted to a less aggressive setting. The SE maintained a low center of gravity, providing a planted feel in corners, with direct steering and limited body roll. 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 Volkswagen Passat featured a single powertrain option: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This engine produced 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque, with the torque output being more impressive than the horsepower figure. Power delivery felt uneven at higher speeds, but switching to Sport mode or manually selecting gears improved responsiveness. The Passat's driving experience was unremarkable, lacking the sportiness of competitors like the Honda Accord and Mazda 6. Ride quality and cabin noise levels were good but not exceptional.

The 2020 MINI Cooper hatchback was not ideal for carpooling or long 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 of cargo space. Dropping the rear seats in the SE trim increased cargo space to 25.8 cubic feet. Despite the limited space, the MINI Cooper's interior was thoughtfully designed, with two-zone automatic air conditioning and high-quality materials.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat boasted 39.1 inches of rear legroom, slightly less than the Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy. However, front legroom and headroom were below average for the segment, resulting in an uncomfortable driving position for some. The Passat offered 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space, more than the Toyota Camry and Subaru Legacy but less than the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata. In-cabin storage was limited, with door bottle holders poorly shaped for large bottles. The layout of controls was a strong point, with big buttons and knobs within easy reach, and an easy-to-read instrument cluster.

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 SE Iconic also offered a wireless charging pad and a head-up display.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat came with the MIB2 infotainment system, featuring a 6.3-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto capability, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. R-Line models added HD Radio, built-in navigation, and an eight-speaker Fender premium audio system. A single USB-A port was standard, with two rear charge-only USB-A ports on SE models. The touchscreen included pinch-to-zoom capability, and the dashboard knobs and steering-wheel controls made it easy to use basic functions. However, the Passat lacked the Digital Cockpit instrument cluster and newer MIB3 infotainment system available in other VW models.

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 IIHS gave the 2020 MINI Cooper top "Good" scores in all crash tests, but the NHTSA had not rated it.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat received top "Good" scores from the IIHS in all crash tests, but the standard headlights earned a "Marginal" rating. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2021 Passat. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams. The Passat also featured VW's Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Intelligent Crash Response System.