Compare the2025 MINI Countryman SEVS 2024 Mercedes EQB

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 Countryman SE are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The EQB doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The MINI Countryman SE 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 EQB doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Countryman SE 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 EQB 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Countryman SE has standard Rear Collision Prevention that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The EQB doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Countryman SE. But it costs extra on the EQB.

The Countryman SE’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the EQB.

Both the Countryman SE and the EQB 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

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

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the Countryman SE for 3 years and 36,000 miles. MINI will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the EQB.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that MINI vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that MINI vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 44 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that MINI vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks MINI third in overall reliability. Mercedes is ranked 29th.

The Countryman SE’s electric motors produces 120 more horsepower (308 vs. 188) and 80 lbs.-ft. more torque (364 vs. 284) than the EQB 250+’s standard electric motor. The Countryman SE’s electric motors produces 83 more horsepower (308 vs. 225) and 76 lbs.-ft. more torque (364 vs. 288) than the EQB 300’s standard electric motor. The Countryman SE’s electric motors produces 20 more horsepower (308 vs. 288) than the EQB 350’s standard electric motor.

On the EPA test cycle the Countryman SE gets better mileage than the EQB:

The Countryman SE can travel longer on a full charge than the EQB on a full charge:

The Countryman SE’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 EQB doesn’t offer launch control.

For better traction, the Countryman SE’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the EQB (245/45R19 vs. 235/50R19).

The Countryman SE’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the EQB’s optional 50 series tires.

The Countryman SE is 9.4 inches shorter than the EQB, making the Countryman SE easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Countryman SE has a much larger cargo volume than the EQB with its rear seat up (24.8 vs. 10.7 cubic feet).

Optional Trailer Stabilization Control on the Countryman SE uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The EQB doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 26% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 17th.

The Countryman SE 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 EQB.

The Countryman SE’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The EQB’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The MINI Countryman outsold the Mercedes EQB by 6% during 2023.