Compare the2022 Volkswagen TaosVS 2021 MINI Countryman

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen Taos are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The MINI Countryman doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Taos deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Taos’ side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Countryman’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Taos offers optional Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Countryman doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Taos’ optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Countryman doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Taos’ optional blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. The Countryman doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Taos’ optional cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Countryman doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Taos and the Countryman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes and rear parking sensors.

There are over 5 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Taos’ warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen 9th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is ranked 16th, below the industry average.

The Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 24 more horsepower (158 vs. 134) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 162) than the Countryman’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Taos gets better fuel mileage than the Countryman:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Taos uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Countryman requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

For greater off-road capability the Taos has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Countryman (6.6 vs. 6.5 inches), allowing the Taos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Volkswagen Taos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 350 pounds less than the MINI Countryman.

The design of the Volkswagen Taos amounts to more than styling. The Taos has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .31 Cd. That is lower than the Countryman (.32 to .33) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Taos get better fuel mileage.

The Taos has 2.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Countryman (99.5 vs. 96.9).

The Taos has .2 inches more front headroom, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, .3 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Countryman.

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Countryman with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 17.6 cubic feet). The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Countryman with its rear seat folded (65.9 vs. 47.6 cubic feet).

The Taos SE/SEL has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Countryman doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Taos SEL AWD keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Countryman doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Taos’ optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Countryman doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.