2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2020 MINI Cooper

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat bore a striking resemblance to its predecessors from 2012 to 2019, as well as the recently redesigned VW Jetta. It adopted Jetta's styling cues, giving it a familiar yet refreshed appearance. Inside, the Passat's dashboard retained the architectural T-square design of the previous model, featuring a modest 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment screen. This model did not incorporate the latest VW technology, lacking the larger display and digital instrumentation found in the Jetta. The interior was dominated by cheap, glossy plastic, which, while easy to clean, did not exude a premium feel. However, the Passat was designed to be user-friendly, with easy access, straightforward controls, and a comfortable driving experience. It was available in four trims: the base Passat S, the mid-range SE, the sporty R-Line, and the top-tier SEL.

The 2020 MINI Cooper stood out on the road with its unique design, characterized by wide-eyed LED headlights, a grinning front grille, vibrant color options, and Union Jack taillights. It was a car that dripped charm and invited praise without being wasteful or gaudy. 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 trim offered similar performance and refinement levels as the Cooper S but with an electric motor and battery. The SE's design mimicked the regular Cooper S, with the key difference being its slightly higher stance to accommodate the battery cells. Inside, the MINI Cooper's design was dominated by circular elements, including the speakers, air vents, door handles, and the massive circular housing for the touchscreen infotainment system. The interior delivered a premium feel unmatched in cars of its size.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. It ran on regular gas and featured a 6-speed automatic transmission powering the front wheels. The Passat's powertrain was simple, with no complex driving modes, making it easy to drive. The engine's torque allowed the Passat to accelerate smoothly, although the transmission occasionally upshifted too eagerly to maximize fuel economy. In Sport mode, the car's performance improved, and it averaged 26 mpg, just shy of the EPA's 27-mpg rating. The Passat's steering was light and precise, and its brakes were effective, though a bit grabby. The car handled predictably in various driving conditions, but its suspension tuning was less than ideal, resulting in a stiff ride over sharp bumps and a floaty feel over undulations. Despite these issues, the Passat conveyed important road surface information, thanks to its German engineering.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE excelled in performance with its 181-horsepower electric motor and 199 pound-feet of torque, powered by a 32.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack. These figures were just below the Cooper S's 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, which generated 189 hp and 207 lb-ft. The SE's electric motor delivered immediate torque, making it feel quick off the line. The SE also featured regenerative braking, which could be aggressive, allowing for one-pedal driving. The SE weighed about 300 pounds more than the Cooper S due to the battery, but its low center of gravity helped it feel planted in corners. The SE's direct steering, limited body roll, and wide-open sight lines contributed to the classic MINI driving experience. Gas-powered Coopers used either a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or an eight-speed automatic, while the SE employed a single-speed gearbox. For 2020, no manual transmission was offered, but a six-speed manual was set to return in 2021.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat was designed with American consumers in mind, offering a spacious interior with wide, comfortable seats, large door openings, and ample room for five passengers. The car featured sizable cupholders, plenty of storage bins and trays, and excellent outward visibility. Cloth upholstery was standard in the Passat S, while the SE and R-Line trims had V-Tex leatherette seats, and the SEL trim featured genuine leather sport seats. The Passat also offered seat heaters and rear air conditioning vents for added comfort. The trunk provided 15.9 cubic feet of space, configured for maximum utility with a flat load floor, making it easy to fit full-size suitcases and compact folding strollers. The trunk lid opened fully with the key fob, and grips on both sides made it easy to close. The Passat's size and utility made it a practical choice, with the only reasons to opt for a more expensive SUV being all-wheel drive, big-box cargo capability, or a third-row seat.

The 2020 MINI Cooper hatchback was not ideal for carpooling, road trips, or large cargo loads. Front-seat space was good, and the large windows prevented a claustrophobic feel, but the backseat was tiny and best suited for children. The two-door Cooper offered 8.7 cubic feet of cargo space, while the four-door version provided 13.1 cubic feet. The Convertible had only 5.7 cubic feet of cargo space. Folding the rear seats in the SE trim increased cargo capacity to 25.8 cubic feet, still less than half of what a Volkswagen Golf offered. Despite limited space, the MINI Cooper was thoughtfully designed, with two-zone automatic air conditioning, an efficient heating system, and fun chrome toggle switches on the dashboard. The steering wheel was ergonomic, and the materials used in the car felt top-notch, reflecting BMW's investment in the MINI brand.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat did not feature Volkswagen's latest infotainment system or Digital Cockpit instrumentation, but it included a 6.3-inch touchscreen display with App Connect, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD and SiriusXM satellite radio, a CD player, and Bluetooth. The system was simple and covered the basics, with the SEL trim offering navigation and a Fender premium sound system. The Passat's infotainment system was refreshingly straightforward, with buttons and knobs instead of touch controls. The test car also had an optional remote engine start system, useful for pre-conditioning the interior. The SEL trim included a parking steering-assist system.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE featured a unique "eDrive" driver-information display connected to the steering wheel, which moved with steering-wheel adjustments. The eDrive screen displayed vehicle speed, time, mileage, remaining charge, and drive mode. The SE's 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display was housed in a circular unit on the dash, including Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, and Apple CarPlay. The SE was available in three levels: Signature, Signature Plus, and Iconic. The SE Iconic trim included an 8.8-inch screen, a wireless charging pad, and a head-up display.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat included a comprehensive suite of safety features, such as forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and an automatic post-collision braking system. The Passat SE added adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, while the SEL trim included parking assist sensors and adaptive headlights. The Passat received top ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE lacked many advanced safety features found in similarly priced cars. It included front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera system, but automatic emergency braking was unavailable. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not rated the MINI Cooper, but the IIHS gave it top marks in all crash tests. Despite its small size, the MINI Cooper was considered safe, though not ideal for a growing family.