2023 MINI Cooper vs 2023 Mazda MAZDA3

The 2023 MINI Cooper, available as a two-door hatchback, four-door hatch, or two-door convertible, stood out with its unique design. This third-generation model was larger than its predecessors due to increased safety regulations and customer expectations, yet it remained compact, even smaller than a Mazda Miata. The MINI Cooper's design was described as a bug-eyed little bulldog, with its short, squat body and tires stretched to the furthest corners to maximize space. The playful and authentic design, featuring stripes, multicolor roofs, and loud colors, made it a cute and distinctive car. The interior of our test car featured Chesterfield leather seats with diamond-patterned double stitching and white piping, a giant circular dash with an inset touchscreen, and toggle switches resembling old soundboards. The fit, finish, and quality were high, and the interior, though abstract, never felt cheap.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3, offered in sedan and hatchback body styles, provided a striking design with rakish headlights framing a large, menacing grille. While the sedan had conventional proportions, the hatchback's design was daring and futuristic, with rear angles curving up around the rear window and doors. The clean and futuristic design continued into the cabin, where the simplicity and organic rise of the infotainment system from the dash created a stylish and modern look. The conventional shifter design and easy-to-use climate controls added to the car's appeal. The steering wheel, though cluttered with controls, had an elegant design. The Mazda3's trim levels ranged from the 2.5 S to the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus, each adding more features and enhancements, culminating in the top trim with advanced driver assistance features and a more powerful engine.

The 2023 MINI Cooper JCW was the quickest Cooper model, featuring a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine, shared with some BMW models, provided smooth revs, minimal turbo lag, and strong pulls even in top gear. The six-speed manual transmission had an abrupt clutch take-up, making it ideal for teaching manual driving but challenging for smooth launches. The long throws between gears required memorization, but the manual control was enjoyable. The eight-speed automatic transmission was also engaging, with hard rasps through the exhaust when shifting. Base MINI Cooper models had a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-three engine with 134 hp and 162 lb-ft, while Cooper S models had a detuned version of the JCW engine with 189 hp and 206 lb-ft. The electric MINI Cooper SE had a range of 114 miles and similar output to the gasoline Cooper S. The JCW's handling was enjoyable, with flat cornering and a stiff suspension, but the steering felt a beat behind the desired angle, detracting from the "go-kart" experience. The brakes were impressive, providing strong stopping power.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3's base engine was a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four, producing 191 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, with power routed to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was also available. Our test model featured the optional turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, making 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque with regular fuel, or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft with premium fuel. The automatic transmission and AWD were standard with this engine. The turbo engine emitted a fantastic sound, engaging the driver from the start. The steering was well-weighted, with just enough force feedback, and the Mazda3's handling was precise and refined. The off-the-line acceleration was moderately quick, but the car shone in second gear, especially in Sport mode, where the transmission held gears longer and cleverly downshifted. The brake feel was akin to a hardcore sports car, requiring dexterity to avoid stopping short. The Mazda3's handling struck a perfect balance of precision and refinement, with fantastic balance through cornering and agility without being punishing. The tap-shift function for the automatic transmission mirrored race-car sequential shifters, adding to the performance driving experience.

The 2023 MINI Cooper Hardtop offered good outward visibility and plenty of legroom and headroom in the front seats. However, the rear bench on the two-door model was cramped, and the cargo hold measured just nine cubic feet, expanding to 34 cubic feet with the seats folded. The four-door Cooper models provided 13 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 41 cubic feet with the seats up and down. Convertible models had only eight cubic feet of cargo space before folding the rear seats, but the tailgate folded down like a pickup truck tailgate for unobstructed access. The convertible's roof rails allowed the fabric section to slide back like a big sunroof, providing a pleasant open-air experience. The instrument panel had a matte finish to reduce glare, but the central display was tough to read. The infotainment system used both a touchscreen and buttons on the console, but the buttons were located too far down and out of sight. The glowing ring on the dashboard porthole mimicked various actions, adding a playful touch to the driving experience.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 sedan provided 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, which was small compared to other compact sedans. The hatchback offered 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space, which, while not as spacious as many new small SUVs, was still usable. The rear seating area had limited legroom and headroom, making it suitable for front-seat use primarily. The front seating area had a decently sized center console compartment, though the lid's sliding mechanism was frustrating. The Mazda3 provided helpful ergonomics and sizable cupholders, enhancing the front-seat experience.

The 2023 MINI Cooper came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, connected apps, LED headlights, Union Jack-patterned taillights, rain-sensing wipers, and manual seats. Cooper S models in Signature trim added a panoramic moonroof and heated leatherette seats. Navigation, automatic parking, wireless phone charging, and a head-up display were available on the Iconic trim. The infotainment system used reskinned BMW iDrive software, which was several versions old. The home screen could show the map and music side by side, and settings were easy to adjust. However, the interface lacked the slickness and features of newer BMW models. The Cooper had unique features like an Openometer, a "checkup" with a MINI wearing sunglasses, and cartoonish sounds and chimes.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 came standard with an 8.8-inch infotainment display that rose organically out of the dash. It was not a touchscreen but operated via a dial in the center console. The menu navigation was clumsy, and the lack of touchscreen functionality made it confusing. The dial scrolling was unintuitive, and jumping from radio presets to other controls was maddening. The learning curve for the system was steep. The Mazda3 came with two USB ports, HD radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and voice control. Our test model had upgrades like navigation, satellite radio, and a 12-speaker Bose premium stereo system, which provided great sound and looked good with brushed aluminum speaker covers throughout the cabin.

The 2023 MINI Cooper came standard with eight airbags, including two front knee airbags, rear parking sensors, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. However, blind-spot monitoring and many other safety features available in similarly priced cars were not available. Adaptive cruise control was available on certain versions with the automatic transmission. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not rated the MINI Cooper, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the structurally identical 2014 model the highest "good" rating in five out of six crash tests.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 came standard with a host of safety features, including forward automatic emergency braking, automatic cruise control, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive headlights, lane-departure warning, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The Select trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Turbo Premium Plus added traffic-sign recognition, traffic jam assist, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The traffic-sign recognition feature was helpful, and the side mirrors tilted down when in reverse to avoid curbs. However, the massive C-pillar created a significant blind spot, and the confusing infotainment system layout presented a safety issue by distracting the driver.