Compare the2023 MINI CountrymanVS 2023 Toyota Venza

The MINI 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 Venza doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Countryman and the Venza 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and front parking sensors.

The Countryman comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Venza’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Countryman’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Venza’s (12 vs. 5 years).

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the Countryman for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Venza (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

The Countryman’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 162 lbs.-ft. more torque (162 vs. ) than the Venza’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Countryman S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 206 lbs.-ft. more torque (206 vs. ) than the Venza’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The JCW Countryman’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 82 more horsepower (301 vs. 219) and 331 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. ) than the Venza’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Countryman S 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Toyota Venza:

Both the Countryman and Venza have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Countryman has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Countryman has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Venza (16.1 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Countryman Auto’s optional launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Venza doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Countryman’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Venza:

The Countryman stops much shorter than the Venza:

The Countryman’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Venza LE’s standard 60 series tires. The Countryman’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited’s 55 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Countryman can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Venza doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Countryman offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Venza’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The 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 Venza doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Countryman S handles at .88 G’s, while the Venza Limited pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Countryman S ALL4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Venza Limited (27.2 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

The MINI Countryman may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 500 pounds less than the Toyota Venza.

The Countryman is 1 foot, 4.9 inches shorter than the Venza, making the Countryman easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Flexibility is maximized at the game, campground or a drive-in theatre in the Countryman when its optional tailgating rear seats are deployed, allowing people to sit facing out of the liftgate. (Do not use while vehicle is in motion.) The Venza doesn’t offer tailgating seats.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 25% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

The Countryman’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Venza’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Countryman has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Venza doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Countryman also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

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

When the Countryman with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Venza’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The 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 Venza offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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

The Countryman is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Venza doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the MINI Countryman and the Toyota Venza, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Countryman second among small suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Venza was rated third in its category.