2021 Kia K5 vs 2021 MINI Cooper

The 2021 MINI Cooper carried an iconic styling that was immediately recognizable, much like the Jeep Wrangler. Its rounded shape, compact dimensions, and a wide variety of color choices set it apart in the subcompact car market. MINI offered several customization options for the exterior, including graphics for the roof and Union Jack taillights. Despite its small size, the MINI Cooper was larger than the original Mini, with various wheel and trim upgrades available depending on the model. Inside, the MINI Cooper continued its unique design language with plenty of circles and rounded shapes, including a funky infotainment touchscreen design. The cabin was generally high quality but lacked space, making the back seats more suitable for packages than passengers.

The 2021 Kia K5, on the other hand, was a fresh take on Kia’s identity, replacing the Optima with a more stylish and performance-oriented design. Styled in the GT-Line trim with flat Wolf Gray paint and red seats, the K5 resembled an Audi A5 Sportback. The K5 featured a long rear window blending into a short tail, polished black trim, and unique taillights with dashed LEDs. Despite some fake air vents and exhaust tips, the K5’s proportions made it sportier, being lower and longer than the Optima. The front boasted Z-shaped amber LED running lights and a honeycomb grille. The interior was equally impressive, with a split dash, red seats with black accents, and a flat-bottom steering wheel. The K5’s cabin exuded sportiness and quality, with polished black trim and quality materials throughout.

The 2021 MINI Cooper offered four powertrain options. The base model had a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with 134 horsepower. The Cooper S featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 189 hp, the John Cooper Works (JCW) had a 228-hp turbo-four, and the John Cooper Works GP boasted a 301-hp turbo-four. All models were front-wheel drive (FWD). The Cooper and Cooper S came with a six-speed manual as standard, with a seven-speed automatic available. The JCW GP had an eight-speed automatic transmission. The MINI felt spritely and energetic due to its small size, with the turbocharged four-cylinder engines providing more noticeable power, especially at highway speeds. The JCW GP model offered the best acceleration. However, all Cooper models had a somewhat stiff ride, making long drives tiresome. The car felt agile and ready to change direction quickly, making it fun to drive, but it wasn’t the most comfortable. Fuel economy varied, with the most efficient being the Convertible at 28/37/31 mpg city/highway/combined.

The 2021 Kia K5’s GT-Line model didn’t drive as aggressively as its styling suggested. It lacked paddle shifters and had softer suspension damping, making it less sporty. The GT trim promised better suspension and a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, but it was FWD only. The standard engine was a 1.6-liter turbo-four with 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The K5’s ride was isolated and balanced, with good brakes and communicative steering. Fuel economy was impressive, with the FWD model achieving 27/37/31 mpg city/highway/combined. The AWD version had slightly lower estimates. The K5 averaged nearly 36 mpg over 750 highway miles. The GT trim’s performance was yet to be fully evaluated, but the K5 was a competent family sedan with good fuel economy.

The 2021 MINI Cooper’s interior continued its heritage with a rear seat more suitable for cargo than passengers. The front seats were comfortable with decent head and legroom for average adults, though taller drivers might struggle with knee placement. Interior storage was tight, with a small center console and door pockets. The Cooper Hatchbacks offered decent cargo space with foldable back seats, while Convertible models had limited space under the folding top compartment.

The 2021 Kia K5 comfortably fit two adults in the back, despite its raked profile. The roof and front seatbacks were designed to provide enough headroom and legroom for six-footers. The front seats were supportive and firm, ideal for long drives. The K5 featured hard buttons for climate controls and stereo, and a well-placed wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was simple and quick to operate, with an optional 10-inch display. Trunk space was 16 cubic feet before folding the rear seats.

The 2021 MINI Cooper wasn’t generous with standard features. The base screen was a 6.5-inch unit, with an optional 8.8-inch unit offering SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, and more. Optional features included a Harman Kardon sound system, automatic climate controls, and LED headlights. MINI included more physical controls, improving usability while driving. However, Android Auto was not available, leaving many users to rely on Bluetooth. The infotainment system used BMW’s software, with a physical iDrive controller that was difficult to reach due to the tight space.

The 2021 Kia K5 was easy to set up with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The LX trim included LED headlights, auto high beams, dual-zone climate control, lane-keep assist, and more. The LXS added folding rear seats, push-button start, and proximity entry. The GT-Line upgraded to 18-inch wheels, fog lights, rear USB ports, and a power driver’s seat. The EX trim offered heated and ventilated seats, rear air vents, a Bose stereo, and a 10-inch infotainment system. The GT trim included paddle shifters, 19-inch wheels, and additional performance hardware. The K5’s adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist provided semi-automated driving capabilities.

The 2021 MINI Cooper missed out on a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS. It scored top "Good" ratings in crash tests but had "Acceptable" or "Poor" ratings for headlights. The front crash prevention systems earned "Advanced" scores, and the LATCH system received a "Marginal" rating. The NHTSA had not yet rated the 2021 model. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included front parking sensors, a parking assistance system, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning.

The 2021 Kia K5 was too new to be rated by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it was expected to score highly due to its stronger chassis and body shell. Standard safety features included rear side airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. Blind-spot monitoring with Safe Exit Assist was standard on LXS and above. The GT-Line Premium package included cyclist detection and Junction Turning. Higher trims offered rear emergency braking and parking sensors.