2023 Dodge Durango vs 2024 MINI Countryman

The 2023 Dodge Durango, entering its 12th model year without a redesign, maintained a familiar yet attractive appearance. It eschewed the faux ruggedness of other brands, opting for clean, car-like styling with slim lines and forward-leaning headlights. The Durango avoided the trend of oversized grilles, instead featuring a large lower air intake that provided presence without excess. At the rear, Dodge's signature "racetrack" taillights gave it a distinctive look. The SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat models had unique styling features, including a Viper-like hood with functional air inlets and heat extractors, but these were subtle. The Blacktop Package and Hemi Orange appearance package offered additional customization options, while the interior, though less distinctive, provided a comfortable environment with materials suited to various price points.

The 2024 MINI Countryman, like all Minis, embraced a playful and classic design. It featured an erect wraparound windshield, a floating roof reminiscent of a bimini top, and Union Jack tail lights that proudly declared its British heritage. The Countryman offered numerous paint, roof, and mirror cap treatments, along with multiple wheel designs. The lineup included Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper SE, and John Cooper Works models, each with distinct drivetrains. The interior, especially in the Iconic trim, boasted premium leather, power-adjustable front seats, and a head-up display. The Countryman provided a unique experience with its jaunty styling and retro interior design, making it stand out in a sea of bland small SUVs.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, starting with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, producing 293 horsepower (295 hp with dual exhaust) and 260 pound-feet of torque. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8, standard on the R/T and optional on the Citadel, delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The SRT 392 model boasted a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 475 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The SRT Hellcat took performance to another level with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8, producing 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The Durango's size didn't hinder its acceleration, providing a thrilling experience, especially on highways.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered various powertrains, with the John Cooper Works model standing out. It featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed sport automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The JCW accelerated to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The Cooper S model, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, produced 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque. It offered a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with front-wheel drive or an eight-speed sport automatic with all-wheel drive. The Cooper S reached 60 mph in 7.2 seconds (7.1 sec. with AWD). The Countryman excelled in daily driving, offering a zippy and athletic feel, though it wasn't as engaging on twisty roads as the JCW.

The 2023 Dodge Durango was available in seven-seat or six-seat configurations, with front bucket seats, a three-seat second-row bench, and a two-seat third-row bench standard on SXT, GT, and R/T models. The Citadel, SRT 392, and SRT Hellcat models featured second-row captain's chairs. The Durango offered competitive interior space, with headroom and legroom comparable to other three-row midsize SUVs. However, it had less cargo space than some rivals, with 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.1 cubic feet behind the first row. The Durango excelled in towing capacity, with V6 models towing up to 6,200 pounds and V8 models up to 8,700 pounds.

The 2024 MINI Countryman accommodated four adults comfortably, with enough luggage space for a week-long road trip. The Iconic trim added dual-zone automatic climate control, premium leather upholstery, and power-adjustable heated front seats. The Countryman offered excellent outward visibility and easy parking, though it lacked some advanced parking technologies. Interior storage was reasonable, but the smartphone charging pad blocked access to the tray beneath it. Cargo space was limited, with 17.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 47.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The 40/20/40-split folding back seat allowed for carrying longer items.

The 2023 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto on SXT and GT models, while the Citadel and SRT models had a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Both used the Uconnect infotainment system, with the larger screen offering the current Uconnect 5 version. The system was responsive and easy to use, with added personality in the form of Easter Eggs for SRT models. The SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat included the Performance Pages app, providing performance information on the touchscreen. A 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available with the Premium Package on the SRT Hellcat.

The 2024 MINI Countryman wasn't a technology powerhouse but offered useful features. It had a small digital instrumentation display and a head-up display projecting information on a small screen. The 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed in a round casing, used a version of BMW's iDrive technology. It offered five interaction methods: touchscreen, volume and tuning controls, steering wheel controls, a control knob and buttons on the center console, and voice recognition. The system lacked Android Auto, providing only Apple CarPlay. The Iconic trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, offering excellent audio quality.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed results in IIHS crash tests, with top "Good" marks in some tests but a "Marginal" score in the driver-side small overlap front test. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall safety rating, with five stars in the side crash test and four stars in the frontal crash test. RWD models received four stars in the rollover test, while AWD models got three stars. Standard driver-assist tech was limited, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert standard on all trims, but forward collision warning and other features only standard on the Citadel.

The 2024 MINI Countryman had limited advanced driving assistance systems. It included Active Driving Assistant, with forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Rear parking sensors and an emergency SOS call button were standard, with adaptive cruise control available on higher trims. The Countryman lacked blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and other advanced features. The IIHS rated it "Good" in crashworthiness evaluations, but testing was incomplete due to new procedures.