2020 Toyota Camry vs 2020 MINI Cooper

The 2020 MINI Cooper was a standout on the road with its unique design, characterized by wide-eyed LED headlights and a grinning front grille. Its vibrant color options and Union Jack taillights added to its charm, making it a favorite among car enthusiasts. Despite its distinctive styling, the Cooper managed to avoid being gaudy, instead exuding a charming and inviting presence. Over the years, the MINI Cooper evolved from a two-door hardtop to include a convertible and a four-door variant, with the all-electric SE trim offering a similar performance to the S trim but with an electric motor. The SE maintained the classic Cooper design, with a slightly higher stance to accommodate the battery, and featured unique paint schemes and EV-exclusive wheels. Inside, the Cooper's design was dominated by circular elements, providing a premium feel unmatched by other cars of its size.

The 2020 Toyota Camry, on the other hand, had undergone a transformation to regain its reputation for quality and appeal. Its styling was more expressive than ever, with a bold front fascia and taut lines that gave it a sporty appearance. Some design elements were reminiscent of BMW's sport sedans, and with 14 exterior color options, the Camry aimed to be fashionable. Inside, the Camry used high-quality materials and a driver-focused dashboard design, making even the lower trims feel upscale. The TRD model featured red trim accents and seatbelts, adding a sporty touch. While the Camry wasn't a luxury car, it offered a level of refinement that made it feel like an entry-level Lexus, especially in the higher trims.

The 2020 MINI Cooper was known for its nimble quickness and ability to carve corners with ease. The Cooper SE, with its electric motor producing 181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, excelled in performance. Although slightly less powerful than the Cooper S's 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, the SE's immediate torque delivery made it feel just as quick. The SE also featured regenerative braking, which allowed for one-pedal driving, although some drivers preferred a less aggressive setting. Despite the SE's additional weight due to the battery, its low center of gravity and direct steering maintained the classic MINI driving experience. The SE used a single-speed gearbox, while gas-powered Coopers offered a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic or an eight-speed automatic in the John Cooper Works trim.

The 2020 Toyota Camry offered four distinct powertrains, including a 3.5-liter V6 with 301 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided smooth and powerful performance, making the Camry feel like a budget luxury car. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, with 203 horsepower (206 in XSE trim), was lighter and offered a more engaging driving experience, especially in the sporty XSE trim. The TRD model featured a specially tuned suspension, beefed-up brakes, and high-performance tires, although its ride was firmer than typical Camry models. The Camry also offered all-wheel drive, which could send up to half of the engine's torque to the rear wheels when needed, without compromising fuel economy. The front-drive Camry achieved an EPA combined fuel economy rating of 31 mpg, while the V6 models managed 26 mpg.

The 2020 MINI Cooper was not designed for spaciousness, with limited rear-seat space 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 of cargo space. Despite the limited space, the Cooper's interior was thoughtfully designed, with two-zone automatic air conditioning and high-quality materials. The chrome toggle switches and ergonomic steering wheel added to the car's appeal.

The 2020 Toyota Camry was easy to drive, with most controls conveniently placed. The front seats offered increased legroom and hip room compared to the previous generation, but the rear seat had slightly reduced legroom and passenger volume. The trunk, at 15.1 cubic feet, was smaller than some competitors. The addition of all-wheel drive did not compromise the trunk or passenger space, as Toyota made necessary modifications to maintain the interior layout.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE featured an "eDrive" driver-information display, which moved with the steering wheel adjustments. The display provided information such as speed, time, mileage, and remaining charge. The SE's 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system included Bluetooth, navigation, and Apple CarPlay, with an optional 8.8-inch screen available on higher trims. The SE Iconic trim also offered a wireless charging pad and a head-up display.

The 2020 Toyota Camry included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility as standard features. The infotainment system, while functional, felt dated compared to competitors. The standard 7-inch screen could be upgraded to an 8-inch version, and a three-month trial of WiFi Connect was available. Higher trims offered a 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch multi-information display in the instrument panel.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE lacked advanced safety features, with only front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera included. Forward-collision warning was standard, but automatic emergency braking was unavailable. The IIHS rated the MINI Cooper highly, with "Good" scores in all crash tests.

The 2020 Toyota Camry came with Toyota's Safety Sense suite, including a pre-collision system, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. A one-year trial of Safety Connect was included, and blind-spot monitoring was optional. The Camry received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. A recall for leaking engine coolant affected some models with 2.5-liter engines.