2022 MINI Cooper vs 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid was available in standard, EX, EX-L, and Touring trim levels, with prices ranging from $26,370 to $36,240. The hybrid powertrain added a $1,600 premium, except for the Touring trim, where it represented a $460 savings. The Accord Hybrid was never available in Sport trim. The Accord was praised for its excellent proportions, stance, style, and detailing, making it one of the best-looking cars in Honda's lineup. Minor front styling changes for 2021 included a new grille, revised bumper, and new headlights. The Touring trim received new 19-inch aluminum wheels and a new paint color, Sonic Gray Pearl. The test vehicle, an Accord Touring in Lunar Silver, featured a dark undertone that avoided the typical drab brightness of silver metallic paint. The new wheels looked great but were difficult to clean due to the gloss black inserts.

Inside, the Accord's cabin looked remarkably upscale, with plastic lower panels that didn't feel cheap, simulated matte-finish wood trim, robust controls, and polished metallic accents. The only disappointment was the hard plastic upper rear door trim. The controls were logically arranged and easy to use, with both a volume knob and a tuning knob for the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display. Outward visibility was excellent, and the driver could easily see the sculpted hood, making parking and maneuvering easier.

The 2022 MINI Cooper, refreshed for the model year, retained its iconic design while incorporating modern updates. The MINI lineup had expanded to include the Hardtop (two-door and four-door), Convertible, Clubman, and Countryman body styles. The 2022 models featured restyled bumpers, a new grille, standard LED headlights, and reworked details like side scuttle designs and wheel arch trim. New paint colors included Island Blue, Rooftop Grey, and Zesty Yellow, with the Piano Black Exterior treatment extended to door handles, fuel lid, and exhaust outlets. Digital instrumentation became standard, along with a new steering wheel and next-generation infotainment system with an 8.8-inch touchscreen display.

The MINI Convertible exuded personality, but the refreshed styling didn't resolve the awkward proportions of the third-generation design. The new grille drew attention to the car's jutting overbite, especially in lighter paint colors. Inside, the MINI Convertible maintained its retro-modern feel, with a wide range of colors, materials, and options for customization. The top could be dropped in about 18 seconds at speeds up to 18 mph, creating an open-to-the-elements feel. However, the emphasis on design over function resulted in a cluttered interior. The test car, a Cooper S with the Sidewalk Edition option package, was priced at less than $40,000, including the $850 destination charge and exclusive Deep Laguna Metallic paint. Pricing for all Convertibles ranged from $27,900 to $38,900, with a John Cooper Works model topping $46,000 with upgrades.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a two-motor hybrid system pairing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a generator/starter motor and a separate electric drive motor powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. This setup produced a combined 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque, with torque available immediately and remaining constant up to 2,000 rpm. The Accord Hybrid could accelerate to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and achieved 48 mpg in combined driving for most trim levels, with the Touring trim earning a 43-mpg rating due to its larger wheels and tires. The powertrain control module determined the appropriate operational mode: EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, or Engine Drive. Drivers could also select EV Mode, Econ Mode, and Sport mode to tailor drivetrain characteristics.

Honda refined the two-motor hybrid powertrain for 2021, improving throttle response and creating a more natural sound and feel during acceleration. The Accord Hybrid Touring averaged 42.8 mpg, matching the EPA's official rating. The car's 19-inch wheels and 235/40 tires provided excellent grip and handling, with a suspension tuned for athletic handling and a compliant ride. The brake-by-wire regenerative braking system offered excellent feel, modulation, and response. The Accord Hybrid was fun to drive, except when navigating speed humps, which required a slow approach.

The 2022 MINI Cooper offered a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine producing 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of over eight seconds. The Cooper S featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in under seven seconds. Both engines were available with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and the MINI Convertible was front-wheel drive. Green, Mid, and Sport driving modes allowed for powertrain response calibration.

The Cooper S test car had a manual transmission and averaged 27.1 mpg in combined driving, slightly better than the EPA's 26 mpg estimate. The JCW models featured a tuned version of the Cooper S engine with 235 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, achieving 0-60 mph in just over six seconds. The Cooper S was a sporting car, not a sports car, with maximum torque available at 1,350 rpm and a fluid shifter. The Sidewalk Edition test car had a compliant ride on back roads but lacked the signature go-kart handling. Sport mode offered a downshift rev-matching feature for smoother spirited driving.

The MINI's steering response and brake pedal feel were disappointing, making it difficult to fine-tune inputs. The test car's tires struggled with curves and corners, and the rearview mirror's location obstructed visibility around right-hand curves. The Sidewalk Edition's heated front seats and steering wheel couldn't fully combat the coastal chill, and wind buffeting was significant on freeways. With the top up, the interior was loud at 75 mph, and the suspension felt firm and choppy on highways. The MINI Cooper had lost some of its original driving fun and British heritage, feeling too big, refined, and disconnected from the road.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid impressed with its spacious interior, competing as a midsize sedan but offering full-size sedan space. The 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat and enormous back seat provided excellent leg support, with Touring trim adding heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. Interior storage was generous, with a large center console bin, a covered compartment with wireless smartphone charging, and large door panel bins. The Accord Hybrid's trunk offered 16.7 cubic feet of space, the same as other Accords and larger than any competitor in the segment. The trunk was deep enough to store full-size suitcases on their sides, and 60/40 split-folding rear seats expanded utility.

The 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible prioritized form over function, with comfortable and supportive front seats but essentially useless rear seats. The trunk measured just 5.2 cubic feet, accessible through a bottom-hinged lid similar to a pickup truck's tailgate. The trunk could hold a full-sized suitcase and a few smaller items, but not much else. Interior storage was limited, with the infotainment system's physical controls consuming precious space on the center console. The MINI Convertible's lack of passenger and trunk space was expected, given its name, but other MINI models like the Hardtop 4 Door, Clubman, and Countryman offered more practicality.

For 2021, the Honda Accord Hybrid's 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system became standard on the base model, previously requiring the EX trim. This change meant every version of the car included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless connectivity available on the EX trim. Honda improved USB port access for front-seat occupants and added 2.5-amp quick-charge USB ports for rear-seat passengers on EX trim and higher. Wireless smartphone charging was also standard on EX trim and higher. The EX-L trim featured a premium sound system, while the Touring trim added navigation, HondaLink subscription services, and a WiFi hotspot. The system worked well but required specific prompts for voice commands, and the navigation system struggled to locate the closest hospital.

The 2022 MINI Cooper introduced a new MINI Connected infotainment system with a standard 8.8-inch touchscreen display within the classic center dashboard décor ring, featuring LED lighting with 12 colors. The LED ring colors and on-screen graphics changed based on vehicle settings. The system allowed drivers to swipe between widgets, offering access to Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa integration, SiriusXM satellite radio, and BMW-based connected services. Navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a Harman Kardon premium sound system were available. The infotainment system, based on BMW's iDrive technology, paired with a newly standard digital instrument cluster. A head-up display was also available, visible even with polarized sunglasses. The Harman Kardon sound system impressed with its ability to overcome ambient noise at highway speeds.

In 2020, the Honda Accord did not receive a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) due to its headlights. For 2021, Honda redesigned the LED headlights and made them standard on every trim, aiming to achieve the Top Safety Pick+ rating. The 2021 Accord Hybrid also included a standard rear-seat reminder and rear seatbelt reminder system. The Touring model gained low-speed braking control, a front and rear automatic emergency braking system for parking. The Honda Sensing collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) received refinements for smoother and more accurate operation. However, the lane departure warning system's steering wheel wobble and the low-speed automatic braking system's sensitivity needed improvement.

The 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible benefited from its increased size, offering better protection in collisions. However, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had published crash-test ratings for the latest model. The MINI Convertible gained newly standard Driving Assistant technology, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Adaptive cruise control was available for cars with an automatic transmission, bringing the car to a full stop. A blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert was not available, and a digital rearview mirror option would have helped with rear visibility. The lane-departure warning system issued a subtle vibration through the steering wheel, effectively notifying the driver to pay attention.