Compare the2024 Lexus NXVS 2023 MINI Countryman

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus NX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The MINI Countryman doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Lexus NX 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.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the NX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Countryman doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Pre-Collision System in the NX 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 NX offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Countryman doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

The NX offers an optional Panoramic View 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 NX’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 NX’s standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Countryman doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the NX 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 wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, 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 driver alert monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the NX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 30 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Countryman has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the NX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Countryman. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Countryman ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Lexus dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the NX’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 Lexus NX’s reliability 12 points higher than the Countryman and the Lexus NX Hybrid is rated 34 points higher than the Countryman.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, MINI is rated lower.

Engine

The NX has more powerful engines than the Countryman:

	Horsepower	Torque
NX 250 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	203 HP	184 lbs.-ft.
NX 350h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	240 HP
NX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	275 HP	317 lbs.-ft.
NX 450h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	304 HP
Countryman 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder	134 HP	162 lbs.-ft.
Countryman S 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	189 HP	206 lbs.-ft.
JCW Countryman 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	301 HP	331 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Consumer Reports the NX 350h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Countryman S 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

	NX	Countryman
Zero to 30 MPH	2.8 sec	3.1 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.6 sec	8.3 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.8 sec	5.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15.9 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	87 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the NX running on electricity gets better mileage than the Countryman:

			MPGe
NX
	AWD	450h Electric Motors	93 city/75 hwy
Countryman
			MPG
	FWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/32 hwy
		S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/33 hwy
	AWD	JCW Countryman 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy
		1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy
		S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the NX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Countryman:

			MPG
NX
	FWD	250 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/33 hwy
	AWD	350h 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	41 city/37 hwy
		450h 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	38 city/33 hwy
		250 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/32 hwy
Countryman
	FWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/32 hwy
		S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/33 hwy
	AWD	JCW Countryman 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy
		1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy
		S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy

The NX 450h can travel with zero emissions for 37 miles. The Countryman can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus NX higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the MINI Countryman (3 to 7). This means the NX produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Countryman every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The NX offers an available continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Countryman doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The NX’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 NX stops much shorter than the Countryman:

	NX	Countryman
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	138 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the NX has larger tires than the Countryman (235/60R18 vs. 225/55R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the NX has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Countryman. The NX’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 NX 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.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the NX is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Countryman.

The NX 350 AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the Countryman ALL4 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The NX 350 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Countryman ALL4 (27.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the NX has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Countryman (7.7 vs. 6.5 inches), allowing the NX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The NX has .6 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room and .2 inches more rear headroom than the Countryman.

Cargo Capacity

The NX has a much larger cargo volume than the Countryman with its rear seat up (22.7 vs. 17.6 cubic feet).

The NX’s cargo area is larger than the Countryman’s in almost every dimension:

	NX	Countryman
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.6”/70.3”	29.2”/61”
Max Width	54.5”	49”
Min Width	39.7”	39.9”
Height	29.6”	31”

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the NX’s optional rear seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Countryman doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

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

Payload and Towing

The NX offers up to a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Countryman has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the NX uses the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Countryman doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The NX has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Countryman (1125 vs. 805 lbs.).

The NX has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Countryman (1205 vs. 924 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than MINI. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 24% lower rating, MINI is ranked fourth.

Ergonomics

The NX 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.

The NX’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Countryman doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The NX’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Countryman does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the NX 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.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The NX offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Countryman doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the NX has standard extendable sun visors. The Countryman doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The NX has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Countryman. The NX 350/350h also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Countryman.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the NX 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.

The NX 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.

The NX 350h/450h+’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Countryman’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Lexus NX as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Lexus NX outsold the MINI Countryman by over five to one during 2022.

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