2022 MINI Cooper vs 2023 Nissan Altima

The 2022 MINI Cooper, with its refreshed styling, continued to charm with its iconic design and playful personality. Despite its growth over the years, the MINI retained its distinctive character, offering a range of body styles including the Hardtop, Convertible, Clubman, and Countryman. The 2022 model year brought restyled bumpers, a new grille, and standard LED headlights, enhancing its modern appeal. Inside, the MINI Convertible maintained its retro charm with modern technology, featuring a new steering wheel and an 8.8-inch touchscreen display. However, the emphasis on form over function resulted in a cluttered interior, and the awkward proportions of the third-generation design remained unresolved.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Altima presented a more traditional family sedan look with updated front styling and new wheel designs. The Altima's interior was straightforward and user-friendly, with controls laid out logically and clear analog gauges. The Zero Gravity seats provided exceptional comfort, although the interior was marred by hard plastics. The Altima's design was practical, offering good rear seat comfort and reasonable interior storage. However, the trunk space, while usefully shaped, was smaller than some competitors. Overall, the Altima's design focused on simplicity and functionality, making it a practical choice for families.

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 MINI to accelerate to 100 kilometres per hour in 8.7 seconds. For more spirited performance, the Cooper S featured a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 189 horsepower and 206 pound-feet 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. Despite its sporty nature, the MINI's steering response and brake pedal feel were disappointing, reducing driving satisfaction.

The 2023 Nissan Altima, available in Canada with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, produced 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), the Altima's power was adequate, with torque arriving at 3,600 rpm. The CVT mimicked a traditional automatic transmission, and the SR Premium trim offered paddle shifters for added engagement. The Altima's fuel economy was reasonable, averaging 8.6 litres per 100 kilometres. While the Altima was easy to drive in urban environments, its firm ride and poor rear visibility were drawbacks. On the highway, the Altima displayed commendable grip, but its steering lacked engagement, and the brakes heated up easily.

The 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible prioritized form over function, with comfortable front seats but essentially useless rear seats. The trunk offered just 147 litres of space, accessible through a bottom-hinged lid. Interior storage was limited, with controls on the centre console consuming valuable space. While the MINI's design was charming, it lacked practicality, making it less suitable for those needing passenger and cargo space.

The 2023 Nissan Altima, despite its inexpensive interior fittings, was simple to use and comfortable to drive. The controls were logically laid out, and the Zero Gravity seats provided exceptional comfort. The Altima offered dual-zone climate control, a power sunroof, and heated front seats. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, and the sticky leather upholstery hampered entry and exit. Rear seat comfort was good, with ample legroom and headroom. The Altima's trunk measured 437 litres, smaller than some competitors but usefully shaped. Overall, the Altima's design focused on practicality and comfort.

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. A head-up display was available, and the optional Harman Kardon sound system impressed with its sound quality. However, the lack of Android Auto was a drawback.

The 2023 Nissan Altima came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard, offering Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The new 12.3-inch touchscreen system, available on higher trims, provided navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a wireless charging pad. NissanConnect Services required a subscription, and the Bose nine-speaker audio system was hit-and-miss. The 12.3-inch system represented a significant improvement, with a superior user interface and voice recognition technology.

The 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible included standard Driving Assistant technology with forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. However, it lacked blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were unavailable, making it difficult to assess its safety performance.

The 2023 Nissan Altima featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, added adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Altima received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS, although it received a Poor rating in the updated side-impact test.