Compare the2023 MINI SE CountrymanVS 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

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 Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 Outlander PHEV 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.

Compared to metal, the SE Countryman’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has a metal gas tank.

The SE Countryman has standard Assist eCall, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a GPS response system, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the SE Countryman and the Outlander PHEV 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

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 Outlander PHEV:

	SE Countryman	Outlander PHEV
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Restraint Design	GOOD	GOOD
Distance from Back of Head	21 mm	48 mm
Dynamic Test Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Seat Design	Pass	Fail
Neck Force Rating	Low	Low
Max Neck Shearing Force	0	47
Max Neck Tension	287	488

(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 Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 230 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Outlander PHEV was not even a “Top Safety Pick” for 2016.

Warranty

The SE Countryman’s corrosion warranty is 5 years and unlimited miles longer than the Outlander PHEV’s (12/unlimited vs. 7/100,000).

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the SE Countryman for 3 years and 36,000 miles. MINI will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mitsubishi doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Outlander PHEV.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the SE Countryman’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Outlander PHEV’s camshafts. If the Outlander PHEV’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that MINI vehicles are better in initial quality than Mitsubishi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 58 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mitsubishi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that MINI vehicles are more reliable than Mitsubishi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in long-term dependability. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mitsubishi is rated lower.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the MINI SE Countryman is faster than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV:

	SE Countryman	Outlander PHEV
Zero to 60 MPH	5.9 sec	8.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	88.3 MPH	83.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the SE Countryman running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the Outlander PHEV running its gasoline engine (29 city/30 hwy vs. 26 city/26 hwy).

Tires and Wheels

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 Outlander PHEV’s standard 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

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

The SE Countryman has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the SE Countryman is 1 inch wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Outlander PHEV.

The SE Countryman handles at .79 G’s, while the Outlander PHEV GT pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The SE Countryman executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Outlander PHEV GT (27.5 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Chassis

The MINI SE Countryman may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 pounds less than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

The SE Countryman is 1 foot, 3 inches shorter than the Outlander PHEV, making the SE Countryman easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the SE Countryman’s liftgate can be opened just by waving your foot, leaving your hands completely free. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than Mitsubishi. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 19% lower rating, Mitsubishi is ranked 12th.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the SE Countryman, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a memory system.

The SE Countryman offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the SE Countryman and the Outlander PHEV have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the SE Countryman is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Outlander PHEV prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the SE Countryman the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Outlander PHEV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Outlander PHEV’s standard power locks don’t automatically lock the doors. The SE Countryman’s standard doors lock when a certain speed is reached. This is an important feature for occupant safety. Locked doors are proven to open less often in collisions, and they are also effective in preventing crime at traffic lights.

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 Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The SE Countryman’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Outlander PHEV’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the SE Countryman offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To better shield the driver’s vision, the SE Countryman has a standard dual-element sun visor that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a secondary sun visor.

The SE Countryman’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Outlander PHEV has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The SE Countryman has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Outlander PHEV GT.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is standard on the SE Countryman. The SE Countryman’s navigation system also has a real-time traffic update feature that offers alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a navigation system.

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 Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The SE Countryman’s Parking Assistant can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

The SE Countryman will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the SE Countryman will retain 47.91% of its original price after five years, while the Outlander PHEV only retains 47.25% to 47.53%.