2021 MINI Cooper vs 2021 Nissan Maxima

The 2021 MINI Cooper carried an iconic styling that was immediately recognizable, much like the Jeep Wrangler. Its rounded shape, compact dimensions, and a wide variety of color choices set it apart in the subcompact car market. MINI offered several customization options for the exterior, including graphics for the roof and hidden Easter eggs like Union Jack taillights. Despite its small size, the MINI Cooper was larger than the original Mini, with available wheel and trim upgrades depending on the model. Inside, the MINI Cooper continued its unique design language with circular shapes dominating the seats, dash, and center stack. The infotainment touchscreen was mounted inside a circular light ring, and the cabin, though high quality, lacked space. The back seats were best used for storage, as even children would find them cramped.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima, as a flagship sedan, set the tone for other Nissan models with its bold styling elements like the “floating” roofline and “V-Motion” grille. The Maxima distinguished itself with a steeply-angled front end and massive grille, giving it an Art Deco locomotive appearance. The 40th Anniversary Edition featured a two-tone exterior, model-specific 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels, and black exterior trim. Inside, the Maxima’s interior was dressed up with dark-red leather seats, white gauge faces, and heated rear seats, providing a stylish and functional cabin. The Maxima’s design was bold and distinctive, making it stand out among other sedans.

The 2021 MINI Cooper offered four powertrain options. The base model had a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with 134 horsepower. The Cooper S featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 189 hp, the John Cooper Works (JCW) had a 228-hp turbo-four, and the John Cooper Works GP boasted a 301-hp turbo-four. All models were front-wheel drive (FWD). The Cooper and Cooper S came with a six-speed manual as standard, with a seven-speed automatic available. The JCW GP had an eight-speed automatic transmission. The MINI felt spritely and energetic due to its small size, with the turbocharged four-cylinder engines providing noticeable power at highway speeds. The JCW GP model offered the best acceleration. However, all models had a somewhat stiff ride, making long drives tiresome. The MINI was agile and fun to drive, but not particularly comfortable. Fuel economy varied, with the most efficient being the Convertible at 28/37/31 mpg city/highway/combined.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and FWD. While not a “four-door sports car,” the Maxima was quick and the V6 engine sounded great. The CVT was one of the better examples, responding quickly and meting out power effectively. The Maxima was agile for a big sedan, but the steering lacked feel and precision, and the front end lacked grip, leading to torque steer under heavy throttle. Despite these issues, the Maxima was more coherent in its sportiness compared to competitors like the Toyota Avalon TRD. The Maxima excelled in highway cruising, with a quiet cabin and comfortable ride despite its stiff suspension. The Maxima’s performance was solid, but not without its limitations.

The 2021 MINI Cooper’s interior was more suited for cargo storage than passengers, especially in the rear seat. The front seats were comfortable with decent head and legroom for average adults, though taller drivers might struggle with knee placement due to the dash shape. Interior storage was tight, with a small center console and limited door pockets. The Cooper Hatchbacks offered decent cargo space with foldable back seats, while Convertible models had a small cargo hold under the folding top compartment.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima provided generous space for the driver and front passenger, but at the expense of rear-seat passengers. Front headroom and legroom were the highest among its competitors, but rear headroom and legroom were lacking. The seats were positioned far inboard, creating a cramped feeling despite the generous front space. The Maxima featured Nissan’s “Zero Gravity” front seats, designed for optimum support with eight-way power adjustment for the driver and four-way for the passenger. The Maxima had 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the least among its competitors, but still functional for a sedan.

The 2021 MINI Cooper was not generous with standard features. The base screen was a 6.5-inch unit, with an optional 8.8-inch unit that included SiriusXM satellite radio and Apple CarPlay. Optional features included a Harman Kardon sound system, automatic climate controls, and LED headlights. MINI included more physical controls, improving usability while driving. However, Android Auto was not available, leaving many users reliant on Bluetooth. The infotainment system used BMW’s software, with a physical iDrive controller that was difficult to reach due to the tight space.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima’s technology showed its age. The standard infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. USB-A and USB-C ports were available, along with an optional 11-speaker Bose audio system. However, the system’s graphics were dated, and small icons made navigation difficult. The notification sounds were also unpleasant. Nissan provided plenty of analog controls, including shortcut buttons and knobs for climate control and audio, but the overall experience was not user-friendly.

The 2021 MINI Cooper missed out on a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS. It scored top "Good" ratings in crash tests but had "Acceptable" or "Poor" ratings for headlights. The front crash prevention systems earned "Advanced" scores, and the LATCH system was rated "Marginal" for ease of use. The NHTSA had not rated the 2021 MINI Cooper. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and rear parking sensors, with optional features like front parking sensors, parking assistance, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima received an IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” rating, with top “Good” scores in all crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front crash prevention tech. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic emergency braking. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, a driver-alertness monitor, and a 360-degree camera system. The Maxima did not have the ProPilot Assist system available in other Nissan models.