Compare the2025 MINI CountrymanVS 2025 Lexus NX

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 NX 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 NX 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Countryman. But it costs extra on the NX.

Both the Countryman and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the MINI Countryman is safer than the NX:

The Countryman’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the NX’s (12 vs. 6 years).

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the Countryman for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the NX (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

The Countryman has more powerful engines than the NX:

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

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the Countryman’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Lexus only offers a regenerative brake system on the NX 350h/450h.

Both the Countryman and the NX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Countrymans have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The Countryman 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 NX doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Countryman’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 NX doesn’t offer launch control.

For better traction, the Countryman’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the NX (245/45R19 vs. 235/60R18).

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 NX’s standard 60 series tires. The Countryman’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the NX’s optional 50 series tires.

The Countryman offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the NX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For greater off-road capability the Countryman has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX 350 F Sport Handling AWD (8 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the Countryman to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Countryman is 8.5 inches shorter than the NX, making the Countryman easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Countryman has 2.4 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom, 3.8 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The Countryman has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (25 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Countryman has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (56.2 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

The Countryman’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (3499 vs. 0 pounds).

The power windows standard on both the Countryman and the NX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Countryman is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The NX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 NX can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 NX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Countryman has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the NX.

The Countryman offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the NX.

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