Compare the2024 Acura ZDXVS 2024 MINI SE Countryman

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Acura ZDX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The MINI SE Countryman doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Acura ZDX 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.

Both the ZDX and SE Countryman have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The ZDX has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The SE Countryman’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

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 ZDX 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 ZDX has standard Reverse Automatic Braking 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.

The ZDX Type S has a standard Surround Vision System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The SE 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 ZDX’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 ZDX’s standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and Rear Cross Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The SE Countryman doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the ZDX and the SE Countryman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

The Acura ZDX weighs 1495 to 2126 pounds more than the MINI SE Countryman. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are almost 3 times as many Acura dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the ZDX’s warranty.

The ZDX A-Spec’s standard electric motor produces 137 more horsepower (358 vs. 221) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (324 vs. 284) than the SE Countryman’s 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder hybrid. The ZDX A-Spec AWD’s standard electric motors produces 269 more horsepower (490 vs. 221) and 153 lbs.-ft. more torque (437 vs. 284) than the SE Countryman’s 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder hybrid. The ZDX Type S’ standard electric motors produces 279 more horsepower (500 vs. 221) and 260 lbs.-ft. more torque (544 vs. 284) than the SE Countryman’s 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder hybrid.

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

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

The ZDX can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 278 to 313 miles. The SE Countryman has to start its internal combustion engine after only 18 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Acura ZDX higher (10 out of 10) than the MINI SE Countryman (3). This means the ZDX produces up to 36.3 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the SE Countryman every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the ZDX Type S’ brake rotors are larger than those on the SE Countryman:

The ZDX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the SE Countryman are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the ZDX has larger standard tires than the SE Countryman (265/50R20 vs. 225/50R18). The ZDX Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the SE Countryman (275/40R22 vs. 225/50R18).

The ZDX Type S’ tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the SE Countryman’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ZDX A-Spec has standard 20-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the SE Countryman. The ZDX Type S has standard 22-inch wheels.

The Acura ZDX’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The MINI SE Countryman only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The ZDX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The SE Countryman doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The ZDX offers an available 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 SE Countryman’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the ZDX’s wheelbase is 16.7 inches longer than on the SE Countryman (121.8 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the ZDX is 4.6 inches wider in the front and 4.6 inches wider in the rear than on the SE Countryman.

The ZDX’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the SE Countryman’s (53.6% to 46.4%). This gives the ZDX more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the ZDX has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the SE Countryman (7 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the ZDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The ZDX has 1 inch more front legroom, 4.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and 4.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the SE Countryman.

The ZDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the SE Countryman with its rear seat up (29.7 vs. 17.2 cubic feet). The ZDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the SE Countryman with its rear seat folded (63 vs. 47.4 cubic feet).

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

The ZDX has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The SE Countryman has no towing capacity.

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

The ZDX 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.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the SE Countryman, the ZDX Type S has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The ZDX’s standard Keyless Access System allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Comfort Access standard on the SE Countryman doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the ZDX to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The SE Countryman doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Both the ZDX and the SE Countryman have standard heated front seats. The ZDX Type S also has standard 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 ZDX 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 Acura ZDX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the SE Countryman Iconic offers wireless charging.

The ZDX Type S has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The SE Countryman doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The ZDX Type S’ Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The SE Countryman Iconic’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

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