2019 MINI Cooper vs 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta presented a more upscale presence compared to its predecessor, with a slightly longer and wider body, maintaining the same height. Its design was inspired by the VW Arteon sport sedan, featuring a wide, angular grille that added a dramatic flair to its appearance. Inside, the Jetta continued this angular design language, creating a cabin that was both spacious and functional, with a premium feel due to its soft-touch surfaces and comfortable seating. The Jetta offered various trims, from the well-equipped base S trim to the luxurious SEL Premium, each adding unique features and driver-assistance technologies.

In contrast, the 2019 MINI Cooper retained its iconic styling but had grown in size and sophistication. While it maintained its classic Mini charm, the latest model's design elements, such as oversized headlights and taillights, detracted from its previous elegance. Inside, the MINI Cooper featured a modern infotainment system within a round housing, surrounded by mood lighting, and retained its toggle switches and unique gauges. Despite the technological advancements, the MINI Cooper's interior design sometimes prioritized style over functionality, making it less intuitive to use.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine, producing 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Despite having slightly less horsepower than its predecessor, the engine felt more responsive, thanks to its tuning and the new 8-speed automatic transmission. This setup allowed the Jetta to perform well in both city and highway driving, with smooth and precise steering that offered a blend of comfort and sportiness. The Jetta's fuel efficiency was impressive, with both manual and automatic transmissions returning 30 mpg city, 40 highway, and 34 combined.

The 2019 MINI Cooper, particularly in the John Cooper Works version, delivered a thrilling performance with its turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, generating 228 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. This power allowed the MINI to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds with the automatic transmission. The car's handling was sharp, but torque steer and occasional braking issues during aggressive driving were noted. The MINI Cooper's performance was further enhanced by its sport exhaust system, providing an engaging driving experience, especially in Sport mode.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta offered comfortable front seats suitable for long trips, with adequate rear-seat space despite a slight reduction in legroom. The trunk space, though reduced to 14.1 cubic feet, remained average for its class. The Jetta's interior layout was practical, with a user-friendly touchscreen and well-placed controls, making it a functional choice for everyday use.

The 2019 MINI Cooper, even in its compact 2-door hardtop form, was surprisingly practical. While the back seat was cramped, the car excelled as a 2-seater with a large 34-cubic-foot trunk. The front seats provided ample adjustment, accommodating tall passengers comfortably. However, the MINI's interior design favored style over practicality, with unconventional controls and limited storage space.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta came equipped with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display featuring Volkswagen’s Car-Net App-Connect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard. Higher trims offered the Digital Cockpit, a customizable digital display that enhanced the driving experience by projecting navigation and other information directly onto the screen.

The 2019 MINI Cooper's infotainment system, based on BMW iDrive technology, included an 8.8-inch display, navigation, and MINI Connected Services. While it offered multiple control methods, the system's physical controls were difficult to access, and the touchscreen's small buttons were challenging to use. The MINI also featured wireless charging and Apple CarPlay, but Android Auto was not available.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta was equipped with a comprehensive set of safety features, including front and side airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Driver-assist systems like blind-spot monitoring and forward-collision avoidance were standard on most trims, with additional features like adaptive cruise control available on higher trims.

The 2019 MINI Cooper offered basic safety features, such as eight airbags and a reversing camera, along with an Active Driving Assistant that included forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking. However, it lacked a blind-spot-monitoring system and other advanced safety technologies. The MINI Cooper received a 4-star overall safety rating from the federal government.