Compare the2025 Kia SoulVS 2025 MINI Countryman

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Kia Soul 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 Soul and the Countryman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front 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 blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Soul 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 Soul 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 Soul’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Soul third among small suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Countryman isn’t in the top three in its category.

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.

On the EPA test cycle the Soul gets better mileage than the Countryman:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Soul 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 Soul higher (6 out of 10) than the MINI Countryman (5 to 6). This means the Soul produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Countryman every 15,000 miles.

The Soul has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Countryman doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Soul stops shorter than the Countryman:

For better maneuverability, the Soul’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Countryman S’ (34.8 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The Soul’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the JCW Countryman’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Kia Soul may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 850 to 900 pounds less than the MINI Countryman.

The Soul is 9.8 inches shorter than the Countryman, making the Soul easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Soul has .7 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more rear headroom and 1.8 inches more rear legroom than the Countryman.

The Soul has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Countryman with its rear seat folded (62.1 vs. 56.2 cubic feet).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Soul 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 Soul has standard extendable sun visors. The Countryman doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Compared to the MINI Countryman, the Kia Soul 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.

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

The Kia Soul outsold the MINI Countryman by almost five to one during 2024.