2023 MINI Cooper vs 2023 Nissan Altima

The 2023 MINI Cooper, available in various body styles including a two-door hatchback, four-door hatch, and two-door convertible, stood out with its unique design that paid homage to its 1959 predecessor. Despite being larger than the original model due to modern safety standards, it remained compact, even smaller than a Mazda Miata. The Cooper's design was characterized by its short, squat appearance, with tires stretched to the corners, and a playful aesthetic featuring stripes, multicolor roofs, and vibrant colors. The interior, while slightly more mature, maintained a playful vibe with Chesterfield leather seats and a distinctive dashboard design. The Cooper S and electric SE models offered special editions with unique paint and design elements, adding to the car's charm.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Altima presented a more traditional family sedan look, with updated front styling, new wheel designs, and fresh paint options enhancing its visual appeal. The Altima SL trim, one of the more luxurious options, featured a comfortable interior with Nissan's Zero Gravity seats, dual-zone climate control, and a power sunroof. However, the interior was marred by hard plastics, and some design choices, like the floor mats, were less than ideal. The Altima's trunk offered a decent 15.4 cubic feet of space, though it was smaller than some competitors. Overall, the Altima provided a comfortable and straightforward driving experience, with a focus on practicality and ease of use.

The 2023 MINI Cooper JCW was the performance leader in the Cooper lineup, boasting a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine, shared with some BMW models, delivered smooth and powerful performance, with minimal turbo lag. The JCW's handling was enjoyable, with flat cornering and impressive brakes, though the steering lacked the immediacy expected from a MINI. Fuel economy varied across models, with the JCW offering 22/31/25 mpg with a manual transmission. The electric MINI Cooper SE provided 114 miles of range, maintaining similar output to the gasoline Cooper S.

The 2023 Nissan Altima, excluding the SR VC-Turbo, featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a CVT, delivering 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque in FWD models. The Altima SR VC-Turbo offered a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with up to 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. The Altima's fuel economy ranged from 30 to 32 mpg combined, with the SR VC-Turbo achieving 29 mpg. The Altima's ride was firm, and while it handled well in corners, the steering felt lifeless. The brakes, though initially responsive, showed signs of overheating during extended use.

The 2023 MINI Cooper offered good outward visibility and ample front seat space, but the rear seats and cargo area were limited, with the two-door model providing just nine cubic feet of cargo space. The four-door model improved this to 13 cubic feet, while the convertible offered unique features like a tailgate that folded down for easier access. The MINI's interior featured a distinctive instrument panel and infotainment system, though some controls were awkwardly placed.

The 2023 Nissan Altima provided a comfortable and straightforward interior, with controls laid out logically and Zero Gravity seats offering exceptional comfort. The Altima SL trim included features like dual-zone climate control and a power sunroof, though the front passenger seat lacked adjustability. Rear seat comfort was good, with ample legroom and headroom, but some design flaws, like the seatbelt buckle anchor, detracted from the experience. The Altima's trunk offered 15.4 cubic feet of space, though it lacked a handle for easy closing.

The 2023 MINI Cooper came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and SiriusXM satellite radio, but lacked Android Auto. Higher trims added features like a panoramic moonroof and heated seats, while the infotainment system used older BMW iDrive software. The MINI's unique features included an Openometer and playful sounds and chimes.

The 2023 Nissan Altima offered a more modern infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen standard on SV and SR trims, and a new 12.3-inch touchscreen available on higher trims. This system included features like wireless Apple CarPlay, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and NissanConnect Services. The Altima also offered a Bose nine-speaker audio system, though its performance varied depending on the music genre.

The 2023 MINI Cooper came with eight airbags, rear parking sensors, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking, but lacked some advanced safety features like blind-spot monitoring. The MINI did not offer semi-automated driving assist, though adaptive cruise control was available on certain models. The NHTSA had not rated the MINI Cooper, but the IIHS gave it high ratings in most crash tests.

The 2023 Nissan Altima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims added features like ProPilot Assist, which offered adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Altima received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, though it received a Poor rating in the updated side-impact test.