Compare the2025 MINI Countryman SEVS 2024 Tesla Model 3

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 Model 3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Model 3.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Countryman SE’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Model 3 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Countryman SE offers an optional 360-degree camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model 3 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.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Countryman SE’s standard Cross Traffic Warning uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and Brake Intervention automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Countryman SE has standard Assist eCall, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Countryman SE and the Model 3 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The MINI Countryman SE weighs 534 to 697 pounds more than the Tesla Model 3. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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. Tesla doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Model 3.

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 Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 84 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla 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 Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 78 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is ranked 26th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that MINI vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks MINI third in overall reliability. Tesla is ranked 14th.

The Countryman SE’s electric motors produces 37 more horsepower (308 vs. 271) and 54 lbs.-ft. more torque (364 vs. 310) than the Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive’s standard electric motor. The Countryman SE’s electric motors produces 13 more horsepower (308 vs. 295) and 55 lbs.-ft. more torque (364 vs. 309) than the Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive Long Range’s standard electric motor.

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 Model 3 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better traction, the Countryman SE’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model 3 (245/45R19 vs. 235/35R20).

The Countryman SE is 10.8 inches shorter than the Model 3, making the Countryman SE easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces. The Countryman SE is 10.9 inches shorter than the Model 3 Performance.

The Countryman SE has .4 inches more front headroom, 4.4 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more rear legroom, 4 inches more rear hip room and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model 3.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Countryman SE’s rear seats recline. The Model 3’s rear seats don’t recline.

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 Model 3 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Countryman SE has a 2646 lbs. towing capacity. The Model 3 has no towing capacity.

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 Model 3 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

A Condition Based Service is standard on the Countryman SE to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for brake fluid replacement and vehicle inspections based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model 3.

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 Model 3 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 Model 3’s passenger power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Countryman SE has a standard rear wiper. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Countryman SE has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Model 3 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Countryman SE’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model 3 doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

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 Model 3.