2022 MINI Cooper vs 2021 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta presented a more upscale presence compared to its predecessor, with a slightly longer and wider body, maintaining the same height. Its design featured a wide, angular grille inspired by the VW Arteon sport sedan, offering a more dramatic look than the previous generation's staid appearance. Inside, the Jetta continued the angular design language, creating a cabin that was both spacious and attractive, with a premium feel due to the soft-touch surfaces and comfortable seats. The Jetta was available in Comfortline, Highline, and Execline trims, with the base Comfortline trim surprisingly well-equipped, including features like 16-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In contrast, the 2022 MINI Cooper retained its iconic design while incorporating modern updates. The refreshed model featured restyled bumpers, a new grille, and standard LED headlights, along with new paint colours and wheel designs. The interior boasted a retro feel with modern technology, including a new steering wheel and an 8.8-inch touchscreen display. The MINI Convertible, while exuding personality, had awkward proportions and limited rear-seat space, making it more suitable for luggage than passengers. The trunk offered just 147 litres of space, accessible through a bottom-hinged lid. Despite its form-over-function approach, the MINI Convertible provided a unique open-air driving experience, with the top dropping in 18 seconds at speeds up to 30 km/h.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a 1.4-litre turbo inline four-cylinder engine, producing 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Despite having 3 fewer horsepower than the previous engine, it felt more responsive, thanks to its tuning and the new 8-speed automatic transmission. The Jetta offered a smooth and sporty steering experience, with precise turn-in and minimal body roll, while maintaining a soft ride over rough roads. Fuel efficiency was impressive, with the manual transmission achieving 6.9 L/100 km combined and the automatic 7.1 L/100 km.

The 2022 MINI Cooper offered a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine with 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h in 8.7 seconds. The Cooper S variant featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 189 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque, reaching 0-100 km/h in 7.2 seconds. The MINI Convertible was front-wheel drive, with a choice of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Cooper S provided a sporty driving experience, with a compliant ride and a hint of go-kart handling. However, the steering response and brake pedal feel were less satisfying, and the car's tires struggled with aggressive cornering.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta offered comfortable front seats, adequate rear-seat legroom and headroom, and a 399-litre trunk. The interior layout was practical, with a touchscreen positioned above the climate vents and a larger centre tray. The Jetta combined touchscreen functions with real buttons and dials, prioritizing practicality and ease of use.

The 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible prioritized form over function, with comfortable front seats but essentially useless rear seats. The trunk measured just 147 litres, accessible through a bottom-hinged lid. Cabin storage was limited, with infotainment controls on the centre console consuming space. While the MINI Convertible lacked practicality, other MINI models offered more passenger and cargo space.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display featuring Volkswagen’s Car-Net App-Connect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Execline trim included Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, a customizable digital instrument panel with a 10.25-inch screen.

The 2022 MINI Cooper introduced a new MINI Connected infotainment system with an 8.8-inch touchscreen display, LED lighting, and BMW-based connected services. It offered Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and optional navigation and Harman Kardon sound system. The system was based on BMW’s iDrive technology, paired with a digital instrument cluster and an available head-up display.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta featured front and side airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Highline trim added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while the Execline included additional driver-assistance features. The Jetta received a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA but fell short of a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS due to its headlights.

The 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible gained newly standard Driving Assistant technology, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Adaptive cruise control was optional, but blind-spot monitoring was unavailable. Crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS were not available for the MINI Convertible.