Compare the2023 Volkswagen TiguanVS 2023 MINI Countryman

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen Tiguan 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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Automatic Emergency Braking in the Tiguan 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 Tiguan SE R-Line Black/SEL R-Line has standard Maneuver Braking 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.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Tiguan’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Countryman doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Tiguan SEL R-Line has a standard Area View 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 Tiguan’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 Tiguan’s standard rear cross-path warning system 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 Tiguan and the Countryman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and lane departure warning systems.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Tiguan its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Countryman has not been fully tested, yet.

There are over 6 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Tiguan’s warranty.

The Volkswagen Tiguan’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Countryman’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 50 more horsepower (184 vs. 134) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 162) than the Countryman’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder. The Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 206) than the Countryman S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen Tiguan is faster than the MINI Countryman turbo 3 cyl.:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Tiguan uses regular unleaded gasoline. The JCW Countryman requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

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

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

The Tiguan stops much shorter than the Countryman:

For better traction, the Tiguan SE R-Line Black’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Countryman (255/45R19 vs. 225/55R17).

The Tiguan SEL R-Line’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Countryman’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tiguan SEL R-Line has standard 20-inch wheels. The Countryman’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tiguan’s wheelbase is 4.8 inches longer than on the Countryman (109.9 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

The Tiguan’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55.9% to 44.1%) than the Countryman’s (58.3% to 41.7%). This gives the Tiguan more stable handling and braking.

The Tiguan 4Motion® handles at .82 G’s, while the Countryman ALL4 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Tiguan has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Countryman (7.6 vs. 6.5 inches), allowing the Tiguan to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Tiguan offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Countryman can only carry 5.

The Tiguan has 27 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Countryman (123.9 vs. 96.9).

The Tiguan has 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Countryman.

The Tiguan’s cargo area provides more volume than the Countryman.

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the Tiguan’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Countryman doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Tiguan has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Countryman has no towing capacity.

The Tiguan has a higher standard payload capacity than the Countryman (937 vs. 805 lbs.).

The Tiguan has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Countryman (1157 vs. 924 lbs.).

The Tiguan SE/SEL has a standard 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.

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

To shield the driver’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side window, the Tiguan has a standard extendable sun visor. The Countryman doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Tiguan SEL R-Line 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.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Tiguan is less expensive to operate than the Countryman because typical repairs cost less on the Tiguan than the Countryman, including $36 less for front brake pads, $62 less for a timing belt/chain and $124 less for a power steering pump.

The Volkswagen Tiguan outsold the MINI Countryman by over 9 to one during 2022.