Compare the2024 Kia Niro Plug-In HybridVS 2024 MINI SE Countryman

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid 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 SE 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The SE Countryman doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has standard Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The SE Countryman doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid’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 and moves the vehicle back into its lane. The SE 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid’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 SE Countryman doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Niro Plug-In Hybrid and the SE Countryman 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available front parking sensors.

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

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Niro Plug-In Hybrid 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than MINI covers the SE 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 SE Countryman ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 7 times as many Kia dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 9 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 statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 28 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is ranked 11th.

On the EPA test cycle the Niro Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the SE Countryman running on electricity (113 city/102 hwy vs. 74 city/72 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the Niro Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the SE Countryman running its gasoline engine (49 city/47 hwy vs. 29 city/30 hwy).

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 33 miles. The SE Countryman has to start its internal combustion engine after only 18 miles.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The SE Countryman requires premium for maximum efficiency, 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 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the MINI SE Countryman (3). This means the Niro Plug-In Hybrid produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the SE Countryman every 15,000 miles.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The SE Countryman doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid stops much shorter than the SE Countryman:

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the SE Countryman’s 50 series tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the SE Countryman (107.1 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX handles at .80 G’s, while the SE Countryman pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the SE Countryman’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 pounds less than the MINI SE Countryman.

The design of the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid amounts to more than styling. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is significantly lower than the SE Countryman (.33) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Niro Plug-In Hybrid get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Niro Plug-In Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The SE Countryman doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has 9.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the SE Countryman (105.1 vs. 95.4).

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has 1.1 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.5 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the SE Countryman.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the SE Countryman with its rear seat up (19.4 vs. 17.2 cubic feet). The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the SE Countryman with its rear seat folded (54.6 vs. 47.4 cubic feet).

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid 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 SE Countryman doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX’s standard easy entry system 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 SE Countryman doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the SE 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid has standard extendable sun visors. The SE Countryman doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the Niro Plug-In Hybrid and the SE Countryman have standard heated front seats. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the SE Countryman.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The SE Countryman doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the SE Countryman Iconic offers wireless charging.