Compare the2023 Hyundai Kona NVS 2024 MINI Countryman

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Kona N 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 Kona N 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 Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist optional in the Kona N as “Superior.” The Countryman scores only 3 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

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

The Kona N’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 Kona N’s standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Countryman doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Kona N 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The Kona N comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Countryman’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona N 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Countryman. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Countryman ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 8 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Kona N’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is ranked 11th.

The Kona N’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 142 more horsepower (276 vs. 134) and 127 lbs.-ft. more torque (289 vs. 162) than the Countryman’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder. The Kona N’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 87 more horsepower (276 vs. 189) and 83 lbs.-ft. more torque (289 vs. 206) than the Countryman S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Hyundai Kona N is faster than the Countryman S 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

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

The Kona N’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.

For better traction, the Kona N has larger tires than the Countryman (235/40R19 vs. 225/55R17).

The Kona N’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 standard 55 series tires. The Kona N’s tires are lower profile than the Countryman’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Kona N has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Countryman.

The Kona N handles at .95 G’s, while the Countryman S pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Kona N is 3.8 inches shorter than the Countryman, making the Kona N easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Kona N has 1.1 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Countryman.

The Kona N has a much larger cargo volume than the Countryman with its rear seat up (19.2 vs. 17.6 cubic feet).

The Kona N 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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Kona N 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.

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

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Kona N has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Countryman.

The Kona was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2019. The Countryman has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the MINI Countryman by almost seven to one during 2022.