Compare the2025 Nissan AriyaVS 2025 MINI Countryman SE

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Nissan Ariya 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 Nissan Ariya 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.

The Ariya Platinum+ has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Countryman SE doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Ariya and the Countryman SE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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.

The Nissan Ariya achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Countryman SE has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Nissan’s powertrain warranty covers the Ariya 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 over 11 times as many Nissan dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ariya’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is rated lower.

The Ariya Engage’s standard electric motors produces 27 more horsepower (335 vs. 308) and 49 lbs.-ft. more torque (413 vs. 364) than the Countryman SE’s electric motors. The Ariya Engage+/Evolve+/Platinum+’s standard electric motors produces 81 more horsepower (389 vs. 308) and 78 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 364) than the Countryman SE’s electric motors.

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

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

The Ariya’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.

For better traction, the Ariya has larger standard tires than the Countryman SE (235/55R19 vs. 225/55R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ariya has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Countryman SE. The Ariya Platinum+’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Countryman SE.

The Ariya has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Countryman SE doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ariya’s wheelbase is 3.3 inches longer than on the Countryman SE (109.3 inches vs. 106 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Ariya is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Countryman SE.

For better maneuverability, the Ariya’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Countryman SE’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Nissan Ariya may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the MINI Countryman SE.

The Ariya Platinum+ uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Countryman SE doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Ariya has 1.9 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Countryman SE.

The Ariya has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Countryman SE with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 24.8 cubic feet). The Ariya has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Countryman SE with its rear seat folded (59.7 vs. 56.2 cubic feet).

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the Countryman SE, the Ariya Platinum+ has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster) and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Ariya’s standard Intelligent Key allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Comfort Access standard on the Countryman SE doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Ariya 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.

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

Both the Ariya and the Countryman SE have standard heated front seats. The Ariya also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Countryman SE.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Ariya Platinum+ 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 Nissan Ariya 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 Ariya is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Countryman SE doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Ariya, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Nissan Ariya outsold the MINI Countryman by 8% during 2023.