2022 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Mazda MAZDA3

The 2022 MINI Cooper, refreshed for the model year, retained its iconic charm with restyled bumpers, a new grille, and standard LED headlights. The car's personality shone through its Union Jack taillights and new paint colors like Island Blue and Zesty Yellow. Inside, the MINI Convertible combined retro aesthetics with modern technology, featuring a new steering wheel and an 8.8-inch touchscreen display. However, the car's design emphasized form over function, resulting in a cluttered interior and awkward proportions, especially with the new grille.

In contrast, the 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 continued to offer both sedan and hatchback body styles, with the 2.5 Turbo model standing out for its mature and serious appearance. The car's deeply sculpted flanks and refined interior materials presented an upscale, almost elegant feel. The Mazda3's design focused on a driver-centric experience, with excellent thigh and side bolster support and a sophisticated dashboard layout. However, the back seat was less accommodating, especially for taller passengers, and lacked rear air conditioning vents and USB ports.

The 2022 MINI Cooper offered a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, taking over eight seconds to reach 60 mph. The Cooper S variant, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivered 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque, achieving 60 mph in under seven seconds. The JCW models, with 235 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque, reached 60 mph in just over six seconds. Despite its sporty nature, the MINI Convertible's steering response and brake pedal feel were disappointing, and the car struggled with visibility and wind buffeting issues.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 offered a range of engines, starting with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 155 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque, with a focus on fuel economy at 31 mpg combined. The 2.5 S model, with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, generated 186 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, with fuel economy ratings between 27 and 30 mpg combined. The 2.5 Turbo model, with a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, produced up to 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque, depending on the fuel type. The Mazda3 excelled in driving dynamics, offering a smooth and supple ride, nimble handling, and excellent balance. However, the brakes showed signs of fade during aggressive driving, and the car's fuel economy fell short of expectations.

The 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible prioritized form over function, with comfortable front seats but essentially useless rear seats. The trunk offered just 5.2 cubic feet of space, accessible through a bottom-hinged lid. Interior storage was limited, with controls placed in hard-to-reach areas. While the MINI's small size was expected, it was not practical for those needing more passenger or cargo space.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3, though difficult to enter and exit due to its low stance, provided a snug and comfortable fit once inside. The front seats offered excellent support, and the interior featured user-friendly controls and padded armrests. The back seat was less accommodating, especially for taller passengers, and lacked rear air conditioning vents and USB ports. The hatchback offered 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 47.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2022 MINI Cooper introduced a new MINI Connected infotainment system with an 8.8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa integration. The system featured LED lighting with 12 colors and BMW-based connected services. A head-up display and Harman Kardon sound system were available options. Despite the convertible's open design, the screens remained visible except in direct sunlight.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3's Mazda Connect infotainment system used an 8.8-inch display controlled via the center console. Mazda's approach aimed to reduce driver distraction, but the lack of a physical tuning function and a cumbersome voice recognition system were drawbacks. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration helped mitigate these issues. The car also offered Mazda Connected Services, an eight-speaker audio system, and a 12-speaker Bose sound system. The head-up display projected data onto the windshield, enhancing safety.

The 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible's increased size contributed to better occupant protection, but it lacked crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Adaptive cruise control was optional, but blind-spot monitoring was not available, posing a challenge with the top raised.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 excelled in safety, with standard adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, adaptive front headlights, Traffic Jam Assist, reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The Mazda3 received five-star ratings from NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS.