Compare the2025 MINI Countryman SEVS 2024 Subaru Solterra

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Countryman SE and the Solterra 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, 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.

Warranty

The Countryman SE comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Solterra’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Countryman SE’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Solterra’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. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Solterra.

Reliability

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 Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is rated lower.

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 Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 13th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that MINI vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks MINI third in overall reliability. Subaru is ranked 6th.

Engine

The Countryman SE’s electric motors produces 93 more horsepower (308 vs. 215) and 115 lbs.-ft. more torque (364 vs. 249) than the Solterra’s electric motors.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Countryman SE has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The Solterra doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

Transmission

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 Solterra doesn’t offer launch control.

Tires and Wheels

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

The Countryman SE’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 Solterra Premium’s standard 60 series tires. The Countryman SE’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Solterra Limited/Touring’s 50 series tires.

Chassis

The Countryman SE is 9.6 inches shorter than the Solterra, making the Countryman SE easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Countryman SE has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 3 inches more front hip room and 11.5 inches more rear hip room than the Solterra.

Cargo Capacity

The Countryman SE has a larger cargo volume than the Solterra with its rear seat up (24.8 vs. 23.8 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Countryman SE. The Solterra doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Countryman SE’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by waving your foot, leaving your hands completely free. The Solterra doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

The Countryman SE has a 2646 lbs. towing capacity. The Solterra has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The Countryman SE uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Solterra uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than Subaru. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 7% lower rating, Subaru is ranked 7th.

Ergonomics

The Countryman SE has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Solterra doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Countryman SE’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Solterra’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Countryman SE’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Solterra Premium’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Countryman SE has a standard rear wiper. The Solterra doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Countryman SE’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Solterra offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The MINI Countryman SE has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Solterra Limited/Touring.

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 is only available on the Solterra Limited/Touring.

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

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

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 Solterra Limited/Touring’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Recommendations

The MINI Countryman outsold the Subaru Solterra by 41% during 2023.

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