2022 MINI Cooper vs 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid

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.

The 2023 Honda Accord enters a new model year refreshed and rejuvenated, if not exactly revolutionized in comparison to the previous version of Honda’s long-running and highly regarded family sedan. With this, the 11th-generation of the Accord, Honda wisely didn’t attempt to rewrite the rulebook in how the company set about improving one of its most important and popular models.

Available in four trims—Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring—pricing for the Accord Hybrid ranges from approximately $32,000 to $38,000. These MSRPs are on target with five-seat sedan rivals like the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, and Hyundai Sonata, not to mention a dizzying array of small and midsize SUVs, including the Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, Ford Escape, and even Honda’s own CR-V.

Does the Accord Hybrid make enough of a splash to be worthy of consideration in such crowded and hotly-contested markets? After a shorter drive at the start of the year, a week-long test drive this summer provided the answers.