Compare the2023 MINI CountrymanVS 2023 Honda HR-V

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The 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 HR-V 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.

Both the Countryman and the HR-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and front parking sensors.

Warranty

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 HR-V’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 HR-V’s (12 vs. 5 years).

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the Countryman for 1 year and 12000 miles longer than Honda pays for maintenance for the HR-V (3/36,000 vs. 2/24,000).

Reliability

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 Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda 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 Honda 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, Honda is rated below average.

Engine

The Countryman’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 24 lbs.-ft. more torque (162 vs. 138) than the HR-V’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Countryman S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 31 more horsepower (189 vs. 158) and 68 lbs.-ft. more torque (206 vs. 138) than the HR-V’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The JCW Countryman’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 143 more horsepower (301 vs. 158) and 193 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. 138) than the HR-V’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the MINI Countryman is faster than the Honda HR-V:

	Countryman turbo 3 cyl.	Countryman S	HR-V
Zero to 60 MPH	9.3 sec	7.4 sec	9.8 sec
Quarter Mile	17 sec	15.7 sec	17.5 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the Countryman’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The HR-V doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Countryman’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The HR-V doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Countryman has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the HR-V (16.1 vs. 14 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

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 HR-V doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Countryman	HR-V
Front Rotors	13 inches	12.3 inches

The Countryman stops much shorter than the HR-V:

	Countryman	HR-V
70 to 0 MPH	157 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	130 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	130 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Countryman has larger tires than the HR-V (225/55R17 vs. 215/60R17).

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 HR-V’s standard 60 series tires. The Countryman’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the HR-V Sport’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Countryman offers optional 19-inch wheels. The HR-V’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

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 HR-V doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

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 HR-V’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 HR-V doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Countryman S handles at .88 G’s, while the HR-V EX-L AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Countryman S ALL4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the HR-V EX-L AWD (27.2 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

Chassis

The Countryman is 10.1 inches shorter than the HR-V, making the Countryman easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Countryman has 1.1 inches more front headroom and .3 inches more rear headroom than the HR-V.

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 HR-V doesn’t offer tailgating seats.

Cargo Capacity

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

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than Honda. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 38% lower rating, Honda is ranked 25th.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Countryman, the optional memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The HR-V doesn’t offer a memory system.

The 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 HR-V doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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

The Countryman’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The HR-V’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the HR-V Sport/EX-L’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the 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 HR-V can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Countryman’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The HR-V’s power window (except driver window) and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 HR-V’s 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 HR-V 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 HR-V 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 HR-V doesn’t offer a secondary sun visor.

The Countryman’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the HR-V Sport/EX-L.

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 HR-V’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 HR-V offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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

The 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 HR-V doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

Both the Countryman and the HR-V offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Countryman has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The HR-V doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Countryman’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The HR-V’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

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

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the MINI Countryman and the Honda HR-V, based on reliability, safety and performance.