2023 MINI Cooper vs 2024 BMW 5 Series

The 2023 MINI Cooper was available in various body styles, including a two-door hatchback, four-door hatch, and two-door convertible. Despite its growth over the years due to safety regulations and customer expectations, it remained a compact vehicle, smaller than a Mazda Miata. The MINI Cooper's design was distinctive, with a short, squat appearance and tires stretched to the corners, reminiscent of the original 1959 Mini. The playful design featured bold colors, stripes, and multicolor roofs, with a gradient paint effect available for 2023. The interior was slightly more mature, with Chesterfield leather seats and a unique dashboard design, maintaining high fit and finish quality.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series, on the other hand, showcased a clean, crisp, and minimalist design, both inside and out. The 530i test car featured a large shiny grille and intricate 21-inch wheels, with M Sport bodywork adding a touch of flair. The interior was modern and elegant, with Smoke-color Veganza artificial leather and aluminum trim. However, the glossy surfaces created reflections and glare, complicating control usage. The BMW Curved Display housed most features, with traditional iDrive controls on the center console. Despite its luxury feel, the 530i M Sport lacked the driving connection once synonymous with BMW.

The 2023 MINI Cooper JCW was the quickest in its lineup, powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine, shared with some BMW models, provided smooth revving and strong pull, with minimal turbo lag. The six-speed manual transmission had an abrupt clutch take-up, ideal for learning manual driving but challenging for smooth launches. The JCW's handling was enjoyable, with flat cornering and impressive brakes, though the steering lacked immediacy. Fuel economy varied across models, with the JCW achieving 22/31/25 mpg with the manual transmission.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series 530i featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. A 48-volt mild-hybrid system aided efficiency, with BMW estimating a 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds. The engine was quiet and smooth, with an eight-speed automatic transmission providing seamless shifts. The M Sport suspension offered a supple ride, and the car performed well on twisty roads, thanks to variable-ratio sport steering and M Sport braking components. However, the driving experience felt remote and muted, lacking the connection once associated with BMW. The 530i M Sport returned 24.7 mpg on the evaluation loop, below the EPA estimate of 30 mpg combined.

The 2023 MINI Cooper offered good outward visibility and ample front seat space, but the rear bench and cargo hold were limited. The two-door model had just nine cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 34 cubic feet with seats folded. The four-door model offered slightly more space, with 13 cubic feet and 41 cubic feet with seats up and down, respectively. Convertible models had eight cubic feet of cargo space, with a unique tailgate design for easier access. The interior featured a matte-finish instrument panel and a touchscreen with both touch and button controls, though the buttons were inconveniently placed.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series excelled as a luxury car, with a spacious interior and comfortable power-adjustable front seats wrapped in Veganza artificial leather. The rear seat was equally comfortable, with ample legroom, headroom, and footroom. Interior storage was adequate, with a tray for smartphones, door armrests, and a split-top center armrest bin. The trunk offered 18.4 cubic feet of space, though a spare tire storage box reduced cargo room. The enclosed trunk hinges maximized available space, and deep wells on either side of the spare tire container were useful.

The 2023 MINI Cooper came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, LED headlights, and manual seats. Cooper S models added a panoramic moonroof and heated leatherette seats. The infotainment system used older BMW iDrive software, with a home screen displaying maps and music side by side. Unique features included an Openometer and cartoonish sounds and chimes.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system under a single curved display. The iDrive 8.5 system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected services, and a personal eSIM 5G connection. The Premium Package added a head-up display and Natural Interaction for voice and gesture controls. However, the Intelligent Personal Assistant had mixed performance, and the Bowers and Wilkins surround-sound system did not meet expectations. The Premium Package also included Parking Assistant Plus and an interior camera for remote monitoring and selfies.

The 2023 MINI Cooper came standard with eight airbags, rear parking sensors, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. However, blind-spot monitoring and other advanced safety features were unavailable. Adaptive cruise control was optional on certain automatic transmission models. The NHTSA had not rated the MINI Cooper, but the IIHS gave it the highest "good" rating in five out of six crash tests for the structurally identical 2014 model.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series included Active Driving Assistant, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Driving Assistant Professional Package added more advanced features, though our test car did not have it. The lane-departure warning system was sophisticated, issuing alerts only when necessary. The IIHS rated the 5 Series as a Top Safety Pick, though it did not earn the higher Top Safety Pick+ rating.