Compare the2023 Mazda CX-5VS 2023 MINI Countryman

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-5 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 CX-5 has standard Whiplash-Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing 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 Smart City Brake Support in the CX-5 as “Superior.” The Countryman scores only 3 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-5 Turbo Signature has standard Smart Brake Support-Rear that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Countryman doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-5. But it costs extra on the Countryman.

The CX-5 Turbo Signature has a standard 360° Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Countryman only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The CX-5’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 CX-5’s standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Countryman doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the CX-5 and the Countryman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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 driver alert monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-5 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Countryman has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-5 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Countryman. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Countryman ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 5 times as many Mazda dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-5’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CX-5’s reliability 21 points higher than the Countryman.

Engine

The CX-5 has more powerful engines than the Countryman:

	Horsepower	Torque
CX-5 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	187 HP	186 lbs.-ft.
CX-5 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder	256 HP	320 lbs.-ft.
Countryman 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder	134 HP	162 lbs.-ft.
Countryman S 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	189 HP	206 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-5 4 cyl. is faster than the MINI Countryman turbo 3 cyl.:

	CX-5	Countryman
Zero to 60 MPH	8.3 sec	9.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16.3 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	80.4 MPH	79.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-5 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Countryman doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mazda CX-5 higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the MINI Countryman (3 to 7). This means the CX-5 produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Countryman every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-5 stops much shorter than the Countryman:

	CX-5	Countryman
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	138 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than on the Countryman (106.2 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-5 is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1 inch wider in the rear than the average track on the Countryman.

The CX-5 handles at .81 G’s, while the Countryman ALL4 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Countryman ALL4 (27.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Countryman’s (36 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

Passenger Space

The CX-5 has 6.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Countryman (103.6 vs. 96.9).

The CX-5 has .6 inches more front legroom, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 2 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Countryman.

Cargo Capacity

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Countryman with its rear seat up (30.8 vs. 17.6 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Countryman with its rear seat folded (59.3 vs. 47.6 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Countryman doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The CX-5 has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Countryman has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

The CX-5 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 climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Countryman doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-5 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Countryman only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the CX-5’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Countryman’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the CX-5 offers optional extendable sun visors. The Countryman doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the CX-5 and the Countryman offer available heated front seats. The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Countryman.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Countryman doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the CX-5 has a standard Radar 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.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the CX-5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CX-5 will cost $550 less than the Countryman over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-5 is less expensive to operate than the Countryman because it costs $209 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the CX-5 than the Countryman, including $199 less for a water pump, $153 less for a muffler, $41 less for front brake pads, $98 less for a starter, $75 less for a fuel pump, $130 less for front struts, $281 less for a timing belt/chain and $234 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mazda CX-5 will be $2078 to $3318 less than for the MINI Countryman.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-5 and the MINI Countryman, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the MINI Countryman by almost 16 to one during 2022.