2022 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2022 MINI Cooper continued to charm with its retro-modern design, staying true to its roots while embracing contemporary updates. The refreshed model featured restyled bumpers, a new grille, standard LED headlights, and the iconic Union Jack taillights. New paint colors and wheel designs added to its appeal, and the interior saw upgrades like a new steering wheel and an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Despite its playful aesthetics, the MINI Convertible's proportions remained awkward, and the new grille accentuated its overbite, especially in lighter colors. Inside, the car retained its retro vibe with modern tech overlays, offering a unique open-air experience when the top was down.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Jetta maintained its status as a best-seller with subtle exterior updates that required a keen eye to notice. The front fascia, bumper, and grille received minor tweaks, including more chrome accents and redesigned inserts. The rear saw standard LED lighting and a more squared-off bumper. New wheel designs and paint colors like Kings Red, Oryx White, and Rising Blue were introduced. The Jetta's design remained purposeful yet bland, resembling a suitcase in its simplicity. Inside, the updates were equally subtle but added a premium feel with new seat patterns and contrast stitching. The cabin was driver-centric, with buttons for essential controls conveniently placed.

The 2022 MINI Cooper offered a range of engines, starting with a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder producing 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, taking over eight seconds to reach 60 mph. The Cooper S variant 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 paired with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and the car was front-wheel drive. The JCW models boasted a tuned version of the Cooper S engine, delivering 235 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque, reaching 60 mph in just over six seconds. Despite its sporty nature, the MINI's steering response and brake feel were disappointing, and the tires struggled with aggressive driving.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta came with a single engine option: a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. This engine replaced the previous year's 1.4-liter turbo-four, offering a slight increase in horsepower. Transmission choices included a standard six-speed manual or an optional eight-speed automatic. The Jetta's fuel economy was impressive, with the manual version rated at 29 mpg city, 43 mpg highway, and 34 mpg combined. Automatic models had slightly different ratings depending on the trim. During a road trip, the Jetta averaged 46.9 highway mpg, showcasing its efficiency. However, the powertrain's throttle response was touchy, and the turbocharged engine exhibited lag and surge, making city driving less enjoyable.

The 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible prioritized form over function, with comfortable front seats but nearly 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 controls taking up valuable space on the center console. While the MINI's compact size was expected, those needing more passenger and cargo space could opt for other MINI models like the Hardtop 4 Door, Clubman, or Countryman.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, despite its compact size, provided ample passenger space for four adults and could accommodate five if needed. The front seats were comfortable, though the slightly inclined edge of the bottom cushion might not suit shorter individuals. The cabin was driver-centric, with buttons for essential controls conveniently placed. Storage options included door pockets, a center console bin, and a slot next to the cupholders. The center storage bin, though not large, was still usable. The lack of a latch on the compartment cover was unusual but not problematic.

The 2022 MINI Cooper introduced the MINI Connected infotainment system with a standard 8.8-inch touchscreen display. The system featured LED lighting with 12 colors, changing based on vehicle settings. It offered Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa integration, SiriusXM satellite radio, and BMW-based connected services. Navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a Harman Kardon premium sound system were available. The digital instrument cluster and head-up display added to the tech appeal, though the latter was mounted on a plastic panel rather than the windshield.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received a technology upgrade with the Digital Cockpit instrument cluster. S, Sport, and SE models had an 8-inch display, while the SEL trim featured a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro. The infotainment system varied by trim, with the base models getting a 6.5-inch MIB2 system and the SEL trim receiving the 8-inch MIB3 system. The MIB3 system included navigation, wireless App-Connect, wireless device charging, and enhanced voice recognition. The Jetta SEL also offered premium Beats Audio sound and a remote start system. However, the voice activation and navigation commands were not intuitive, often requiring manual input for accuracy.

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. 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 and rear cross-traffic alert were not available, posing visibility challenges with the top raised.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta came standard with IQ.Drive, which included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward-collision warning with automatic braking and pedestrian recognition. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The Jetta had not yet received crash-test ratings for 2022, but the 2021 model had a five-star rating from NHTSA and mostly "Good" grades from IIHS, with some shortcomings in headlight tests and LATCH use.