2021 Acura TLX 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 hidden Easter eggs like Union Jack taillights. Despite its small size, the MINI Cooper was larger than the original Mini, with available wheel and trim upgrades depending on the model.

Inside, the MINI Cooper continued its unique design language with plenty of circles and rounded shapes. The seats, dash, and center stack all followed this theme, featuring a funky infotainment touchscreen mounted inside a circular light ring and circular air vents. The cabin was generally high quality but lacked space, making the back seats more suitable for packages than passengers. Even children would find the rear seats cramped.

The 2021 Acura TLX was a sporty sedan with a distinctive, assertive stance. It featured a steeply raked windshield, fastback-style roofline, and integrated tail spoiler. The front end was bold, with a grille pattern radiating from the large Acura logo and horizontal "jewel eye" LED headlights. Twin trapezoidal tailpipes added to its sporty look. The paint quality was top-notch, and tasteful badging and chrome accents enhanced its premium appearance.

Inside, the TLX showcased a high level of quality and attention to detail. Acura described the driver’s position as a “sport sedan cockpit,” with the dash sectioned off into different functional clusters. Authentic materials like metal, leather, and wood were used throughout, with tight and even gaps, matching fonts, and good visual flow. The 10.2-inch infotainment screen was neatly mounted at the top of the center stack, appearing to float above the dash intentionally.

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 came with front-wheel drive (FWD). The Cooper and Cooper S had a standard six-speed manual transmission, with a seven-speed automatic available. The JCW GP had an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Regardless of the drivetrain, the MINI felt spritely and energetic due to its small size. The turbocharged four-cylinder engines provided noticeably stronger performance than the three-cylinder, especially at highway speeds. The JCW GP model offered the best acceleration, feeling like a proper rocket ship. However, all Cooper models had a somewhat stiff ride, making long drives tiresome. Small road imperfections felt larger, and the car could be twitchy at higher speeds. The tradeoff was agile handling, making the Cooper fun to drive in most situations.

The 2021 Acura TLX featured a new turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine with 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. It used a drive-by-wire throttle system and a shift-by-wire connection to a standard 10-speed automatic transmission. FWD was standard, with Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) available on all models. The EPA estimated fuel economy at 22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined for FWD models, and 21/29/24 combined for AWD.

The TLX’s performance was about more than just power figures. The combination of drive-by-wire, shift-by-wire, and electric power steering allowed for distinct driving personalities through the Integrated Dynamics System (drive modes). The Advance package added adaptive dampers, further tuning the ride behavior. The TLX was nimble, easy to drive, and fun to toss into corners. Acura reported significant improvements in torsional stiffness and rigidity, making the TLX feel solid and balanced over various road surfaces.

At a launch event in Michigan, the TLX performed as advertised, with an eager, sprightly character and inspiring handling. The drive included suburban neighborhoods, rural backroads, and brief highway stretches. Sport mode was preferred for its ability to tame turbo lag and deliver a richer exhaust note.

The 2021 MINI Cooper’s interior continued its heritage with a rear seat more suitable for cargo storage than passengers. The front seats were comfortable, offering decent head and legroom for average adults. Taller drivers might struggle with knee placement due to the dash shape. The front cabin was comfy but lacked overall space.

Interior storage was tight, with a center console storage spot barely big enough for a smartphone and small door pockets. Cooper Hatchbacks offered decent cargo space, with back seats that folded down for more storage. Convertible models had a small cargo hold under the folding top compartment, with minimal usable space in the back.

The 2021 Acura TLX’s performance decisions impacted its form and function. The shift-by-wire transmission allowed designers to rethink the gear selector mechanism, placing controls in the center stack modeled after the NSX. The low-profile controls were simple and easy to access, backed by paddle shifters on the steering wheel. The center console housed the infotainment interface, a mini touchpad with hard buttons, and a smartly positioned hand rest. Two big cupholders were tucked over to the passenger’s side, with bottle holders in the door panels and a good-sized storage cubby under the armrest.

The rear seat was comfortable for two adults, with adequate head- and legroom. The center position in the second row was suitable for short trips only. The driver and front passenger enjoyed comfortable, supportive sport bucket seats with 12-way power adjustability, including four-way power lumbar and adjustable headrests. Heated front seats were standard, with ventilated seats available in the A-Spec and Advance Packages.

The second row folded down in a 60/40 split, providing access to the trunk. The trunk offered a generous 13.5 cubic feet of cargo space, with a 47.6-inch-wide opening and 42.4 inches of depth.

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 satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and more. Optional features included a Harman Kardon sound system, automatic climate controls, and LED headlights.

MINI included more physical controls than some automakers, improving the technology experience and making it easier to use while driving. However, Android Auto was not available at any trim level, leaving many users to rely on Bluetooth. MINI used BMW’s infotainment software, featuring a physical iDrive controller in the center console. The tight space between the front seats made it difficult to reach, see, and use, making touch control a more practical option.

The 2021 Acura TLX was loaded with technology for both performance and comfort. Performance technology included drive-by-wire, shift-by-wire, and SH-AWD. The 10-speed automatic transmission featured Grade Logic Control, Shift Hold Control, and Cornering G Shift Control, all operating in the background to enhance driving performance.

For occupant enjoyment, the TLX offered multiple ambient interior lighting themes, customizable to match moods or preferences. The ELS Studio 3D 17-speaker premium audio system, available in the A-Spec and Advance Packages, delivered exceptional sound quality with 710 watts of amplification and 16 discrete channels.

Acura's navigation system with voice recognition was standard above the base trim level, covering the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. The infotainment system included Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming, Siri Eyes Free, SMS Text Messaging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Advance Package added a head-up display compatible with polarized sunglasses, a G-Meter, and a Turbo Boost Indicator.

The 2021 MINI Cooper missed out on a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS. It scored top "Good" ratings in crash tests but received "Acceptable" or "Poor" ratings for headlights. The standard front crash prevention systems earned "Advanced" scores, and the LATCH system received a "Marginal" rating for ease of use. The NHTSA had not yet rated the 2021 model.

Standard driver-assistance 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.

All 2021 Acura TLX models came with the AcuraWatch suite of driver-assistance technologies, including adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Additional safety features included a pedestrian injury mitigation design, ACE body structure, ultra-high-strength steel front door stiffener rings, a full complement of airbags, adjustable head restraints, three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, LATCH connectors for child seats, ABS, vehicle stability assist with traction control, auto-high beam headlights, and a multi-angle rear-view camera system with dynamic guidelines.

New for 2021, the TLX included a next-generation front-passenger airbag, passenger knee airbag, pedestrian sensing and autonomous emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, traffic jam assist, and a driver attention monitor. Available safety features included rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a head-up display.

The 2021 TLX had not yet been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the previous generation received an overall “Acceptable” rating from IIHS and a five-star rating from NHTSA. Acura aimed for five-star ratings and Top Safety Pick + ratings for the 2021 model.