2021 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2020 MINI Cooper

The MINI Cooper showcases timeless design and encourages even the timidest driver to live out their inner Mario Kart fantasies. With a short wheelbase, low curb weight, and torquey engines, the MINI Cooper delivers more smiles per square foot than most competitors. And with a new electric powertrain option, it can do so with a green footprint, too.

Mazdas are fun. All of them. Even the SUVs. But until recently, they weren’t particularly fast. The joy in driving a Mazda derived from the expertly tuned ride and handling qualities that made piloting the automaker’s products a sheer delight. And then Mazda started turbocharging cars and SUVs equipped with its 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine. Now, the 2021 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo arrives, one of the last members of Mazda’s fleet to add forced induction for boosted power and performance. The result, as you might guess, is absolutely delightful.