Toyota Land Cruiser vs MINI Countryman

The 2025 MINI Countryman was a visually appealing vehicle, maintaining its traditional Mini design elements such as wide-eyed headlights, a floating roof available in various colours, and vertical Union Jack taillights. These features were wrapped in modern sheet metal, giving it a contemporary look. Depending on the model, paint, interior, and wheels, the Countryman could appear as a conservative crossover or a performance-oriented SUV. Buyers had to choose between different models like the Countryman S, John Cooper Works (JCW), and the electric SE, each offering unique features and performance levels. The Canadian pricing ranged from $49,269 to $63,269, depending on the model and configuration.

The test vehicle, a Countryman S, featured Premier+ trim, Favoured style, and a striking British Racing Green paint with a body-colour roof and 20-inch Windmill Spoke wheels. Inside, it boasted Vintage Brown artificial leather seats and an adaptive damping suspension. While the faint gold tint on the trim and wheels wasn't to everyone's taste, the overall design made a bold statement. The interior was stylish and exuded quality, with features like Petrol Blue fabric on the dashboard and ambient lighting adding to the appeal. The Countryman was considered a stylish and affordable option in a market filled with mundane crossovers.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its second model year, offered two trim levels: the base 1958 and the more upscale Cruiser. The 1958 trim had a retro look reminiscent of the model's early days, featuring round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment. It was priced at $73,270, including destination charges. The Cruiser trim, priced at $82,030, offered a modern and upscale appearance with more colour options, a nicer interior, and essential off-roading features. The Premium Package added leather and advanced technology, bringing the price to $90,603.

The test vehicle, a Cruiser trim with the Premium Package, featured Heritage Blue and Grey paint, 20-inch wheels, and an accessory roof rack. While the colour options were limited, the Land Cruiser's traditional two-box SUV design maximized off-road capabilities, visibility, and interior space. The interior was utilitarian, with traditional switchgear and a Java-coloured leather option. The dual 12.3-inch digital screens added a touch of modernity. Despite some handling limitations on twisty roads, the Land Cruiser excelled in urban and off-road environments, offering a comfortable and capable driving experience.

The 2025 MINI Countryman S was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 241 horsepower between 4,500 and 6,500 rpm and 295 pound-feet of torque from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm. It featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). Mini claimed it could accelerate to 100 km/h in approximately 6.4 seconds and had a maximum towing capacity of 1,587 kilograms. The Countryman offered different driving modes, including Core and Go Kart, which adjusted the driving dynamics and infotainment display.

However, the Countryman lacked refinement, with the automatic engine stop/start and brake hold features causing a lack of smoothness during acceleration. The DCT's clunky shifting and absence of paddle shifters were noted, although the vehicle was described as zippy and nimble, especially in Go Kart mode. The adaptive suspension and larger wheels enhanced the driving experience on winding roads. Despite its fun factor, the Countryman had issues with powertrain refinement, noise isolation, and ride compliance, making it less comfortable on rough roads. The steering and brakes also had their quirks, affecting driver confidence. Fuel economy was estimated at 8.7 litres per 100 kilometres, but the test vehicle returned 9.6 L/100 km.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota's i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor. It produced 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, with a full-time four-wheel-drive system and electronic locking differentials. The Land Cruiser had a maximum towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms. Standard features included Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control, with the Cruiser trim adding Multi-Terrain Select modes, Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect.

The official fuel economy rating was 10.1 L/100 km, but real-world testing showed 15.0 L/100 km. Despite its thirst for fuel, the Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer. It handled urban and suburban environments well, with a suspension that absorbed rough city streets. The high seating position provided excellent visibility, and off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor. While it wasn't agile on twisty roads, the Land Cruiser offered a powerful and responsive driving experience, thanks to the electric assist motor and turbocharged torque.

The 2025 MINI Countryman offered seating for four adults, with the option to squeeze in a fifth passenger, though it wasn't 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 new Countryman was roomier than its predecessor, making it suitable for a family of four. The back seat, while snug, was comfortable, and teenagers didn't complain about the accommodations. Features like air vents, USB charging ports, and a panoramic sunroof added to passenger satisfaction.

However, clearance for a reverse-facing child safety seat was tight, and care was needed when opening the rear doors to avoid damaging neighbouring vehicles. Storage was generous and creatively designed, with a funky storage box on the centre console and a deep tray for large water bottles. The power tailgate revealed 708 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,591 litres with the rear seats folded, making it competitive in the subcompact SUV segment.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, in the Cruiser trim, featured SofTex artificial leather upholstery, with ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof. The front seats were comfortable and supportive, but the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. Long-legged passengers might find the running boards obstructive when entering and exiting the cabin, though they were useful for accessing the roof rack.

The rear window design was a missed opportunity, as it didn't power down into the tailgate like the 4Runner, limiting cabin airflow. The centre console's cool box, part of the Premium Package, seemed unnecessary and reduced storage space. The Land Cruiser offered 1,062 litres of cargo space, with a high load floor requiring effort to load heavy items. With the rear seats folded, maximum cargo space expanded to 2,324 litres, providing ample room for gear and equipment.

The 2025 MINI Countryman featured a new 9.4-inch OLED touchscreen infotainment display, though it received mixed reviews. It used the latest Mini operating system from BMW, packing a lot into its unique display. The reduction in physical switchgear contributed to user frustration. The test vehicle included cloud-based navigation with augmented video, connected services plans, and a Mini smartphone app for remote features. The Mini Experiences modes tailored the screen's appearance and content.

The Countryman offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and smartphone charging, along with SiriusXM satellite radio and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. An Intelligent Personal Assistant named Spike was supposed to recognize natural commands, but it was inactive in the test vehicle. Navigating the menus and settings was challenging, requiring familiarity with the interface. A head-up display provided helpful information, compensating for the cluttered centre display.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, in the Cruiser trim, upgraded to dual 12.3-inch displays with a sophisticated appearance. The Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) system included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM radio, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Four connected service plans were available, including Service Connect, Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Drive Connect.

Drive Connect offered cloud-based navigation and a conversational digital assistant, which performed well in voice recognition tests. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL sound system, a wireless smartphone charger, a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, and digital key technology. These features enhanced the Land Cruiser's technological appeal, providing convenience and entertainment options for drivers and passengers.

The 2025 MINI Countryman was well-equipped with safety and driver assistance features. Standard equipment included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring with active steering input. Additional features included automatic high-beam headlights, parking sensors, and Mini Assist eCall with an SOS button. The Premier+ package offered an adaptive cruise control system with stop-and-go capability and lane-centring assist.

The Countryman's safety features were effective, though the lane-keep assist required active steering input to satisfy the system. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the Countryman a "Top Safety Pick" in 2024, highlighting its safety credentials.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0), a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). TSS 3.0 included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist detection. It also featured lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving assistance.

Additional safety features included a road sign reader, automatic high-beam headlights, and Proactive Driving Assist (PDA). The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, and Traffic Jam Assist. The Land Cruiser's ADAS performance varied, with some features proving useful while others were less reliable. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated the Land Cruiser with four out of five stars overall, with mixed results in specific tests.