2021 Subaru WRX vs 2022 MINI Cooper

With few exceptions, it’s become harder and harder to find an affordable sports car. Sure, you could get a base-model Mustang or Camaro, but they are cosplaying at being muscle cars. True low-cost, nimble sports cars like the Mazda Miata, Toyota 86, and Subaru BRZ just don’t make as much sense for as many shoppers.

That’s the appeal of hot hatches and sports sedans. Cars like the Volkswagen GTI, Volkswagen Golf R, Honda Civic Si, Honda Civic Type R, Hyundai Veloster N, and the vehicle you see here: the 2021 Subaru WRX. It provides sharp cornering and brisk acceleration, but in a sedan package that makes it more sensible than a true, dedicated sports car.

The WRX is no longer just a hotted-up version of the Subaru Impreza, as it's based on an older version of that compact car. This means many of the same positives, like standard all-wheel drive (AWD), and negatives, such as a low-grade cabin, apply. So is it worth paying the price of a very well-equipped economy car or even a midsize sedan for daily driving enjoyment? Read on to find out.

MINI characterizes its lineup as the “definitive” premium small cars in the United States market. Based on a BMW platform, equipped with BMW engines, and featuring BMW technology, MINIs can substantiate this claim through engineering. But it’s the range of choices and personalization options that make them unlike any other premium small cars.

Naturally, this is true of the refreshed 2022 MINI Convertible, which is available in Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works (JCW) specification and with Classic, Signature, or Iconic trim. Once you’ve made those decisions, you can select from a wide variety of colors, materials, wheels, packages, and options to make your MINI your own. Or you can choose a pre-packaged special edition like our Sidewalk Edition test car.