2024 MINI Countryman vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 showcased a design that was both familiar and fresh. Its styling, characterized by a blunt nose, long hood, and rakish windshield, maintained the subtle seductiveness typical of Mazda's vehicles over the past decade. However, the CX-50 introduced a rugged appeal with its blistered fender swells, bold lower body cladding, and faux skid plates. The oversized air intake and vent designs added a performance edge without being visually overwhelming. When combined with the standard black grille, mirror caps, and optional 20-inch alloy wheels, the CX-50 presented an attractive exterior. The introduction of the CX-50 Meridian Edition later in the model year brought exclusive features like all-terrain tires and a roof-mounted load platform, enhancing its adventurous persona.

Inside, the CX-50 continued Mazda's tradition of driver-focused design with a mix of quality materials and polished metallic trim. The interior featured black leather with caramel-coloured accent stitching, adding a touch of elegance. The dashboard, however, had a lone off-centre vent that seemed out of place. Despite this, the overall interior was well-received, offering a good balance of style and functionality. The availability of a terracotta upholstery colour on higher trims added to the interior's appeal.

The 2024 MINI Countryman, true to its brand's ethos, embraced a playful and distinctive design. It featured classic MINI styling cues, including an erect wraparound windshield, a floating roof, and Union Jack taillights, proudly showcasing its British heritage. The Countryman offered a variety of paint, roof, and mirror cap treatments, along with multiple wheel designs, allowing for extensive personalization. The interior was equally unique, with a retro design that provided a singular experience. The front seats, though small, were supportive and comfortable, and the steering wheel was a delight to grip. While the Countryman could technically seat five, it was more comfortable for four adults, offering ample legroom and foot space in the rear.

The Countryman's compact dimensions made it easy to park, and while it lacked some advanced parking technologies, it included parking sensors and a reversing camera. Interior storage was reasonable, though the smartphone charging pad's placement under the centre armrest was inconvenient. Cargo space was limited, with 498 litres available behind the rear seats, expandable to 1,348 litres with the seats folded. The 40/20/40-split folding back seat design added versatility for carrying longer items.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered two engine options, catering to different performance needs. The base engine, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder, produced 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque, delivering power to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. This engine was fuel-efficient, with consumption figures of 9.7 L/100 km in the city, 7.9 on the highway, and 8.9 combined. For those seeking more power, the CX-50 GT Turbo trim featured a turbocharged version of the same engine, generating between 227 hp and 256 hp, depending on the fuel used. Torque ranged from 310 lb-ft on 87-octane gas to 320 lb-ft on 93-octane fuel. The turbo engine provided smooth acceleration and increased towing capacity from 2,000 to 3,500 pounds. The CX-50's driving modes and G-Vectoring Control technology ensured a natural driving experience, though the differences between modes were subtle. The CX-50's ride quality was slightly firmer than the CX-5, and it demonstrated impressive off-road capabilities, though it lacked a downhill assist control system.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered a range of powertrains, with the Cooper S and John Cooper Works (JCW) models standing out. The JCW model featured a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 301 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed sport automatic transmission. This setup allowed the JCW to accelerate to 100 km/h in approximately 5 seconds, making it the choice for speed enthusiasts. The Cooper S, with its 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque, provided a zippy and athletic driving experience, reaching 100 km/h in about 7.3 seconds. The Countryman's ALL4 all-wheel-drive system was standard in Canada, enhancing its performance. While the Countryman excelled in daily driving scenarios, it wasn't designed for off-road adventures. The Cooper S's fuel consumption was rated at 9.1 L/100 km in combined driving, though our test averaged 9.3 L/100 km.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50's interior was well-equipped for comfort and convenience. It featured power-adjustable heated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated side mirrors, making it ready for winter. Ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control added to the comfort on warmer days. The front seats were comfortable for long drives, though they could benefit from more side bolstering. The rear seat offered ample space for adults, with nearly 90-degree opening rear doors for easy access. Storage space was adequate, though some opportunities for additional storage were missed. The CX-50 provided 889 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 1,595 litres with the seats folded.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered a unique interior experience, with room for four adults and their luggage for a week-long road trip. The front seats were small but supportive, and the steering wheel was enjoyable to hold. While the Countryman could technically seat five, it was more comfortable for four adults. The rear seat provided sufficient legroom and foot space, though squeezing in a fifth person was challenging. The Countryman's compact dimensions made it easy to park, though it lacked some advanced parking technologies. Interior storage was reasonable, though the smartphone charging pad's placement under the centre armrest was inconvenient. Cargo space was limited, with 498 litres available behind the rear seats, expandable to 1,348 litres with the seats folded. The 40/20/40-split folding back seat design added versatility for carrying longer items.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Mazda Connected Services. In Canada, it came with a 10.25-inch display as standard. While Mazda historically avoided touchscreen controls, the CX-50 offered touchscreen functionality for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system's user interface was occasionally frustrating, but the addition of touchscreen control was a step forward. The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system provided a satisfying audio experience. The CX-50 also offered an Active Driving Display, projecting important information within the driver's line of sight.

The 2024 MINI Countryman wasn't a technology powerhouse, but it offered useful features. It had a small digital instrumentation display and a head-up display projecting information on a small screen. The 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed in a round housing reminiscent of classic Mini models, used BMW's iDrive technology. It offered multiple ways to interact, including touchscreen, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. While the system lacked Android Auto, it provided Apple CarPlay connectivity. The available 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system delivered excellent audio quality.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), though it fell short of the Top Safety Pick+ designation due to some headlight configurations and night-time pedestrian collision avoidance results. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not rated the CX-50 at the time of writing. Mazda provided a comprehensive standard package of driving assistance systems, including active blind-spot monitoring and Traffic Jam Assist. The surround-view camera and parking sensors were particularly useful, though the adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting in.

The 2024 MINI Countryman showed its age in terms of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). It offered Active Driving Assistant, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Countryman also had rear parking sensors and an emergency SOS call button. However, it lacked features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera system. The lane-departure warning system provided a subtle vibration through the steering wheel. The IIHS rated the Countryman as Good in crashworthiness evaluations, though some testing procedures were incomplete.