2022 MINI Cooper vs 2023 Nissan Versa

The 2022 MINI Cooper, with its refreshed styling, continued to exude the brand's signature personality, despite its growth over the years. The model featured restyled bumpers, a new grille, and standard LED headlights, maintaining its distinctive look. The interior combined retro charm with modern technology, offering a standard digital instrument cluster and an 8.8-inch touchscreen display. However, the design prioritized form over function, resulting in a cluttered appearance depending on the chosen specifications. The MINI Convertible, particularly in the Cooper S specification with the Sidewalk Edition package, was priced under $40,000, offering a unique driving experience with its open-top design.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Versa adopted the design language of its larger siblings, the Sentra and Altima, giving it a more upscale appearance. The Versa's sleek profile and wide stance, along with its updated front end and new wheel designs, contributed to its modern look. Inside, the Versa showcased creativity with its dashboard design and large round air vents, providing a characterful interior for a budget model. The SR trim added red stitching and upholstery inserts, enhancing the car's appeal. Despite its economy car status, the Versa offered a comfortable ride and a sense of refinement, making it feel more substantial than typical subcompact stereotypes.

The 2022 MINI Cooper offered a choice between two engines: a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine producing 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, and a more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in the Cooper S, delivering 189 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. The Cooper S accelerated to 60 mph in under seven seconds, providing a spirited driving experience. Both engines were available with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and the MINI Convertible featured front-wheel drive. Despite its sporty nature, the Cooper S was not a sports car, and its steering response and brake pedal feel left room for improvement. The test car's tires struggled with aggressive cornering, and the rearview mirror's placement hindered visibility on right-hand curves.

The 2023 Nissan Versa, equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque, prioritized efficiency over performance. The base Versa S came with a five-speed manual transmission, while a CVT was optional on the S and standard on the SV and SR trims. The Versa's handling was satisfactory, with notable grip and responsive steering, despite noticeable body roll in corners. The ride quality was impressively comfortable for an entry-level model, and the cabin remained relatively quiet. Overall, the Versa felt more refined than expected for a subcompact car, offering a pleasant driving experience for daily commuting.

The 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible prioritized form over function, with comfortable front seats but essentially unusable 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 occupying 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 2023 Nissan Versa, available only as a four-door sedan, provided a respectable 14.7 cubic feet of trunk space in the base S trim and 15 cubic feet in the SV and SR trims. The Versa offered more headroom and legroom for front-seat occupants compared to competitors like the Kia Rio and Mitsubishi Mirage G4, although it fell short in rear-seat space. The front row felt spacious, with good outward visibility, but storage for small items was limited. The shifter's raised platform looked stylish but wasn't the most efficient use of space.

The 2022 MINI Cooper featured a new MINI Connected infotainment system with a standard 8.8-inch touchscreen display, offering Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa integration, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The system, based on BMW's iDrive technology, included a digital instrument cluster and an optional head-up display. The Harman Kardon sound system provided impressive audio quality, even with the top down. However, the screens occasionally washed out in direct sunlight.

The 2023 Nissan Versa's base S trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, and Siri Eyes Free voice control. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available with the S Plus Package or higher trims. The SV trim added a 7-inch driver information display and wireless phone charging, while the SR trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen, six-speaker audio system, and Wi-Fi hotspot. Despite the tech features, the Versa's touchscreens were small, and the graphics appeared outdated. The digital instrument cluster display added a touch of sophistication, and the charging indicator was a practical addition.

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.

The 2023 Nissan Versa excelled in standard driver-assist technology, with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The SR trim added adaptive cruise control. The Versa received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with high marks in side-impact crash testing. IIHS ratings were not updated for the 2023 model.