Compare the2022 MINI SE CountrymanVS 2021 BMW i3

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics

Safety

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The MINI SE Countryman has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The i3 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The SE Countryman has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The i3 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The SE Countryman has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The i3 doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The SE Countryman’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The i3 doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

Both the SE Countryman and the i3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available front parking sensors.

The MINI SE Countryman weighs 677 to 1014 pounds more than the BMW i3. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the general design of front seat head restraints for their ability to protect front seat occupants from whiplash injuries. The IIHS also performs a dynamic test on those seats with “good” or “acceptable” geometry. In these ratings, the SE Countryman is safer than the i3:

	SE Countryman	i3
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Restraint Design	GOOD	GOOD
Dynamic Test Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Seat Design	Pass	Fail
Torso Acceleration	12.7 g’s	13.3 g’s
Neck Force Rating	Low	Low
Max Neck Shearing Force	0	5
Max Neck Tension	287	561

(Lower numerical results are better in all tests.)

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the SE Countryman the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 213 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The i3 was not even a “Top Pick” for 2016.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that MINI vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI 16th in initial quality. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 18th.

Engine

The SE Countryman’s 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder hybrid produces 53 more horsepower (221 vs. 168) and 100 lbs.-ft. more torque (284 vs. 184) than the i3 REx’s standard 0.6 2-cylinder hybrid. The SE Countryman’s 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder hybrid produces 40 more horsepower (221 vs. 181) and 85 lbs.-ft. more torque (284 vs. 199) than the i3s’ standard electric motor.

Fuel Economy and Range

The SE Countryman has 7.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the i3 Range Extender (9.5 vs. 2.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the SE Countryman has larger tires than the i3 (225/50R18 vs. 155/70R19). The SE Countryman’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the i3 (225/50R18 vs. 175/55R20).

The SE Countryman’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the i3’s standard 70 series front and 60 series rear tires. The SE Countryman’s tires are lower profile than the i3s’ 55 series front tires.

Suspension and Handling

The SE Countryman has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The i3’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The SE Countryman has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the SE Countryman flat and controlled during cornering. The i3’s suspension doesn’t offer stabilizer bars.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the SE Countryman’s wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than on the i3 (105.1 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the SE Countryman a Mid-size car, while the i3 is rated a Subcompact.

The SE Countryman has standard seating for 5 passengers; the i3 can only carry 4.

The SE Countryman has 11.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the i3 (95.4 vs. 83.6).

The SE Countryman has .9 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 5.7 inches more rear legroom and 4.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the i3.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the SE Countryman’s power liftgate can be opened just by waving your foot, leaving your hands completely free. The SE Countryman’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The i3 doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Ergonomics

The SE Countryman’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. BMW does not offer a locking feature on the i3’s standard power windows.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the SE Countryman to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The i3 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the SE Countryman detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The i3 doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

On extremely cold winter days, the SE Countryman’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The i3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The SE Countryman offers an optional center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The i3 doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The SE Countryman’s optional dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The i3 doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the MINI SE Countryman offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The i3 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.