Compare the2025 Hyundai KonaVS 2025 MINI Countryman

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Kona have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The MINI Countryman doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Kona are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The MINI Countryman doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Kona and the Countryman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Hyundai Kona has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Countryman has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

The Kona comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Countryman’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Countryman. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Countryman ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 9 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Kona’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is ranked 11th.

On the EPA test cycle the Kona gets better mileage than the Countryman:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Kona uses regular unleaded gasoline. The JCW Countryman requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Kona higher (6 out of 10) than the MINI Countryman (5 to 6). This means the Kona produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Countryman every 15,000 miles.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Hyundai Kona N Line/Limited, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Countryman.

The Kona SE/SEL has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Countryman doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better maneuverability, the Kona’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Countryman S’ (34.8 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The Kona’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the JCW Countryman’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Kona has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Countryman (8.1 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Kona to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Kona N Line/Limited’s minimum ground clearance is .3 inch higher than on the Countryman (8.3 vs. 8 inches).

The Hyundai Kona may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 750 pounds less than the MINI Countryman.

The Kona is 3.7 inches shorter than the Countryman, making the Kona easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Kona uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Countryman doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Kona has 1.3 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Countryman.

The Kona has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Countryman with its rear seat up (25.5 vs. 25 cubic feet). The Kona has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Countryman with its rear seat folded (63.7 vs. 56.2 cubic feet).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Kona has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Countryman only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Kona has standard extendable sun visors. The Countryman doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Kona Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Countryman doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Compared to the MINI Countryman, the Hyundai Kona eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

The Kona is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Countryman doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Kona and the MINI Countryman, based on reliability, safety and performance.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Kona as the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Countryman has never been chosen.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the MINI Countryman by over seven to one during 2024.