2023 MINI Cooper vs 2024 Acura Integra

The 2023 MINI Cooper, available as a two-door hatchback, four-door hatch, or 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 regulations, it remained compact, even smaller than a Mazda Miata. The MINI Cooper's design was playful and distinctive, with features like a gradient paint effect and 18-inch wheels with red brake calipers. The interior was slightly more mature, featuring Chesterfield leather seats and a dashboard with a giant circular touchscreen, toggle switches, and a manual gear shifter, all contributing to its quirky charm.

In contrast, the 2024 Acura Integra Type S boasted a widebody appearance and aggressive detailing, sharing components with the Honda Civic Type R. Its redesigned front end accommodated a wider track width, 19-inch wheels, and aerodynamic aids. The rear featured a subtle spoiler and a triple-outlet exhaust system. The interior, similar to the Integra A-Spec, included Type S emblems, Ultrasuede seat inserts, and unique graphics on the digital displays. While the materials were of standard quality, the rear seats lacked comfort, and the cargo area offered the utility of a small crossover SUV.

The 2023 MINI Cooper JCW was the quickest in its lineup, powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine, shared with BMW models, provided smooth revving and minimal turbo lag. The six-speed manual transmission offered an engaging driving experience, with features like automatic rev matching in Sport mode. The base Cooper models had a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-three engine with 134 hp, while the Cooper S had a detuned version of the JCW engine with 189 hp. Fuel economy varied, with the electric MINI Cooper SE offering 114 miles of range.

The 2024 Acura Integra Type S shared its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with the Honda Civic Type R, producing 320 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It featured a six-speed manual gearbox, adaptive damping suspension, and Brembo brakes. The Integra Type S offered a more civilized ride compared to the Civic Type R, with tuning differences for a softer ride. Despite weighing slightly more, it delivered thrilling performance with minimal torque steer. However, it was loud on highways, and its fuel economy was rated at 24 mpg combined, with a real-world range of around 269 miles.

The 2023 MINI Cooper offered good outward visibility and ample front seat space, but the rear bench and cargo hold were limited. The two-door model had nine cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 34 cubic feet with seats folded. The four-door model offered slightly more space. The convertible had unique features like a tailgate that folded down for easy access and roof rails for a sunroof-like experience. The infotainment system, though reskinned from BMW's older software, included a touchscreen and buttons, with a glowing ring on the dashboard for added flair.

The 2024 Acura Integra Type S featured front sport seats with 12-way power adjustment for the driver and heated Ultrasuede inserts. The rear seats offered decent legroom but lacked thigh support and amenities like air vents and USB ports. The sportback body style provided a 24.3 cubic-foot cargo area, doubling with the rear seats folded. The interior was practical, offering the utility of a small crossover SUV while maintaining a sporty character.

The 2023 MINI Cooper came with an 8.8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, and LED headlights. The infotainment system, based on older BMW software, lacked Android Auto and had a pop-up head-up display. The Cooper S added features like a panoramic moonroof and heated seats, while the Iconic trim offered navigation and wireless charging. The system included playful elements like an Openometer and cartoonish sounds.

The 2024 Acura Integra Type S featured a 10.2-inch digital display and a 9-inch infotainment screen. The system was user-friendly, with a touchscreen, volume knob, and buttons. It included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 16-speaker Acura/ELS Studio 3D sound system. However, the wireless charger was unreliable, and the audio quality varied. A 5.3-inch head-up display was available, showing speed and ADAS settings.

The 2023 MINI Cooper came with eight airbags, rear parking sensors, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. However, it lacked blind-spot monitoring and semi-automated driving assists. The NHTSA had not rated it, but the IIHS gave it high ratings in previous tests.

The 2024 Acura Integra Type S included AcuraWatch, offering adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. It had ten airbags, a rear-seat reminder, and parking sensors. The adaptive cruise control lacked low-speed capabilities due to the manual transmission. While crash-test ratings for the Type S were unavailable, the standard Integra received high ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS.