2023 MINI Cooper vs 2024 Honda Civic

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 MINI 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, retained a playful charm 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, maintaining the brand's quirky and rare appeal.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Civic Si maintained a more understated, stealth-mode styling, reminiscent of early pocket rockets. It featured LED headlights, a gloss-black lip spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, and 18-inch matte-black wheels, with discreet "Si" badges. The interior was more expressive, with red seat and door panel inserts, metal mesh trim, and a simple yet effective digital instrumentation paired with a touchscreen infotainment system. The Civic Si's design focused on practicality and performance, offering a balance of sportiness and everyday usability, with a base price of $29,100, excluding destination charges.

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 some BMW models, provided smooth revs and strong pulls, with minimal turbo lag. The six-speed manual transmission offered an engaging driving experience, though clutch take-up was abrupt, and gear throws were long. The JCW's handling was enjoyable, with flat cornering and impressive brakes, though the steering lacked immediacy. Fuel economy varied across models, with the JCW achieving 22/31/25 mpg with the manual transmission. The electric MINI Cooper SE offered 114 miles of range, maintaining similar output to the gasoline Cooper S.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si featured a high-output version of the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission, it offered a rev-matching feature for smooth downshifts. The Civic Si's drivetrain included a lightweight flywheel and a helical limited-slip differential, enhancing cornering performance. The car's handling was supported by larger brakes, thicker suspension stabilizer bars, and a dual-pinion variable-ratio steering system. The Civic Si excelled in urban and suburban settings, with a responsive turbocharged engine and a firm yet comfortable suspension. However, a braking system issue was noted during testing. The Civic Si achieved an average fuel efficiency of 29.5 mpg, slightly below the EPA's 31 mpg estimate.

The 2023 MINI Cooper offered good outward visibility and ample front seat space, but the rear bench and cargo hold were limited, with just nine cubic feet of space in the two-door model. The four-door Cooper provided slightly more cargo space, while the convertible had unique features like a tailgate that folded down for easier access. The convertible's roof rails allowed the fabric section to slide back like a sunroof, enhancing the open-air experience. The MINI's instrument panel featured a matte finish to reduce glare, and the infotainment system included a touchscreen and console buttons, though their placement was less convenient.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si balanced practicality with performance, featuring sport-bolstered front seats and a manual transmission. The interior offered a proper driving position, though entering and exiting required more effort due to the car's low stance. The Civic Si lacked some comfort features like heated seats and rear-seat air vents but compensated with a roomy back seat and generous legroom. Cargo space was commendable at 14.4 cubic feet, with a 60/40-split folding back seat for longer items. The trunk's design allowed for easy storage of full-size suitcases, enhancing the car's practicality.

The 2023 MINI Cooper came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, and LED headlights. Higher trims added features like a panoramic moonroof and heated seats. The infotainment system used older BMW iDrive software, lacking the slick interface of newer BMW models. Unique features included an Openometer and cartoonish sounds, adding a playful touch to the driving experience.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a basic version of HondaLink connected services. The system was user-friendly, with easy pairing and navigation. A 12-speaker Bose audio system provided impressive sound quality, thanks to early collaboration with the audio company during the Civic's design stage. The Civic Si's technology was simple yet satisfying, offering essential features for a modern driving experience.

The 2023 MINI Cooper included eight airbags, rear parking sensors, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. However, it lacked blind-spot monitoring and other advanced safety features. Adaptive cruise control was available on certain automatic transmission models. The MINI Cooper had not been rated by the NHTSA, but the IIHS gave it high ratings in most crash tests for the structurally identical 2014 model.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si came equipped with the Honda Sensing suite, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. However, some features proved irksome during testing, affecting the driving experience. The Civic Si earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with a slightly lower rating for front passenger protection in frontal-impact collisions.