Compare the2023 Mitsubishi Outlander SportVS 2023 MINI Countryman

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 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.

The Outlander Sport has standard Active Front Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Front Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Countryman doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Forward Collision Mitigation in the Outlander Sport as “Superior.” The Countryman scores only 3 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

The Outlander Sport SE/GT’s 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. 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 Outlander Sport SE/GT’s standard rear 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 Outlander Sport and the Countryman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available rear parking sensors.

The Outlander Sport comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Countryman’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Mitsubishi’s powertrain warranty covers the Outlander Sport 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Countryman. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Countryman ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Mitsubishi dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Outlander Sport’s warranty.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Mitsubishi vehicles are more reliable than MINI vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mitsubishi 3 places higher in reliability than MINI.

The Outlander Sport has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Countryman doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Outlander Sport stops much shorter than the Countryman:

For better maneuverability, the Outlander Sport’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Countryman’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outlander Sport has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Countryman (8.5 vs. 6.5 inches), allowing the Outlander Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Outlander Sport has 1.2 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Countryman.

The Outlander Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Countryman with its rear seat up (21.7 vs. 17.6 cubic feet). The Outlander Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Countryman with its rear seat folded (49.5 vs. 47.6 cubic feet).

The Outlander Sport offers a 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 Countryman doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Insurance will cost less for the Outlander Sport owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Outlander Sport with a number “1” insurance rate while the Countryman is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Outlander Sport is less expensive to operate than the Countryman because it costs $127 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Outlander Sport than the Countryman, including $168 less for a muffler, $31 less for front brake pads, $79 less for front struts and $155 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport will be $3810 to $9033 less than for the MINI Countryman.

The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport outsold the MINI Countryman by over two to one during the 2022 model year.