Compare the2024 Chevrolet Equinox EVVS 2024 MINI SE Countryman

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Chevrolet Equinox EV 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 Equinox EV 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 Equinox EV 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 Equinox EV has a standard HD Surround Vision 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 Equinox EV’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 Equinox EV’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 Equinox EV 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, 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 and available driver alert monitors.

The Chevrolet Equinox EV weighs 997 to 1115 pounds more than the MINI SE Countryman. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Chevrolet’s powertrain warranty covers the Equinox EV 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than MINI covers the SE Countryman. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the SE Countryman ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 28 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Equinox EV’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in initial quality. With 13 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 Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, MINI is rated lower.

The Equinox EV’s optional electric motors produces 67 more horsepower (288 vs. 221) and 49 lbs.-ft. more torque (333 vs. 284) than the SE Countryman’s 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder hybrid.

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

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

The Equinox EV can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 285 to 319 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 Chevrolet Equinox EV higher (10 out of 10) than the MINI SE Countryman (3). This means the Equinox EV produces up to 36.3 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the SE Countryman every 15,000 miles.

The Equinox EV’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 Equinox EV has larger standard tires than the SE Countryman (245/55R19 vs. 225/50R18). The Equinox EV’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the SE Countryman (275/40R21 vs. 225/50R18).

The Equinox EV’s optional 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 Equinox EV has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the SE Countryman. The Equinox EV offers optional 21-inch wheels.

The Chevrolet Equinox EV’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 Equinox EV 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Equinox EV’s wheelbase is 11.2 inches longer than on the SE Countryman (116.3 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Equinox EV is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than on the SE Countryman.

For greater off-road capability the Equinox EV has a greater minimum ground clearance than the SE Countryman (6.4 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the Equinox EV to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Equinox EV has 6.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the SE Countryman (102.2 vs. 95.4).

The Equinox EV has 1.3 inches more front legroom, 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, .4 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the SE Countryman.

The Equinox EV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the SE Countryman with its rear seat up (26.4 vs. 17.2 cubic feet). The Equinox EV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the SE Countryman with its rear seat folded (57.2 vs. 47.4 cubic feet).

The Equinox EV has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The SE Countryman has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Equinox EV uses the StabiliTrak® 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 Equinox EV 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 Equinox EV’s optional 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 Equinox EV 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 Equinox EV has standard extendable sun visors. The SE Countryman doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the Equinox EV and the SE Countryman have standard heated front seats. The Equinox EV 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.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Equinox EV 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 Chevrolet Equinox EV has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the SE Countryman Iconic offers wireless charging.

The Equinox EV’s optional Enhanced 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 Equinox EV is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The SE Countryman doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Chevrolet Equinox outsold the MINI Countryman by almost 17 to one during 2023.