MINI Countryman vs Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a striking vehicle with a design that commanded attention. Its exterior styling was reminiscent of a long sedan, despite being an SUV, with a long hood and low ground clearance. The design drew inspiration from the classic Seville, featuring a long wheelbase, short tail, and wide track. The vertical light bars at the front, combined with nine LED headlights, created a captivating light show upon unlocking. The grille varied across trims, with the Sport trim offering a more subdued look. The LYRIQ's wraparound taillights and vertical fender lights added to its unique style, while the interior boasted luxurious details like leather-wrapped seats and a sweeping 33-inch OLED display.

In contrast, the 2025 MINI Countryman embraced traditional Mini design cues with a modern twist. It featured wide-eyed headlights, a floating roof, and Union Jack taillights. The Countryman offered various customization options, allowing it to range from a conservative crossover to a performance SUV. The interior was stylish, with Vintage Brown artificial leather seats and a Petrol Blue fabric dashboard. The Countryman provided a sense of quality and comfort, making it a compelling choice in a market filled with mundane crossovers.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, despite its sporty appearance, prioritized comfort over sportiness. It excelled on the interstate, offering a calm and poised ride. The dual-motor powertrain in the test car delivered 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, providing ample power for all-wheel drive. However, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel. The regenerative braking system was a welcome feature, but the overall chassis needed improvement. The LYRIQ's range was estimated at 314 miles for rear-wheel drive and 307 miles for all-wheel drive, though real-world testing showed slightly lower figures.

The 2025 MINI Countryman Cooper S featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 241 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It accelerated to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds and had a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The Countryman offered different driving modes, including the spirited Go Kart mode, which enhanced its nimble and zippy nature. However, the Countryman lacked refinement, with clunky shifting from the dual-clutch transmission and a noisy ride. Despite these drawbacks, it provided an enjoyable driving experience on the right roads, though fuel economy fell short of expectations.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced challenges in terms of build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders, a loose charging port, and a problematic pull-out tray were notable issues. The floating console lacked practicality, and the glovebox was inconvenient to access while driving. Despite these shortcomings, the LYRIQ offered generous headroom and legroom, with a spacious back seat. However, its cargo space was limited, measuring 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 60.8 cubic feet when folded.

The 2025 MINI Countryman provided seating for four adults, with comfortable front seats and good outward visibility. The rear seat was snug but comfortable, with amenities like air vents and USB charging ports. Storage solutions were creative, with a funky storage box on the center console and a deep tray for larger items. The power tailgate revealed 25 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 56.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Countryman offered practicality and versatility for a small SUV.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ featured a 33-inch OLED screen with three sections, offering touch-enabled controls for lighting and gauge cluster layouts. The infotainment system ran native Google Maps and Google Assistant, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The Super Cruise system provided excellent hands-free driving capabilities, while the 19-speaker AKG stereo delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2025 MINI Countryman boasted a 9.4-inch OLED touchscreen infotainment display, though it received mixed reviews. It included cloud-based navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, along with a Harman Kardon premium audio system. The Intelligent Personal Assistant, Spike, was inactive during testing, and the depth of menus and settings could be overwhelming. However, the head-up display was a helpful addition, providing essential information to the driver.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS at the time of writing. It came equipped with standard safety features like forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2025 MINI Countryman was well-equipped with safety and driver assistance features. Standard equipment included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The adaptive cruise control system offered Assisted Driving and Assisted Driving Plus, providing varying levels of automation. The Countryman received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from IIHS in 2024, highlighting its safety credentials.