Compare the2024 MINI CountrymanVS 2023 Subaru Crosstrek

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The MINI Countryman has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Countryman has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Compared to metal, the Countryman’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Subaru Crosstrek has a metal gas tank.

Both the Countryman and the Crosstrek have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and front parking sensors.

Warranty

The Countryman comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Crosstrek’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Countryman’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Crosstrek’s (12 vs. 5 years).

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the Countryman for 3 years and 36,000 miles. MINI will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Crosstrek.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that MINI vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru 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 MINI vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in long-term dependability. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Subaru is rated below average.

Engine

The Countryman has more powerful engines than the Crosstrek:

	Horsepower	Torque
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.
Crosstrek 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder	152 HP	145 lbs.-ft.
Crosstrek Sport/Limited 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	182 HP	176 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the Countryman S 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Crosstrek Sport/Limited 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder (automatics tested):

	Countryman	Crosstrek
Zero to 60 MPH	6.8 sec	7.5 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	18.9 sec	22.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.5 sec	8.2 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.5 sec	4.4 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	5.3 sec	5.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	88 MPH
Top Speed	135 MPH	120 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the Countryman’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Regardless of its engine, the Countryman’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Subaru only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Crosstrek CVT.

Transmission

The MINI Countryman comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Crosstrek.

The Countryman offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is more internally efficient than a CVT but just as easy to drive. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer an SMG.

To facilitate fast shifting and allow the driver to focus on the road, the Countryman JCW offers an optional up-shift light to indicate when the engine is approaching redline. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

The Countryman JCW’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Countryman S	JCW Countryman	Crosstrek
Front Rotors	13 inches	14.2 inches	11.6 inches
Rear Rotors	11 inches	13 inches	10.8 inches

The Countryman stops much shorter than the Crosstrek:

	Countryman	Crosstrek
70 to 0 MPH	157 feet	169 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	125 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	130 feet	136 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Countryman’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Crosstrek’s standard 60 series tires. The Countryman’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Crosstrek Limited’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Countryman offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Crosstrek’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Countryman can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Countryman offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Crosstrek’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Countryman has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Countryman S handles at .88 G’s, while the Crosstrek Limited pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Countryman S ALL4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Crosstrek Limited (27.2 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Chassis

The Countryman is 6.8 inches shorter than the Crosstrek, making the Countryman easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Countryman has .7 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more rear headroom and 1.1 inches more rear legroom than the Crosstrek.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Countryman’s rear seats recline. The Crosstrek’s rear seats don’t recline.

Flexibility is maximized at the game, campground or a drive-in theatre in the Countryman when its optional tailgating rear seats are deployed, allowing people to sit facing out of the liftgate. (Do not use while vehicle is in motion.) The Crosstrek doesn’t offer tailgating seats.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Countryman easier. The Countryman’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26.8 inches, while the Crosstrek’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Countryman’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by waving your foot, leaving your hands completely free. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Servicing Ease

The Countryman uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Crosstrek uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than Subaru. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 21% lower rating, Subaru is ranked 16th.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Countryman, the optional memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Countryman offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Countryman’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Crosstrek has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Countryman’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Crosstrek’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Countryman the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Crosstrek can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Countryman’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Crosstrek’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Countryman’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Crosstrek’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Countryman to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Countryman’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Crosstrek’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Countryman has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Crosstrek has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the Premium/Sport/Limited.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Countryman has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

The Countryman’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Crosstrek and aren’t offered on the Crosstrek Base.

When the Countryman with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Crosstrek’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

On extremely cold winter days, the Countryman’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Countryman’s optional 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. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Countryman and the Crosstrek offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Countryman has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the MINI Countryman offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Countryman’s optional Parking Assistant can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Countryman is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Countryman is less expensive to operate than the Crosstrek because it costs $91 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Countryman than the Crosstrek, including $71 less for a starter, $18 less for fuel injection, $31 less for a fuel pump and $21 less for front struts.

Recommendations

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Countryman first among small suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Crosstrek isn’t in the top three.