Compare the2025 Toyota Rav4 Plug-In HybridVS 2025 MINI Countryman SE

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The MINI Countryman SE doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid 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 Countryman SE doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid and the Countryman SE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and available around view monitors.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Countryman SE. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Countryman SE ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 13 times as many Toyota dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is ranked fourth.

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

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the Countryman SE 19-inch wheels (105 city/84 hwy vs. 94 city/88 hwy MPGe).

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s maximum EPA estimated range on a full tank and a full charge is 622 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The Countryman SE’s range is only 204 to 212 miles, after which the minimum time to recharge is 29 minutes for only an 80% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge using a conventional 110-volt outlet can take up to 59 hours and 30 minutes.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Countryman SE are solid, not vented.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a standard 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 Countryman SE; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than on the Countryman SE.

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Countryman SE’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Countryman SE’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Countryman SE (8 vs. 7.4 inches), allowing the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s minimum ground clearance is .8 inch higher than on the Countryman SE (8.2 vs. 7.4 inches).

The Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 350 pounds less than the MINI Countryman SE.

The front grille of the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Countryman SE doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has .6 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 2.7 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Countryman SE.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Countryman SE with its rear seat up (33.5 vs. 24.8 cubic feet). The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Countryman SE with its rear seat folded (63.2 vs. 56.2 cubic feet).

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid, using the Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the Countryman SE.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Countryman SE (1295 vs. 1025 lbs.).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Countryman SE only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Countryman SE’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has standard extendable sun visors. The Countryman SE doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid and the Countryman SE have standard heated front seats. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Countryman SE.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Countryman SE doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Compared to the MINI Countryman SE, the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Countryman SE doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the MINI Countryman by almost 35 to one during 2023.