2020 Toyota Corolla vs 2020 MINI Cooper

The 2020 Toyota Corolla, with its redesigned look, was not considered particularly attractive, resembling other modern Toyotas with their aggressive styling. However, the SE and XSE trims, especially in the Celestite paint color, were seen as more appealing. The interior quality of the Corolla improved significantly, with soft-touch surfaces replacing the cheap plastics of previous models. Despite these improvements, the transmission shifter reminded drivers of the Corolla's economy car status.

In contrast, the 2020 MINI Cooper stood out with its unique and charming design, featuring wide-eyed LED headlights, a grinning front grille, and vibrant color options. The Union Jack taillights were a notable crowd-pleaser. The MINI Cooper evolved from its original two-door hardtop to include a convertible and a four-door variant, with the all-electric SE trim offering similar performance to the Cooper S. The SE trim maintained the classic MINI design while accommodating the battery cells under its floor, ensuring a low center of gravity and a planted feel in corners.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla offered a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with 139 horsepower for the L, LE, and XLE trims, paired with a CVT. The SE and XSE trims featured a more powerful 169-hp, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and a more sophisticated CVT with paddle shifters. The Corolla XSE's driving dynamics were well-tuned, providing a smooth and stable ride thanks to the independent rear suspension. However, the XSE struggled with acceleration, lacking the power to pass slower vehicles or climb mountains quickly. The Corolla SE with a 6-speed manual gearbox was recommended for a more engaging driving experience. The XSE trim was EPA-rated at 31 mpg city, 38 highway, and 34 combined, though real-world testing showed slightly lower fuel economy.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE excelled in performance with its 181-hp electric motor and 199 lb-ft of torque, closely matching the Cooper S's 189 hp and 207 lb-ft from its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. The SE's immediate torque delivery made it feel quick off the line. The SE's regenerative braking system was aggressive, allowing for one-pedal driving, though it could be adjusted for less aggressiveness. The SE's battery pack added weight but maintained a low center of gravity, ensuring a planted feel in corners. Gas-powered Coopers used either a seven-speed DCT or an eight-speed automatic, while the SE used a single-speed gearbox. No manual transmission was offered for 2020, but it was set to return in 2021.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla, officially rated as a midsize car by the EPA, offered a roomy interior for a compact car. However, the lack of rear air-conditioning vents, USB charging ports, and privacy-tinted rear glass made it less comfortable for rear passengers, especially during hot weather. The front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, making it less comfortable for shorter passengers. The Corolla's interior had limited storage space, with small cupholders and few storage bins. The trunk offered 13.1 cubic feet of space, enough for a couple of suitcases and additional bags.

The 2020 MINI Cooper, particularly the two-door hatchback, was not ideal for carpooling or long road trips due to its limited rear-seat space and cargo capacity. The four-door variant offered more competitive cargo space at 13.1 cubic feet, while the convertible had only 5.7 cubic feet. Dropping the rear seats in the SE trim provided a maximum of 25.8 cubic feet. Despite its small size, the MINI Cooper's interior was thoughtfully designed, with two-zone automatic air conditioning, chrome toggle switches, and high-quality materials. The SE trim maintained the same interior space as the gas-powered variants.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla featured the Entune 3.0 infotainment system, with Apple CarPlay compatibility but no Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with a high-mounted touchscreen, stereo volume and tuning knobs, and main menu access buttons. The voice-recognition system worked well with Apple CarPlay, and a USB port was conveniently located near a smartphone shelf. Higher trims offered additional features like wireless device charging, advanced voice recognition, HD Radio, and a JBL premium sound system.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE had a unique "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's 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display included Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, and Apple CarPlay. The top-tier SE Iconic trim featured an 8.8-inch screen, a wireless charging pad, and a head-up display.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, which included low-light pedestrian detection, daytime cyclist detection, road-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist. The system operated with impressive refinement and accuracy, though the lane-departure warning system's aural alert was irritating. The Corolla also had a blind-spot monitoring system, standard on XLE and XSE trims and optional on LE and SE trims. The NHTSA gave the Corolla a 5-star rating for frontal-impact protection, and the IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick for 2019.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE lacked many 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 NHTSA had not rated the MINI Cooper, but the IIHS gave it top marks, earning "Good" scores in all crash tests.