MINI Countryman vs Hyundai Venue

The 2025 MINI Countryman was a visually appealing vehicle, embodying traditional Mini design elements such as wide-eyed headlights, a floating roof available in various colours, and vertical Union Jack taillights, all encased in modern sheet metal. Depending on the model, paint, interior, and wheels, the Countryman could present as either a conservative crossover or a performance-oriented SUV. The interior was stylish, with a sense of quality that made it seem like a bargain amidst a sea of mundane crossover SUVs. The test model, with its bright British Racing Green paint and 20-inch Windmill Spoke wheels, made a bold statement, although the faint gold tint on the trim and wheels was not universally appealing. The interior featured Vintage Brown artificial leather seats and a unique dashboard fabric made from recycled polyester, adding to the overall sense of sophistication.

In contrast, the 2026 Hyundai Venue had a design that leaned more towards a crossover than a car, despite its compact size and narrow appearance. It featured an upright windshield, a bluff nose, and available roof rails, giving it an SUV-like presence. The Venue's high nose was complemented by lower headlights and high-set daytime running lights, while black wheel flares and rocker panels added to its rugged look. Inside, the Venue offered a simple and functional design, with a digital instrument cluster and a small touchscreen that resembled an iPad affixed to the dash. The interior was dominated by hard black plastic, with only a few soft-touch surfaces, reflecting its budget-friendly nature.

The 2025 MINI Countryman S was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 241 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, allowing it to accelerate to 100 km/h in approximately 6.4 seconds. The Countryman offered different driving modes, including Core and Go Kart, which altered the driving dynamics and engine sound. However, the vehicle lacked refinement, with a clunky transmission and noticeable road noise. Despite these drawbacks, the Countryman was quick and nimble, especially in Go Kart mode, making it enjoyable to drive on winding roads. Fuel economy was less impressive, with the test vehicle averaging 9.6 L/100 km.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue, on the other hand, was powered by a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering a modest 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive, with no all-wheel drive option. The Venue's acceleration was sluggish, taking 8.5 to 8.8 seconds to reach 100 km/h. While it felt peppy in city traffic, the Venue struggled at highway speeds, with the transmission slow to respond. Handling was aided by its small size and low weight, making it easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces. However, the ride was jiggly on rough roads due to its solid rear axle.

The 2025 MINI Countryman offered seating for four adults, with the option to squeeze in a fifth passenger, though it was not recommended. The front seats were comfortable, and the artificial Vescin leather added an upscale touch. Visibility was good, aided by oversized side mirrors and an excellent surround-view camera system. The Countryman provided ample storage, including a power tailgate revealing 708 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,591 litres with the rear seats folded. However, clearance for a reverse-facing child safety seat was tight, and the rear doors required careful handling to avoid damaging neighbouring vehicles.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue featured cloth and synthetic leather seats with manual adjustments, offering decent comfort and support. Headroom was plentiful, but legroom was limited for taller occupants. The rear seat could accommodate two adults comfortably, but three would be a tight fit. The Venue's cargo space was modest, with 528 litres available with the rear seats folded and 902 litres with them upright. The rear cargo floor lifted to access a compact spare tire, but the lack of sound deadening was evident. The interior was dominated by hard plastic, with limited soft-touch surfaces.

The 2025 MINI Countryman came with a 9.4-inch OLED touchscreen infotainment display, featuring cloud-based navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. However, the display's unusual shape and reduced physical controls made it challenging to use. An Intelligent Personal Assistant named Spike was supposed to recognize natural commands, but it was inactive during testing. The head-up display was helpful, providing information on navigation and safety features.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue was equipped with a simple 8-inch touchscreen, offering basic infotainment features such as phone projection and media controls. While it lacked navigation and satellite radio, it did include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The audio system was a basic six-speaker unit, and the digital instrument cluster displayed limited information. A wireless charging pad was a surprising premium feature at this price point.

The 2025 MINI Countryman was well-equipped with safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. An 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.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue offered a good set of standard safety features, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane keep assist. However, adaptive cruise control was not available. The Venue received a four-star safety rating from the NHTSA, with mixed results from the IIHS.