2020 Honda Civic vs 2020 MINI Cooper

The 2020 MINI Cooper was a standout on the road with its distinctive design, characterized by wide-eyed LED-ringed headlights and a grinning front grille. Its vibrant colour options and Union Jack taillights added to its charm, making it a favourite among enthusiasts. Despite its unique styling, the Cooper was never considered wasteful or gaudy, exuding a charm that invited admiration. Over the years, the MINI Cooper evolved from a two-door hardtop to include a convertible variant, a four-door body style, and an all-electric SE trim. The SE maintained much of the Cooper S's design, with the key difference being its slightly higher stance to accommodate the battery cells. Inside, the MINI Cooper's design was dominated by circular elements, from the speakers to the infotainment system, delivering a premium feel unmatched in cars of its size.

The 2020 Honda Civic was the crown jewel of Honda's lineup, offering a bounty of choices and engineering excellence typically found in more expensive brands. Available in sedan, coupe, and hatchback body styles, the Civic directed attention to its sharp design, with a svelte roofline, body panel creases, and wide, arcing headlights accentuating its low and wide stance. The Civic hatchback's tall rump was a tad quirky, but overall, the Civic's exterior was visually stimulating without a hint of cheapness. The 2019 model year brought upgrades to the grilles, bumpers, and wheels, which carried over to 2020. The Civic Si sedan featured new matte-black 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, and an updated grille, while the hatchback received new bumper and light changes. Inside, the Civic's simple interior was built with soft-touch materials and high-quality switchgear, with gloss-black trim and a pulsing red glow of the start button adding to its appeal.

The 2020 MINI Cooper was renowned for its nimble quickness and ability to carve corners with ease. The Cooper S, with its 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, produced 189 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. The electric SE trim, with its 181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, offered similar performance thanks to the immediacy of the electric motor's torque delivery. The SE's regenerative braking system was aggressive, allowing for one-pedal driving, though it could be adjusted for less aggression. Despite the SE's additional weight due to the battery, its low centre of gravity helped maintain the classic MINI driving experience. Gas-powered Coopers offered a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, while the SE used a single-speed gearbox.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a range of engines and transmissions across its lineup, all front-wheel drive. The base engine was a 2.0-litre inline 4-cylinder with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed manual or a CVT. The 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, available on higher trims, produced 174 to 180 horsepower, with the Si trim boosting it to 205 horsepower. The Type R, with 306 horsepower, was the pinnacle of performance. The Civic Si featured adaptive dampers and a torque-rich engine, providing a thrilling driving experience. The 2020 model year saw a reduction in the final-drive ratio, improving acceleration but slightly impacting fuel efficiency. Most Civic models with the CVT achieved near 8.0 L/100 km city and as low as 6.0 L/100 km highway.

The 2020 MINI Cooper hatchback was not ideal for carpooling or road trips, with limited rear-seat space best suited for children. The two-door Cooper offered 246 litres of cargo space, while the four-door hatchback provided 371 litres. The MINI Convertible had only 161 litres of cargo space. Dropping the rear seats in the SE trim increased cargo capacity to 730 litres. Despite its compact size, the MINI Cooper was thoughtfully designed, with two-zone automatic air conditioning and a particularly efficient heating system. The interior featured chrome toggle switches, an ergonomic steering wheel, and high-quality materials, reflecting BMW's investment in the brand.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a spacious interior, with the hatchback featuring more sound insulation and an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat on EX models. The steering wheel had controls for the central display and instrument panel, while the centre console offered configurable storage. The Civic provided ample rear passenger space, though it lacked rear air vents. The sedan's trunk offered 416 litres of cargo space, while the coupe had 343 litres. The hatchback provided 728 litres behind the rear seats and 1,302 litres with them folded down, making it a practical choice for carrying larger items.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE featured an “eDrive” driver-information display that moved with the steering wheel adjustments. The display provided information on vehicle speed, energy consumption, and remaining range, with the SE's 32.6-kilowatt-hour battery offering a range of 177 kilometres. The 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display included Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, and Apple CarPlay, with an 8.8-inch screen available on higher trims. The SE Premier+ trim also included a wireless charging pad and a head-up display.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system was outdated, with a 7-inch touchscreen standard on most models, offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Civic Si featured Active Sound Control, push-button start, keyless entry, and a power moonroof. LaneWatch, a camera system for blind-spot monitoring, was a standout feature. Automatic climate control was standard, and Honda Sensing provided advanced safety features. Higher trims included leather upholstery, rain-sensing wipers, and LED headlights.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE lacked many advanced safety features, though it included front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. Forward-collision warning was standard, but automatic emergency braking was unavailable. The IIHS rated the MINI Cooper with top "Good" scores in all crash tests, though the NHTSA had not rated it.

The 2020 Honda Civic came with Honda Sensing, offering forward collision warning, emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with "Good" scores in all crash tests. The NHTSA rated the Civic five stars in all categories, except for four stars in the passenger frontal crash rating on the coupe.