2022 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid

The 2022 MINI Cooper adhered to its classic design roots while incorporating modern touches, resulting in a car that exuded personality and was fun to drive. Over the years, the MINI lineup expanded to include various body styles, and the cars themselves grew in size for utility and safety reasons. The 2022 model year brought refreshed styling, including new bumpers, a redesigned grille, standard LED headlights, and new paint colors. Inside, the MINI Convertible featured a new steering wheel, a next-generation infotainment system with an 8.8-inch touchscreen, and standard digital instrumentation.

Despite the updates, the 2022 MINI Convertible retained its quirky charm but struggled with awkward proportions, especially with the new grille design. The interior combined retro aesthetics with modern technology, offering a unique driving experience. However, the emphasis on design over function resulted in a cluttered interior. The test car, equipped with the Cooper S specification and Sidewalk Edition package, was priced under $40,000, with the overall range for Convertibles between $27,900 and $38,900, plus options and destination charges.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid continued its legacy as a reliable family sedan with a history dating back to 1983. The current generation, introduced in 2018 and mildly updated in 2021, featured minimal changes for 2022. The Camry Hybrid's exterior design was futuristic and expressive, with a bold front end and various wheel options. Inside, the dashboard had a sweeping curve, a large infotainment touchscreen, and ample storage space. The second row was roomy and comfortable, with high-quality materials and fit and finish.

The Camry Hybrid's interior was designed for comfort and practicality, with a reasonable driving position and plenty of storage options. The second row was easy to access and offered generous space, while the trunk provided 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space, thanks to the low-mounted battery pack. The Camry Hybrid also came with a comprehensive warranty, covering various components for up to 10 years/100,000 miles.

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. For more spirited performance, the Cooper S featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque, achieving 60 mph in under seven seconds. Both engines were available with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and the MINI Convertible was front-wheel drive. The test car, a Cooper S with a manual transmission, averaged 27.1 mpg in combined driving.

The JCW models offered a tuned version of the Cooper S engine, producing 235 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque, with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a 0-60 mph time of just over six seconds. Despite its sporty nature, the Cooper S was not a sports car but a sporting car, with maximum torque available at low RPMs. The test car lacked summer performance tires and an adaptive-damping suspension, resulting in a compliant ride but less go-kart handling. The steering response and brake pedal feel were disappointing, reducing driving satisfaction.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid focused on fuel efficiency, with the entry-level LE model achieving 51 mpg city/53 mpg highway/52 mpg combined, while other trims got 44 mpg city/47 mpg highway/46 mpg combined. The hybrid system combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 208 horsepower. An electronically controlled CVT sent power to the front wheels, with paddle shifters available on SE and XSE models. The Camry Hybrid offered good handling, thanks to the low-mounted battery pack, but struggled to stay in EV mode and had occasional drivetrain droning.

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 the infotainment system's physical controls consuming valuable space. While the MINI Convertible's small size was expected, other MINI models like the Hardtop 4 Door, Clubman, and Countryman offered more practicality.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid excelled in ride height, seating position, and ease of use. The driving position was comfortable, with ample headroom and multiple storage options. The second row was spacious and easy to access, with generous bottle holders and map pockets. The trunk provided 15.1 cubic feet of space, with a passthrough for long items and fold-down rear seats for larger cargo. The Camry Hybrid also came with a comprehensive warranty, covering various components for up to 10 years/100,000 miles.

The 2022 MINI Cooper featured a new MINI Connected infotainment system with an 8.8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa integration, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The system offered navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a Harman Kardon premium sound system. The infotainment system was based on BMW's iDrive technology and paired with a standard digital instrument cluster. A head-up display was available, and the optional Harman Kardon sound system impressed with its quality.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid came with Toyota's latest technology features, including a JBL-tuned premium audio system with nine speakers. Embedded navigation was available on XLE and XSE models, while Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot were standard on all models. The LE, SE, and SE Nightshade had a 7-inch touchscreen, while the XLE and XSE had a 9-inch touchscreen. The Camry Hybrid also featured a smart key system, push-button start, automatic LED headlights, and dual-zone automatic climate control. A 10-inch head-up display was available on XSE models, along with other advanced features.

The 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible benefited from its increased size, offering better protection in collisions. However, it lacked crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS. The MINI Convertible came with standard Driving Assistant technology, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Adaptive cruise control was optional, but blind-spot monitoring and a digital rearview mirror were not available.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, Lane Tracing Assist, automatic high beams, and traffic-sign recognition. The Camry Hybrid also had Toyota's Star safety system, 10 airbags, and various safety features like stability control, traction control, and anti-lock brakes. A blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert was available on lower trims and standard on higher trims. The 2021 Camry Hybrid received the highest Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS, and the 2022 model was expected to receive the same rating. NHTSA gave the 2022 Camry Hybrid a five-star overall safety rating.