Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs MINI Countryman

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer presented a classic SUV aesthetic, sharing its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer. This resulted in a traditional design characterized by a tall hood, broad shoulders, and trapezoidal wheel arches. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof and unique hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly, featuring laser-etched knurling, while the wheel centre caps were protected by acrylic glass. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer offered a luxurious experience with high-quality materials, including Nappa leather upholstery and optional Palermo leather, complemented by aluminum and American Walnut wood trim. The interior boasted 24-way power front seats with memory, massage, and lumbar support, along with heated first- and second-row seats and a heated steering wheel.

The 2025 MINI Countryman embraced traditional Mini design elements, such as wide-eyed headlights and a floating roof, while incorporating modern sheet metal. Depending on the model and customization options, the Countryman could appear as a conservative crossover or a performance SUV. The Countryman S was a popular choice, while the John Cooper Works (JCW) offered enhanced power and performance. The SE model provided an electric option with an estimated range of 341 kilometres. The interior featured Vintage Brown artificial leather seats and an adaptive damping suspension, with a focus on style and quality. The dashboard incorporated Petrol Blue fabric made from recycled polyester, and the ambient light projections added a soothing touch. The Countryman’s design and interior quality made it a stylish choice in the subcompact SUV segment.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, enabled the Grand Wagoneer to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in approximately six seconds. The vehicle featured standard four-wheel drive with the Quadra-Drive II system, offering five drive modes and a height-adjustable Quadra-Lift air suspension system. With a maximum ground clearance of 25.4 centimetres, the Grand Wagoneer could tackle various terrains, although its size limited its off-road capabilities. Despite its powerful engine, the Grand Wagoneer was best suited for a stately pace, as its ride could become bouncy at higher speeds, and the steering lacked precision.

The 2025 MINI Countryman S was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 241 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. It featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The Countryman S could accelerate to 100 km/h in about 6.4 seconds and had a towing capacity of 1,587 kilograms. The vehicle offered different driving modes, including Core and Go Kart, which adjusted the driving dynamics and engine sound. However, the Countryman lacked refinement, with a clunky dual-clutch transmission and occasional noise issues. Despite these drawbacks, the Countryman S was quick and nimble, providing an enjoyable driving experience on the right roads. Its fuel economy was estimated at 8.7 litres per 100 kilometres, although our test vehicle returned 9.6 L/100 km.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer accommodated seven passengers with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It offered more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. However, front-row space was more limited compared to these rivals. The Grand Wagoneer provided 775 litres of cargo space with all seats in place and 2,007 litres with the third row stowed. Its maximum towing capacity was 4,472 kilograms. The vehicle featured a standard sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins. Forward visibility was somewhat limited, but the standard 360-degree camera system helped mitigate this issue.

The 2025 MINI Countryman offered seating for four adults, with a snug but comfortable rear seat. The front seats were comfortable, and the artificial Vescin leather added an upscale touch. The Countryman provided good outward visibility, aided by oversized side mirrors and an excellent surround-view camera system. The vehicle was roomier than its predecessor, making it suitable for a family of four. It featured a power tailgate with 708 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,591 litres with the rear seats folded. Storage solutions were creative, including a funky storage box on the centre console and a deep tray for large water bottles.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous pairing for two Bluetooth-enabled phones and offered a 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Second-row passengers had access to a 10.25-inch touchscreen for climate control, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system, with an Android-based operating system, provided over-the-air software updates. While the system offered a range of features, the screen response was occasionally slow, and the instrument cluster graphics were plain.

The 2025 MINI Countryman featured a 9.4-inch OLED touchscreen infotainment display with cloud-based navigation and augmented video. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and smartphone charging. The Harman Kardon premium audio system delivered excellent sound quality. The Countryman’s infotainment system was complex, with a breadth of menus and settings. An Intelligent Personal Assistant named Spike was supposed to recognize natural commands, but it was inactive in the test vehicle. The head-up display was helpful, providing clear information despite the cluttered centre display.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer came with standard safety features, including a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centring, requiring drivers to keep their hands on the wheel. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time.

The 2025 MINI Countryman was equipped with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring with active steering input. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights, parking sensors, and Mini Assist eCall. The adaptive cruise control system with stop-and-go capability was available in the Premier+ package. The Countryman received a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS in 2024.