Compare the2025 Kia SportageVS 2025 MINI Countryman

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Kia Sportage 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 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Sportage and the Countryman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Sportage comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Countryman’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Countryman. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Countryman ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 8 times as many Kia dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sportage’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sportage’s reliability 17 points higher than the Countryman.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is ranked 11th.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sportage uses regular unleaded gasoline. The JCW Countryman requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Sportage higher (7 out of 10) than the MINI Countryman (5 to 6). This means the Sportage produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Countryman every 15,000 miles.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Kia Sportage, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Countryman.

For better traction, the Sportage has larger tires than the Countryman (235/65R17 vs. 225/55R18).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage’s wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the Countryman (108.5 inches vs. 106 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Countryman.

For greater off-road capability the Sportage has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Countryman (8.3 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Sportage to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 400 pounds less than the MINI Countryman.

The front grille of the Sportage 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 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Sportage has 1 inch more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 4.3 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Countryman.

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Countryman with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 25 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Countryman with its rear seat folded (74.1 vs. 56.2 cubic feet).

While the Countryman JCW is not recommended to tow, any Sportage can tow a minimum of 2500 pounds.

A Trailer Stability Assist is standard on the Sportage, using the Electronic 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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Sportage has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Countryman 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 Sportage has standard extendable sun visors. The Countryman doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Sportage Prestige keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Countryman doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Compared to the MINI Countryman, the Kia Sportage 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 Sportage is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Countryman doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Sportage and the MINI Countryman, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Kia Sportage outsold the MINI Countryman by almost 14 to one during 2024.