2024 MINI Countryman vs 2023 Honda Pilot

The 2023 Honda Pilot underwent a complete redesign, presenting a more rugged and substantial appearance. Its upright grille and boxier styling not only made it look bigger but also increased its dimensions, being 3.4 inches longer, up to 1.5 inches wider, and 0.8 inches taller than its predecessor. These changes complemented the all-terrain-capable TrailSport model, which featured legitimate off-road parts like a one-inch taller ride height, unique 18-inch wheels, chunky all-terrain tires, and underbody skid plates. The interior took a more conventional styling route, remaining attractive, functional, and versatile, with materials quality meeting elevated class standards. Overall, the new Pilot emphasized function over form without sacrificing attraction.

The 2024 MINI Countryman embraced its classic Mini styling cues, featuring an erect wraparound windshield, a floating roof, and Union Jack tail lights, proudly declaring 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. Our test car, a Cooper S with Iconic trim, included dark-tinted privacy glass, an adaptive damping suspension, and 19-inch wheels. The interior boasted premium leather, power-adjustable front seats, a head-up display, and wireless smartphone charging. The Countryman's jaunty styling and retro interior design provided a singular experience, standing out among bland small SUVs.

The 2023 Honda Pilot was powered by a new 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all models and standard on the Elite and TrailSport trims. The Pilot offered quick initial acceleration and adequate power, with a soft brake pedal suitable for a family SUV. It cornered well for a three-row SUV, with noticeable but not alarming body roll. The Pilot was tuned for comfort, with feather-light steering that felt somewhat vague on the highway. The TrailSport model added an inch of ground clearance and all-terrain tires, enhancing its off-road capabilities without sacrificing on-road comfort.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered various powertrains, with the John Cooper Works model featuring a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. It accelerated to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The Cooper S model, with a 2.0-liter engine producing 189 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque, was quick enough for daily driving, reaching 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. The Countryman excelled in commuting and errand-running, with a fuel economy rating of 28 mpg in combined driving, though our test averaged 25.4 mpg. While not an engaging canyon carver, the Countryman offered a rewarding driving rhythm on twisty roads.

The 2023 Honda Pilot's interior was more conventional compared to other new Honda vehicles, featuring a handy dash shelf for the front passenger. The entry-level trims had a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen, while higher trims upgraded to a nine-inch display. The Pilot offered logical placement of primary controls, a large rubberized shelf for phones, and a wireless charging pad. Clever storage features included large cupholders, a wide center console bin, and a stowable second-row center seat. The second row provided ample space for adults, while the third row was less inviting. Cargo capacity was impressive, with up to 114.3 cubic feet available.

The 2024 MINI Countryman accommodated four adults comfortably, with premium leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel in the Iconic trim. The rear seat offered enough legroom and foot room, though squeezing a fifth person was challenging. The Countryman provided excellent outward visibility and easy parking, though it lacked some advanced parking technologies. Interior storage was reasonable, with a smartphone charging pad under the center armrest. Cargo space was limited, with 17.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 47.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Honda Pilot's EX-L trim and higher offered a larger infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, and USB ports in every row. Higher trims included a multi-view camera system, head-up display, and a fully digital instrument panel. The infotainment system was functional, with quick responses and a logical layout. Features like Honda's CabinTalk, navigation, Bose premium audio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot were available on higher trims.

The 2024 MINI Countryman featured a small digital instrumentation display and a head-up display projecting information on a small screen. The 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system used BMW's iDrive technology, with five interaction methods, including touchscreen, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. The system lacked Android Auto but offered Apple CarPlay. The Iconic trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, providing excellent audio quality.

The 2023 Honda Pilot had not yet been rated by the NHTSA, but it received a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. Standard Honda Sensing safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and more. Higher trims added low-speed automatic braking and parking sensors. The TrailSport and Elite trims featured surround-view and multi-view camera systems. The advanced safety features functioned well, with no false alarms experienced during testing.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered limited advanced driving assistance systems, with Active Driving Assistant providing forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. 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 the Countryman as Good in crashworthiness evaluations.