2023 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback aimed to capitalize on the declining popularity of hatchbacks as other automakers phased them out. Honda saw an opportunity to capture a significant portion of the remaining market with its redesigned Civic hatchback, which was produced in Indiana. The new model shared its front design with the Civic sedan but featured a unique rear section. Despite some visual quirks, the Civic hatchback offered a modern and sophisticated interior, especially in the Sport Touring trim, which included advanced digital instrumentation and high-quality materials.

In contrast, the 2023 MINI Cooper maintained its distinctive and playful design, available as a two-door hatchback, four-door hatch, or two-door convertible. The MINI Cooper's design was a nod to its 1959 predecessor, with a short, squat body and tires stretched to the corners. The JCW model featured a gradient paint effect and 18-inch wheels, giving it a toy-like appearance. Inside, the MINI Cooper's interior was quirky and abstract, with Chesterfield leather seats and a giant circular touchscreen. Despite its playful design, the MINI Cooper's interior quality was high, and it offered a unique driving experience.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered two engine options. The LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT or a six-speed manual transmission. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged engine provided a more energetic driving experience, with peak torque available from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm. The Civic hatchback was front-wheel drive, with a suspension system designed for a balance of comfort and handling. The CVT worked well with the turbocharged engine, while the six-speed manual transmission offered a more engaging driving experience.

The 2023 MINI Cooper JCW was the quickest Cooper model, featuring a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine, shared with some BMW models, provided smooth and strong performance. The six-speed manual transmission had an abrupt clutch take-up and long throws, while the eight-speed automatic transmission offered engaging shifts. The base MINI Cooper models had a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-three engine with 134 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, while the Cooper S models had a detuned version of the JCW engine with 189 horsepower and 206 lb-ft of torque. The MINI Cooper's handling was nimble, but it lacked the immediacy promised by its "go-kart" advertising. The JCW's firm suspension and adaptive dampers provided flat cornering, but the ride was firm.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback excelled in functionality, with a generous 24.5 cubic feet of trunk space and a two-piece cargo shade. The back seat featured a 60/40-split folding design, though the load floor was not flat. The interior offered comfortable seating for all positions, with the driver enjoying an eight-way power-adjustable seat. The Sport Touring trim included heated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control. However, the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster, and there were no rear air conditioning vents.

The 2023 MINI Cooper's interior space was limited, especially in the two-door model, which had just nine cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 34 cubic feet with the seats folded. The four-door model offered slightly more space, with 13 cubic feet of cargo space and 41 cubic feet with the seats down. The convertible model had only eight cubic feet of cargo space, but its tailgate and roof rails provided some practical features. The MINI Cooper's instrument panel had a matte finish to reduce glare, and the infotainment system included a touchscreen and buttons, though the buttons were located inconveniently low. The dashboard's glowing ring added a playful touch, mimicking various car functions.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a new infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen display in the LX, Sport, and EX-L trims, and a 9-inch touchscreen in the Sport Touring trim. The Sport Touring trim also included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The inclusion of physical knobs for sound system controls addressed previous criticisms, and the voice recognition system worked well. Digital instrumentation was standard, with a 10.2-inch display panel in the Sport Touring trim.

The 2023 MINI Cooper came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, connected apps, LED headlights, and Union Jack-patterned taillights. The Cooper S models in Signature trim added a panoramic moonroof and heated leatherette seats. The infotainment system used reskinned BMW iDrive software, which was several versions old. The system included an Openometer, a "checkup" feature, and cartoonish sounds and chimes, adding to the MINI's playful character.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback came equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, Road Departure Mitigation, and Lane Keeping Assist. New features included low-speed following capability and Traffic Jam Assist, available only with the CVT. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims added blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning systems. The Civic hatchback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, thanks to its advanced safety features and engineering.

The 2023 MINI Cooper included eight airbags, rear parking sensors, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. However, it lacked blind-spot monitoring and other advanced safety features found in similarly priced cars. Adaptive cruise control was available on certain versions with the automatic transmission. The NHTSA had not rated the MINI Cooper, but the IIHS had given the structurally identical 2014 model high ratings in five out of six crash tests.