2019 Kia Forte vs 2020 MINI Cooper

The 2019 Kia Forte might have seemed like a mere facelift at first glance, but it was actually an all-new generation. It retained its jellybean-like shape and plucky front-end design, with a subtle swoop along the side. The taillight band connecting each side above the license plate was a design element that some found cheap and tacked-on. However, the new Forte had a more mature design overall, with additional small rear quarter windows and flatter, lower windowsills. It borrowed styling cues from the sporty Kia Stinger, including a powerful grille shape, futuristic headlights, and an aggressive lower-grille design.

Inside, the Forte’s cabin was contemporary and high-tech, with a simple layout influenced by the Stinger. It featured a sport steering wheel, floating touchscreen, and big circular HVAC vents pushed to the corners. The instrument panel had a crisp look reminiscent of the Audi A3, a nod to Kia's head of design, Peter Schreyer, who previously worked at Audi. The Forte came in FE, LXS, S, and EX trims, with the base FE offering impressive standard features like forward-collision avoidance and lane-keeping assist. The range-topping EX trim added luxury touches like leatherette upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat.

The 2020 MINI Cooper stood out with its unique styling, featuring wide-eyed LED headlights, a grinning front grille, and vibrant color options. The Union Jack taillights were a crowd-pleaser. Originally a two-door hardtop, the MINI Cooper evolved to include a convertible variant, a four-door body style, and an all-electric SE trim. The SE mimicked the design of the Cooper S but sat slightly higher to accommodate the battery cells. Inside, the MINI Cooper’s design was dominated by circles, with circular speakers, air vents, and a massive circular housing for the touchscreen infotainment system. The interior delivered a premium feel, unmatched in cars of its size.

The 2019 Kia Forte came with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with either a 6-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT, branded as iVT by Kia, managed power well and provided an immediate response when accelerating. The Forte was quick off the line and had enough power for highway passing. Its handling was impressive, with minimal body roll and precise steering. The Drive Mode Selector offered Normal, Sport, and Smart modes, adjusting throttle and CVT responses accordingly. Fuel economy was strong, with the CVT-equipped Forte returning 30 mpg city, 40 highway, and 34 combined.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE excelled in performance with its electric motor producing 181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, powered by a 32.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack. It felt quick off the line, thanks to the immediacy of the electric motor's torque delivery. The SE used regenerative braking to help keep its battery charged, with an aggressive default setting that could be adjusted. Despite a 300-pound weight penalty due to the battery, the SE maintained a low center of gravity, helping it feel planted in corners. Gas-powered Coopers used either a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or an eight-speed automatic, while the SE used a single-speed gearbox.

The 2019 Kia Forte's exterior length grew by 3.2 inches, translating into a noticeably larger interior. The front seat had plenty of legroom, though headroom was tight for occupants over 6 feet tall. The backseat offered adequate headroom and legroom for taller occupants. The Forte boasted 15.3 cubic feet of trunk space, one of the largest in its class. The EX trim featured Kia’s smart trunk system, which automatically deployed the trunk when you stood behind the car for a few seconds.

The 2020 MINI Cooper hatchback was not ideal for carpooling or road trips, with a predictably tiny backseat best suited for children. The two-door Cooper offered 8.7 cubic feet of cargo space, while the four-door variant provided 13.1 cubic feet. The Convertible had only 5.7 cubic feet. Dropping the rear seats in the SE trim provided a maximum of 25.8 cubic feet. Despite limited space, the MINI Cooper was thoughtfully designed, with two-zone automatic air conditioning, chrome toggle switches, and high-quality materials.

The 2019 Kia Forte came standard with an 8-inch UVO touchscreen, featuring a user-friendly layout with vivid colors and fonts. Physical buttons lined the bottom of the screen, and conventional tuning and volume dials were retained. Kia’s UVO e-services offered enhanced roadside assistance, in-depth vehicle diagnostics, and a smartphone app for locating your parked car.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE featured an “eDrive” driver-information display connected to the steering wheel, displaying vehicle speed, time, mileage, remaining charge, and drive mode. The SE had a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, and Apple CarPlay. The SE Iconic trim offered an 8.8-inch screen, a wireless charging pad, and a head-up display.

The 2019 Kia Forte offered standard forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. It also included a reversing camera, traction control, and front- and side-impact airbags. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and adaptive cruise control. The lane-keeping assist was highly active, providing minor steering inputs to keep the car centered in the lane.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE lacked advanced safety features, with only front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera system included in the Iconic package. Forward-collision warning was standard, but automatic emergency braking was unavailable. The MINI Cooper received top marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), earning "Good" scores in all crash tests.