2022 BMW i4 vs 2021 MINI Cooper

The 2021 MINI Cooper was renowned for its iconic styling, easily recognizable alongside vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler. Its rounded shape, compact dimensions, and a wide array of color choices distinguished it in the subcompact car market. MINI offered numerous customization options, including exterior and roof graphics like the Union Jack flag, and hidden Easter eggs such as Union Jack taillights. Despite its small size, the MINI Cooper was larger than the original Mini, with available wheel and trim upgrades. Inside, the MINI Cooper continued its unique design language with circular motifs throughout the seats, dash, and center stack. The infotainment touchscreen was mounted within a circular light ring, and the cabin, though high in quality, was notably cramped. The back seats were more suitable for packages than passengers, as even children found the space lacking.

The 2022 BMW i4's styling closely resembled the gasoline 4 Series Gran Coupe, featuring a polarizing oversized grille. Despite this, the i4 was more aerodynamic, with a drag coefficient of 0.24 for the base eDrive40 and 0.25 for the M50 model. BMW achieved this through design tweaks like a smooth underbody and active grille flaps. The i4 featured lighter alloy wheels, with 18-inch wheels standard on the eDrive40 and 19-inch on the M50. The battery pack was mounted below the floor, enhancing structural rigidity and handling. The interior balanced Tesla-style minimalism with traditional BMW elements, featuring a freestanding screen and familiar controls. Material quality met BMW's standards, though leather upholstery was not standard.

The 2021 MINI Cooper offered four powertrain options. The base model had a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with 134 horsepower, while the Cooper S featured a 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, with a six-speed manual standard on the Cooper and Cooper S, and a seven-speed automatic optional. The JCW GP came with an eight-speed automatic. The MINI's small size contributed to its sprightly and energetic feel, though the turbocharged four-cylinder engines provided noticeably stronger performance, especially at highway speeds. The JCW GP model offered the best acceleration. However, the ride was somewhat stiff, making long drives tiresome. The MINI excelled in agility and cornering, though it lacked comfort. Fuel economy varied, with the most efficient model being the Convertible at 28/37/31 mpg city/highway/combined.

The 2022 BMW i4 eDrive40 had 335 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds. The M50 model's two-motor powertrain produced 536 hp and 586 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds. The i4's battery pack lowered its center of gravity, enhancing handling despite its weight. The i4 featured rear air suspension and lift-related shocks, with the M50 model adding adaptive M suspension, variable sport steering, and M Sport brakes. The Dynamic Handling Package further improved performance. The i4's ride was smooth, even in Sport mode, and the steering was precise and communicative. The integrated braking system provided natural pedal feel, though the adaptive recuperation system was less convincing. The i4's regenerative braking system adjusted automatically, but the inconsistency made it difficult to judge braking needs.

The 2021 MINI Cooper's interior was more suited for cargo than passengers, with the rear seat offering limited usability. The front seats were comfortable with decent head and legroom, though taller drivers might struggle with knee placement due to the dash shape. Interior storage was tight, with limited space in the center console and door pockets. Hatchback models provided decent cargo space, with foldable back seats for additional storage. Convertible models had minimal cargo space under the folding top compartment.

The 2022 BMW i4 offered a low seating position despite the battery pack, with good outward visibility. However, the fastback roof limited headroom, and the i4 had less headroom than the Polestar 2. The interior felt open, aided by an efficiently designed center console. The front and rear seats were flat and hard, lacking expected bolstering. The wireless charging pad was small, and the lack of a power-adjustable steering column was notable. The i4 had folding rear seats, but with only 10 cubic feet of cargo space, it lagged behind competitors. The hatchback design provided a wider opening for cargo, though it lacked a front trunk.

The 2021 MINI Cooper was not generous with standard features. The base screen was 6.5 inches, 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, but did not offer Android Auto, leaving many users reliant on Bluetooth. The infotainment system used BMW's software, with a physical iDrive controller that was difficult to access due to tight space.

The 2022 BMW i4 featured the latest iDrive8 infotainment system and BMW Curved Display, with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 14.9-inch central touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, navigation, OTA updates, and SiriusXM. Optional features included a head-up display, Harman Kardon audio, wireless charging, and 5G connectivity. The user experience was similar to previous iDrive versions, with a rotary controller, menu shortcut buttons, and effective voice recognition, making the touchscreen largely unnecessary.

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

The 2022 BMW i4 had no crash-test ratings from the IIHS or NHTSA at the time of publication. Standard driver-assist features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Speed Limit Assist. The optional Driving Assistance Professional Package added adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, front cross-traffic alert, and Extended Traffic Jam Assistant. The Parking Assistant Package included a 360-degree camera system, Park Distance Control, low-speed automatic braking, and Parking Assistant with Back-Up Assistant.