2022 MINI Cooper vs 2023 Acura TLX

The 2022 MINI Cooper, with its refreshed styling, continued to exude the brand's signature personality, albeit with some modern updates. The model received restyled bumpers, a new grille, and standard LED headlights, complemented by the iconic Union Jack taillights. New paint colours like Island Blue, Rooftop Grey, and Zesty Yellow added to its charm. Inside, the MINI Convertible maintained its retro feel with modern technology, featuring a new steering wheel and an 8.8-inch touchscreen display. However, the car's design, prioritizing form over function, resulted in a cluttered interior, especially when heavily customized. Despite its quirks, the MINI Convertible promised a fun driving experience, with its open-top design offering a unique connection to the elements.

In contrast, the 2023 Acura TLX presented a more sophisticated and sporty appearance. The TLX Type S, with its Tiger Eye Pearl paint and performance enhancements, stood out on the road. The car's design, inspired by a concept vehicle, emphasized a long, low, and lean profile, giving it a rear-wheel-drive look despite its front-wheel-drive platform. Inside, the TLX featured a layered dashboard design, though its control layout required some adjustment. The Type S model boasted premium Milano leather seats with artificial suede inserts, offering excellent front seat comfort. However, the rear seat was less accommodating, with limited legroom due to the car's design priorities. The TLX's trunk, while not the largest, provided a flat floor and enclosed hinges for practicality.

The 2022 MINI Cooper offered a range of engine options, starting with a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine producing 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. This engine allowed the car to accelerate to 100 kilometres per hour in 8.7 seconds. For those seeking more excitement, the Cooper S variant featured a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque, achieving the same speed in 7.2 seconds. The MINI Convertible was front-wheel drive, with a choice between a six-speed manual and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Cooper S test car, equipped with a manual transmission, provided a spirited driving experience, though it lacked the go-kart handling of earlier models. The JCW models offered even more power, with a tuned version of the Cooper S engine producing 235 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque, reaching 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds.

The 2023 Acura TLX, particularly the Type S model, delivered impressive performance with its turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, generating 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with a sport automatic transmission and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), allowed the Type S to accelerate to 60 mph in five seconds. The TLX's performance enhancements included adaptive dampers, thicker stabilizer bars, and Brembo front brakes, contributing to its dynamic driving experience. The TLX's SH-AWD system provided mechanical torque vectoring, enhancing grip and control during spirited driving. While the TLX Type S excelled in performance, its brake-by-wire system occasionally caused a disconnect between driver inputs and braking response, particularly during aggressive driving.

The 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible prioritized form over function, with its compact design offering limited interior space. The front seats were comfortable and supportive, but the rear seats were essentially unusable, even for children. The trunk, measuring just 147 litres, provided minimal storage space, accessible through a bottom-hinged lid. Inside, storage was limited, with the infotainment system's controls occupying valuable centre console space. While the MINI's design was charming, it lacked practicality, making it less suitable for those needing passenger or cargo space.

The 2023 Acura TLX, particularly the Type S model, offered a more refined interior with premium materials. The front sport seats were 16-way power-adjustable, providing excellent comfort and support. However, the rear seat was cramped, with narrow doors and limited legroom. The TLX's trunk, with a capacity of 382 litres, was more in line with a compact car, but its flat floor and enclosed hinges maximized usability. The TLX's design prioritized style, resulting in some compromises in rear seat and cargo space.

The 2022 MINI Cooper featured a new MINI Connected infotainment system with an 8.8-inch touchscreen display. The system offered Apple CarPlay connectivity, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and BMW-based connected services. While the infotainment system was based on BMW's iDrive technology, it was user-friendly and rarely washed out in sunlight. The optional Harman Kardon sound system provided impressive audio quality, even with the top down. However, the lack of Android Auto and limited storage space for the wireless charging pad were drawbacks.

The 2023 Acura TLX's True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system was a source of frustration for some users. The 10.2-inch display was not touch-sensitive, requiring the use of a touchpad and buttons on the centre console. While the TTI provided a one-to-one relationship between the touchpad and display, it proved distracting and occupied valuable console space. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a 17-speaker ELS Studio 3D audio system. However, the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a notable omission.

The 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible benefited from its increased size, offering better protection in collisions. However, it lacked crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS. The car came with standard Driving Assistant technology, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Adaptive cruise control was available with the automatic transmission, but blind-spot monitoring and a digital rearview mirror were not offered.

The 2023 Acura TLX came equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver aids, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Type S model added rain-sensing wipers, a wiper de-icer system, and a surround-view camera. The TLX's Advanced Engineering Compatibility (ACE) body structure and eight airbags contributed to its safety credentials. The IIHS awarded the TLX a Top Safety Pick+ rating, while the NHTSA gave it a five-star overall crash-test rating.