2021 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Few cars carried the iconic styling as well as the 2021 MINI Cooper. The car’s rounded shape, compact dimensions, and wide variety of available color choices set it apart in the crowded subcompact car market. MINI offered several customization options for the exterior and roof, such as graphics including the Union Jack flag. Easter eggs like the Union Jack taillights added a playful touch. Despite its small size, the modern MINI Cooper was larger than the original Mini, and offered a range of wheel and trim upgrades depending on the model chosen.

Inside, the 2021 MINI Cooper continued the unique styling cues with seats, the dashboard, and center stack all echoing the same playful design language. Rounded shapes and a funky infotainment touchscreen mounted inside a circular light ring contributed to the distinctive interior. Although the cabin felt high quality, space was undeniably tight. The rear seats were better suited for packages than passengers, as even children would find the legroom insufficient.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class integrated elements from other Mercedes models into a cohesive whole for its exterior styling. The sedan’s front end borrowed the drooping look from the CLA-Class, while the squared-off rear and thin taillights were reminiscent of the S-Class. This blend created a stylish sedan easily recognizable as a Mercedes from any angle. The grille with a prominent three-pointed star logo and smaller versions surrounding it further emphasized its brand identity.

Mercedes designers gave the C-Class cab-rearward proportions with a long hood and a short rear deck, emphasizing its rear-wheel-drive platform and distinguishing it from front-wheel-drive models like the CLA-Class and A-Class.

Standard LED headlights and taillights gave the car a modern touch, while the optional Digital Light system added functionality by following curves and projecting warning icons. For instance, the lights could shine on lane markings to alert drivers drifting out of lanes or illuminate construction zones and pedestrians safely.

Inside, the C-Class aimed to emulate the S-Class with a freestanding touchscreen and instrument cluster, prominent air vents, and intricate speaker grilles for the optional Burmester audio system. The vibrant ambient lighting with 64 available colors further enhanced the luxurious feel. Despite the upscale interior, the standard MBTex synthetic leather upholstery was a reminder of its price range, with Nappa leather reserved for higher trims.

The 2021 MINI Cooper offered four powertrain options depending on the trim:

• The base model featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine delivering 134 horsepower.
• The Cooper S boasted a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 189 horsepower.
• The John Cooper Works (JCW) had a 228-hp turbo-four.
• The JCW GP came with a 301-hp turbo-four engine.

All models came with front-wheel drive (FWD) as standard. Transmission options included a standard six-speed manual for the Cooper and Cooper S, with a seven-speed automatic available as an option, and an eight-speed automatic for the JCW GP.

Despite varying powertrains, all MINI Cooper models shared a sprightly and energetic feel courtesy of their compact size. The turbocharged four-cylinder engines provided more noticeable pull compared to the three-cylinder, particularly at highway speeds. The JCW GP felt like a rocket ship, delivering the best acceleration.

All Cooper models had a stiff ride, which could become tiresome on long drives and made road imperfections more pronounced. However, this tradeoff resulted in agile handling, making the Cooper fun to drive in most situations despite the lack of comfort.

The EPA fuel economy figures varied significantly depending on the configuration. The most efficient MINI Cooper was the Convertible, delivering 28/37/31 mpg city/highway/combined, while the Cooper S Convertible returned worse fuel economy at 23/32/26 mpg.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain worked in concert with a nine-speed automatic transmission equipped with paddle shifters and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The mild-hybrid system included an electric motor that contributed up to 20 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque in short bursts. Mercedes claimed the C300 could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph.

Additionally, Mercedes confirmed a sportier AMG C43 version, utilizing a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine from the SL-Class sports car. This version produced 402 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph, or 165 mph with optional larger wheels.

In our C300 4Matic test car, the power felt ample, but there were occasional delays between pressing the accelerator and actual acceleration—a phenomenon known as "turbo lag". The transmission, although quick, sometimes delivered rough shifts and held onto gears too long in automatic mode. This could be mitigated by using the steering-wheel paddle shifters for manual control.

The C-Class excelled in ride quality, muting impacts from bumps and potholes though there was some minor juddering and vibration. The sedan balanced luxury and sportiness despite lacking the air-suspension systems of its larger siblings.

On twisty roads, the C300 showed good body control and precise steering, making it enjoyable to drive. However, it required a more deliberate approach to cornering, unlike the best sports sedans that turn with finesse and ease.

The interior of the 2021 MINI Cooper continued the brand’s heritage with a rear seat better suited for cargo than passengers. The front seats were comfortable with a decent amount of head and legroom, but taller drivers might struggle with knee placement due to the dash shape. Despite being comfy, the front cabin lacked overall space.

Interior storage was limited, with the center console offering only enough space for an old smartphone and small door pockets. Cooper Hatchbacks provided reasonable cargo space, with back seats that folded down to create more room. Convertible models, however, featured a small cargo hold under the folding top compartment, yielding very little usable space in the back.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, available only as a sedan, now offered more interior space compared to its predecessor. This new version was both longer and wider, resulting in increased headroom (0.1 inch in front and 0.4 inch in back) and rear-seat legroom (0.8 inch more).

The C-Class led its segment in front-seat headroom and rear-seat legroom. Rear-seat headroom was also decent for a sedan of this size, while front legroom lagged slightly behind competitors.

The C-Class provided comfortable seats with enough bolstering for spirited driving. Forward visibility was excellent, although thick rear pillars created a blind spot, making the available driver aids useful. Minor interior issues included dashboard trim glare in direct sunlight and a poorly positioned wireless charging pad made inaccessible by use of the cupholders.

With a trunk capacity of 17.9 cubic feet, the C-Class boasted more trunk space than its rivals and a wide trunk opening for easy loading and unloading. The 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench could accommodate longer items, although Mercedes did not publish cargo-space figures with the seats folded. An optional power trunk release added convenience.

The 2021 MINI Cooper wasn’t very generous with standard features. The base screen was a 6.5-inch unit, but an optional 8.8-inch unit included SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and more. Other optional features included a Harman Kardon sound system, automatic climate controls, and LED headlights.

Physical controls in the MINI enhanced the user experience, making the technology easier to operate while driving. However, the lack of Android Auto compatibility meant that over half of smartphone users had to rely on a standard Bluetooth connection.

Borrowing from BMW’s infotainment system, MINI included a physical iDrive controller in the center console. Unfortunately, the tight space and placement of the armrest made it difficult to reach and use, leading some to prefer using the touchscreen instead.

In contrast, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class aimed to mimic the S-Class with a freestanding digital instrument cluster and a portrait-oriented touchscreen. The base C300 Premium model featured a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and an 11.9-inch touchscreen, angled six degrees toward the driver.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The mid-tier C300 Premium added a Burmester 3D surround-sound system, and the top C300 Pinnacle included a head-up display and an augmented-reality navigation system.

The MBUX infotainment system, familiar from other Mercedes models, included the "Zero Layer" setup allowing multiple items on screen simultaneously. The system made accessing functions like audio and phone connectivity easier, with climate controls in a separate menu bar below.

Voice recognition in the MBUX system was highly effective, and touch controls on the steering wheel were intuitive, grouped by function on four individual spokes to avoid confusion.

The optional augmented-reality navigation system enhanced ease of use by overlaying arrows on a front-camera feed when approaching turns, more helpful than conventional navigation systems.

The 2021 MINI Cooper missed out on a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS. It scored top "Good" ratings in crash tests but received "Acceptable" or "Poor" ratings for headlights. The standard front crash prevention systems earned "Advanced" scores, but the LATCH system got a "Marginal" rating for ease of use.

The NHTSA had not rated the 2021 model and did not score the 2020 model either.

Standard driver-assistance features in the MINI included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and rear parking sensors. Additional safety features like front parking sensors, parking assistance, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning were optional.

While crash-test ratings for the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class were not available at publication, the previous year's model had earned an IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” award, though it did not carry over automatically.

The new C-Class came equipped with a wide array of advanced driver assistance systems, many as standard features. These included automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with safe exit assist, a driver-attention monitor, Pre-Safe, and Pre-Safe Sound.

Optional safety features included lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, a 360-degree camera system, and a dashcam. The car offered two levels of Distronic adaptive cruise control, with the basic version including a stop-and-go function and Active Distance Assist Distronic extending the time limit for resuming travel.

Car-to-X communication capability allowed the C-Class to share information between vehicles, providing alerts such as early warnings of detected potholes based on other networked vehicles in the area.