Volvo XC40 vs MINI Countryman

Redesigned this year, the 2025 Countryman grows in size but remains a small crossover SUV. Expressively styled, infused with parent company BMW’s engineering and technology, and packed with cheeky Mini quirks, the Countryman is available in S All4, John Cooper Works All4, and electric SE All4 model series, each equipped with standard All4 all-wheel drive (AWD). It can comfortably hold rear-seat passengers, carries a competitive amount of cargo, and remains fun to drive.

Verdict: With prices starting at around $45,000 in Canada before fees, the Mini Countryman sells in entry-level luxury territory. However, anyone expecting plush refinement will want to shop elsewhere because the Countryman is decidedly rough around the edges. We begrudgingly accept its quirks in exchange for its personality, but many people likely won’t.

In Volvo speak, “40” denotes an entry-level model. While the Swedish automaker no longer rosters the S40 sedan or V40 wagon in North America, the XC40 subcompact crossover remains to compete with the likes of the Audi Q3, the BMW X1, the Lexus UX, and the Mercedes-Benz GLA for aspiring luxury-car owners’ dollars.

The XC40 was unveiled in 2017, arriving as a 2019 model, and it hasn’t undergone a redesign since. An all-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge variant joined the lineup as a 2021 model. Volvo’s other current EV, the C40 Recharge, is also broadly similar to the XC40 models, but with a coupe-like body style.

For 2023, Volvo gave the XC40 several notable updates, including new mild-hybrid powertrains, revised styling, and the Android-based infotainment system previously seen on the XC40 Recharge and other Volvo models.

The mild-hybrid lineup includes base Core, mid-level Plus, and top Ultimate trim levels, with standard B5 all-wheel drive (AWD) drivetrains (the B4 front-wheel drive, or FWD, version offered in the US is not available in Canada). This Volvo XC40 review is based on the Ultimate trim in B5 AWD spec.