2023 Hyundai Palisade vs 2024 MINI Countryman

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, as Hyundai's largest SUV, had a commanding presence on the road, further enhanced by its 2023 styling update. The new front fascia, with its bold strokes and squared-off grille, gave the Palisade a stronger and more assertive look. Standard LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights added to its modern appeal, while the top Calligraphy trim featured premium rear accent lighting and a unique glossy black and chrome grille. The interior of the Calligraphy-trimmed model was stylish and bright, thanks to a dual-pane sunroof, and featured premium Nappa leather seats. The Palisade offered a range of seating configurations, with second-row captain's chairs in higher trims and a bench option for lower trims, accommodating up to eight passengers.

In contrast, the 2024 MINI Countryman embraced its playful and classic Mini styling cues, with an erect wraparound windshield, floating roof, and Union Jack tail lights. The Countryman offered a variety of paint, roof, and mirror cap treatments, along with multiple wheel designs. The interior of the Iconic trim package featured premium leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a thick-rimmed heated steering wheel. The Countryman provided room for four adults and their luggage, with excellent outward visibility and easy parking due to its compact dimensions. However, the rear seat was more comfortable for four passengers rather than five, and cargo space was limited compared to other small SUVs.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This made it more powerful than competitors like the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas, and slightly more so than the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder. The Palisade's eight-speed automatic transmission could be controlled with paddle shifters, and front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The Palisade excelled in towing, with a capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, and offered a comfortable ride for everyday driving. Fuel economy for the front-wheel-drive model was 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined, while the all-wheel-drive version achieved 19 city, 25 highway, and 21 combined.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered a range of powertrains, with the John Cooper Works (JCW) model standing out for its performance. The JCW featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed sport automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. It could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The Cooper S model, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing 189 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque, was quick enough for most drivers, reaching 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. The Countryman excelled in daily driving scenarios, offering a zippy and athletic feel, but was less engaging for spirited driving. Fuel economy for the Cooper S was rated at 28 mpg combined, though real-world testing yielded 25.4 mpg.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample space for passengers and cargo, with seating for seven or eight. It provided 44.1 inches of legroom in the front row, 42.4 in the second, and 31.4 in the third, surpassing the Toyota Highlander. The Palisade's cargo space was generous, with 18 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 behind the second, and 86.4 with all seats folded flat. A hands-free smart liftgate was standard on all but the base trim. The interior was designed for comfort and convenience, with HVAC vents in all three rows, multiple cupholders, and a well-organized center console.

The 2024 MINI Countryman accommodated four adults comfortably, with enough legroom and foot space in the rear seats. The Iconic trim package added dual-zone automatic climate control, premium leather upholstery, and power-adjustable heated front seats. The Countryman's compact size made it easy to park, 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 rear seats and 47.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The 40/20/40-split folding back seat allowed for flexibility in carrying longer items.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade impressed with its technology offerings, including a standard 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, and Bluetooth connectivity. A premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system was available in higher trims. The Palisade also featured a 4.2-inch color driver info display, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster available in Limited and Calligraphy models. Remote accessibility and management features were enhanced with Hyundai's Bluelink system, and the Digital Key 2 Touch allowed for keyless entry and start using compatible devices.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered a user-friendly infotainment system with an 8.8-inch touchscreen, utilizing BMW's iDrive technology. The system provided multiple ways to interact, including touchscreen controls, steering wheel buttons, and voice recognition. However, it lacked Android Auto connectivity, offering only Apple CarPlay. The Iconic trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, delivering excellent audio quality. The head-up display projected information on a small screen, providing useful driving data.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with Hyundai's Smart Sense suite of safety features, including forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were standard on all trims. The Palisade also offered navigation-based Smart Cruise Control and Highway Driving Assist, enhancing safety on the road. The 2022 model earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, and the 2023 model was expected to maintain or improve upon this rating.

The 2024 MINI Countryman featured Active Driving Assistant, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. However, it lacked some advanced safety features like blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist. Adaptive cruise control was available as an option on higher trims. The Countryman received the highest rating of Good in crashworthiness evaluations from the IIHS, though some testing procedures were incomplete.