2022 MINI Cooper vs 2023 Toyota Crown

The 2022 MINI Cooper adhered to its classic design roots while embracing modernity, resulting in a car that exuded personality and was a joy to drive, especially in Cooper S and JCW specifications. Over time, the MINI lineup expanded to include various body styles, and the cars themselves grew larger for utility and safety reasons. The 2022 refresh brought restyled bumpers, a new grille, standard LED headlights, and updated details like side scuttle designs and wheel arch trim. New paint colors and extended Piano Black Exterior treatment added to its charm. 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 its personality, the 2022 MINI Convertible's styling didn't resolve its awkward proportions, and the new grille might have accentuated its overbite. Inside, it maintained a retro feel with modern technology, offering a wide range of customization options. The convertible top took about 18 seconds to lower, providing an open-to-the-elements experience. However, the emphasis on design over function resulted in a cluttered interior. The test car, equipped with Cooper S specification and the Sidewalk Edition package, was priced under $40,000. Pricing for all Convertibles ranged from $27,900 to $38,900, with a fully upgraded John Cooper Works model exceeding $46,000.

The 2023 Toyota Crown, a full-size sedan with seating for five, stood out with its elevated ride height, reminiscent of the old Honda Accord Crosstour. Its massive grille, mostly aesthetic, and narrow air inlets flanked by angular headlights gave it a distinctive front end. Large wheels and a black trim piece along the doors added to its sporty look. The rear featured a bold taillight strip and a stepped transition from the side fender to the tailsection. The top Platinum trim offered a two-tone color option, adding a touch of audacity to its design.

Inside, the Crown boasted a modern cabin with a digital instrument panel and a large horizontal touchscreen. Physical buttons for climate control with 1980s-era LED displays added a nostalgic touch. The cabin featured a mix of hard plastics and cushioned touchpoints, giving it a sturdy yet somewhat luxurious feel. Improved surface graining and fewer hard plastics could have elevated it to entry-level luxury status. The Crown's interior was appropriately modern, with a digital instrument panel and a large horizontal touchscreen atop the dash. The cabin featured a mix of hard but sturdy plastic elements with cushioned elbow touchpoints, giving it a sturdy yet somewhat luxurious feel.

The 2022 MINI Cooper offered a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine producing 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of over eight seconds. The Cooper S variant featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 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. Driving modes included Green, Mid, and Sport, allowing for powertrain response calibration.

The Cooper S test car, equipped with a manual transmission, offered plenty of torque and achieved an average of 27.1 mpg in combined driving. The JCW models, with a tuned version of the Cooper S engine, produced 235 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 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 1,350 rpm. The manual transmission provided a pleasurable driving experience, but the car's steering response and brake pedal feel were disappointing. The test car's tires struggled with curves and corners, and the rearview mirror's location obstructed visibility around right-hand curves. The suspension felt soft on back roads but displayed a firm, choppy ride quality on highways.

The 2023 Toyota Crown offered two hybrid powertrains across its XLE, Limited, and Platinum trims. The base powertrain combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a hybrid electric motor, delivering 236 horsepower and on-demand all-wheel drive. The top Platinum trim featured the Hybrid Max powertrain, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a more powerful rear electric motor, producing 340 horsepower. The base hybrid used a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while the Hybrid Max had a traditional six-speed automatic. The Hybrid Max provided full-time AWD with a minimum of 30 percent power to the rear wheels. Toyota estimated a 0-60 mph time of 7.6 seconds for the base hybrid and 5.7 seconds for the Hybrid Max.

The Crown's initial response was quick, with electric motors providing immediate acceleration. The base hybrid's CVT made it feel slower due to high engine revs and loud droning. The Hybrid Max's traditional automatic transmission offered smoother gear shifts but could still drone under heavy acceleration. An EV drive mode allowed for electric-only propulsion at low speeds and short distances. The Crown's ride quality prioritized comfort, with the Platinum trim adding an adaptive suspension and Sport+ drive mode. Despite engine noise, the cabin remained quiet on various road surfaces, with only slight wind noise at highway speeds. Some electronic driver aids, like the Curve Speed Reduction system, were intrusive, but overall, the Crown provided an enjoyable driving experience.

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's small size was expected, other models like the Hardtop 4 Door, Clubman, and Countryman offered more passenger and cargo space.

The 2023 Toyota Crown's base XLE trim featured fabric seat upholstery with SofTex faux-leather trim, while the Limited and Platinum trims offered full leather coverings. The front seats were comfortable for long trips, but firm cushioning could cause discomfort over time. The driver's view was largely unobstructed, though the rearview was narrow. The taller ride height provided a slightly better view of the road. The front seats had adequate storage, including large cupholders, door pockets, and a center console armrest bin. The rear seats offered ample space for adults, with plenty of legroom and adequate headroom. The trunk, with a capacity of 15.2 cubic feet, was smaller than competitors but still useful.

The 2022 MINI Cooper introduced a new 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 infotainment system, based on BMW's iDrive technology, paired with a standard digital instrument cluster. A head-up display was also available, visible even with polarized sunglasses. The optional Harman Kardon sound system provided impressive sound quality.

The 2023 Toyota Crown came standard with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, offering sharp graphics and quick responses. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, along with a wireless charging pad. The base six-speaker audio system was adequate, while higher trims offered an 11-speaker JBL premium system. The infotainment system supported over-the-air updates and featured a voice-recognition system activated by saying "Hey Toyota." A Wi-Fi hotspot with remote monitoring and control, along with streaming entertainment from Apple Music and Amazon Music, was available. The Platinum trim included a digital key feature, allowing smartphone use for unlocking the car.

The 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible's increased size improved safety, but crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were unavailable. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Adaptive cruise control was optional, and a blind-spot monitoring system was not available. The lane-departure warning system provided subtle steering wheel vibrations to alert the driver.

The 2023 Toyota Crown's crash-test results from NHTSA and IIHS were pending. Standard safety features included frontal and cross-traffic collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and a rear-seat-passenger reminder. The Platinum trim added a semi-automated parallel parking system. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist systems were well-tuned, while some new features were intrusive but could be disabled.