Compare the2023 BMW X2VS 2023 MINI Countryman

Both the X2 and the Countryman 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 and available all wheel drive.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, rear impact and roof-crush tests, its standard front crash prevention system, its “Good” rating in the new passenger-side small overlap crash test, and its headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the X2 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2019, a rating granted to only 195 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Countryman has not been fully tested, yet.

There are over 3 times as many BMW dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the X2’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X2 third among small premium SUVs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Countryman isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is rated lower.

The X2 has more powerful engines than the Countryman:

As tested in Motor Trend the BMW X2 xDrive28i is faster than the MINI Countryman:

On the EPA test cycle the X2 gets better mileage than the Countryman:

For better stopping power the X2 M35i’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Countryman:

The X2’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Countryman are solid, not vented.

The X2 stops much shorter than the Countryman:

The X2’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Countryman’s standard 55 series tires. The X2 M35i’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Countryman’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X2 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Countryman. The X2 M35i’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Countryman.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the X2 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. Run-flat tires cost extra on some versions of the Countryman.

The X2 xDrive28i handles at .91 G’s, while the Countryman S pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The X2 sDrive28i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.4 seconds quicker than the Countryman ALL4 (25.9 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X2 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Countryman (7.2 vs. 6.5 inches), allowing the X2 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The X2 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Countryman with its rear seat up (21.6 vs. 17.6 cubic feet). The X2 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Countryman with its rear seat folded (50.1 vs. 47.6 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the X2. The Countryman doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Consumer Reports rated the X2’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Countryman’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The X2 has a standard 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. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Countryman.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the X2 offers an optional Active Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Countryman doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW X2 and the MINI Countryman, based on reliability, safety and performance.