2025 Hyundai Kona vs 2024 MINI Countryman

The 2024 MINI Countryman exuded a playful charm, staying true to its British roots with classic MINI styling elements. Its design featured an erect wraparound windshield, a floating roof reminiscent of a bimini top, and Union Jack taillights that proudly declared its heritage. The Countryman offered a variety of paint, roof, and mirror cap treatments, along with multiple wheel designs, allowing for a personalized touch. In Canada, the Countryman ALL4 lineup included various models, each with distinct drivetrains. The Cooper models were equipped with a turbocharged three-cylinder engine, while the Cooper S and John Cooper Works variants boasted a more powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The Cooper SE, a plug-in hybrid, provided a modest electric range before switching to a gas-electric hybrid mode. Special editions like the Untamed Edition added unique features and styling elements, enhancing the Countryman's appeal.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona, while visually unchanged from its 2024 predecessor, maintained a fresh and distinctive appearance in the crossover class. Its design featured a largely flush, single-piece grille and ultra-slim LED light bars, lending a futuristic look even to the gas-powered models. The Kona's increased size, being around 15 centimetres longer than previous generations, contributed to improved interior space and a more assertive stance. The Kona N Line, with its sportier design, further emphasized this assertiveness. The interior remained unchanged from 2024, offering a solid and airy feel with ample tech features. The Kona's trims, Essential and Preferred, progressively added visual enhancements, while the N Line stood out with sportier elements. The Kona's interior was praised for its comfort and practicality, with features like a sunroof and powered liftgate available in higher trims.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered a range of performance options, with the John Cooper Works (JCW) model standing out for its impressive power. The JCW featured a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet 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 those seeking speed and excitement. The Cooper S, with its 189 horsepower turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, provided a zippy and athletic driving experience, reaching 100 km/h in about 7.3 seconds. While the Countryman excelled in daily commuting and errand-running, it wasn't designed for off-road adventures. Fuel economy was reasonable, with a combined rating of 9.1 litres per 100 kilometres, although real-world testing showed slightly higher consumption.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered a choice between a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine and a more powerful turbocharged 1.6-litre engine. The Essential and Preferred trims featured the 2.0-litre engine, delivering 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with Hyundai's Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). While this setup prioritized fuel efficiency, it might not satisfy those seeking spirited performance. The Kona N Line, with its turbocharged engine producing 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, offered a more engaging driving experience. The N Line's eight-speed automatic transmission provided conventional gear ratios, enhancing performance. All-wheel drive was available on the Essential and Preferred trims and standard on the N Line, offering improved traction and handling. The Kona's ride and handling focused on competence, providing a comfortable and composed driving experience.

The 2024 MINI Countryman provided seating for four adults, with enough luggage space for a week-long road trip. The front seats were small but supportive, and the steering wheel was a delight to grip. While the Countryman had seatbelts for five, four passengers would be more comfortable. Rear legroom and foot space were adequate, but squeezing in a fifth person was challenging. The Countryman's compact dimensions made parking easy, although it lacked advanced parking technologies. Interior storage was reasonable, but the smartphone charging pad obstructed access to the tray beneath it. Cargo capacity was modest, with 498 litres of space behind the rear seats and 1,348 litres with the seats folded.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its cargo capacity, offering 723 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,803 litres when folded. This made it surprisingly spacious for a subcompact SUV. Rear legroom and headroom were sufficient for most passengers, and the front seats provided a comfortable driving position. The Kona's interior featured ample storage options, including a large compartment where the drive selector was relocated. The Essential and Preferred trims offered cloth upholstery, while higher trims added leatherette and Alcantara sport seats. Heated front seats were standard in Canada, with additional features like a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats available in higher trims. Climate control options ranged from basic single-zone air conditioning to dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents.

The 2024 MINI Countryman featured a user-friendly infotainment system with an 8.8-inch touchscreen housed in a round display reminiscent of classic MINI models. The system, based on BMW's iDrive technology, offered multiple interaction methods, including touchscreen, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. While the system lacked Android Auto, it supported Apple CarPlay. A 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system was available, providing excellent audio quality. The Countryman's technology offerings were practical, with a head-up display projecting information on a small screen.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona boasted a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display across all trims, offering wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The system featured clear graphics and intuitive menu layouts. Higher trims included wireless smartphone charging and Hyundai's digital key. The N Line trim offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, enhancing customization and cohesion. Audiophiles could opt for the N Line with the Ultimate package for an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system. Hyundai's Bluelink connectivity allowed for over-the-air software updates, ensuring features remained up to date.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered basic safety features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Rear parking sensors and an emergency SOS call button were also included. However, the Countryman lacked advanced driver assistance systems like blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Countryman as Good in crashworthiness evaluations.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its comprehensive safety features, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, and Rear Cross-traffic Collision Avoidance Assist. Higher trims added advanced features like Highway Driving Assist and a Blind Spot View Monitor. The Kona's safety equipment was easy to use and provided a smooth driving experience. All Konas included six airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Kona earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.