2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2024 MINI Countryman

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was characterized by its modernist and reductive design, which translated to a clean and simple aesthetic. This approach might not have appealed to those seeking a flashy luxury SUV, as Land Rover offered limited options for making the Range Rover Sport stand out, such as a Firenze Red paint color and diamond-turned, multi-spoke 23-inch wheels. The test vehicle, finished in Eiger Gray with silver 23-inch wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, exuded understated luxury. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, complemented by aluminum and shiny black trim, created a sophisticated atmosphere. The Range Rover Sport was available in SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e specifications, with the SE Dynamic P400 test vehicle featuring numerous upgrades that brought its MSRP to $98,420. Notable design elements included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology taillights, contributing to its excellent aerodynamics.

In contrast, the 2024 MINI Countryman embraced a playful and classic Mini styling, with features like an erect wraparound windshield, a floating roof, and Union Jack tail lights. The Countryman offered a wide range of customization options, including various paint, roof, and mirror cap treatments, as well as multiple wheel designs. The lineup included Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper SE, and John Cooper Works models, each with distinct drivetrains. The test vehicle, a Cooper S with the Iconic trim package, featured dark-tinted privacy glass, an adaptive damping suspension, and 19-inch wheels. Its MSRP was $41,945. The Iconic trim added premium leather, power-adjustable front seats, a head-up display, and more customization options. The Countryman's interior design retained classic Mini character, with digital instrumentation, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a dual-panel moonroof. The Mini's styling and retro interior design made it a unique choice in a market filled with bland small SUVs.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement and comfort with driver-focused engagement, though it only partially succeeded. It offered a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine in the SE and SE Dynamic models, with the SE Dynamic producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The lower-priced SE P360 delivered 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography P440e, providing 434 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, along with an estimated 51 miles of electric driving range. The Range Rover Sport also featured a 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine in select early-build models, though it was temporarily unavailable. The test vehicle's 395-hp inline-six offered ample power, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds. It had an eight-speed automatic transmission, Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, and a towing capacity of 7,716 pounds. The Range Rover Sport's fuel efficiency was better than expected, with an EPA rating of 21 mpg in combined driving, and it averaged 22.3 mpg on the evaluation route. The SUV's new architecture increased torsional stiffness by 35%, and it featured adaptive damping air suspension, Dynamic driving mode, and various stability control systems. While it excelled off-road, the Range Rover Sport struggled to match the agility of sport-tuned SUVs from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz on twisty roads.

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 producing 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed sport automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. It could accelerate to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The Cooper S, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivered 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque. It came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission for front-wheel drive or an eight-speed sport automatic for all-wheel drive. The Cooper S reached 60 mph in 7.2 seconds (7.1 seconds with ALL4). The Countryman excelled in daily driving, offering a zippy and athletic feel. However, it wasn't as engaging on twisty roads, even with summer performance tires and an adaptive damping suspension. The test vehicle achieved an EPA fuel economy rating of 28 mpg in combined driving but averaged 25.4 mpg during testing.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport retained its Command Driving Position, offering a tall and airy feel with a low dashboard, upright windshield, and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, and the front seats were comfortable with adjustable armrests. The test vehicle featured Windsor leather, 20-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and optional massage and air purification systems. The rear seat, while improved, remained tight for taller passengers, with hard front seatback panels and narrow door openings. The back seat provided excellent support but had a reclined angle. The cargo area offered 31.9 cubic feet of space, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The test vehicle had a full-size spare, limiting storage under the cargo floor.

The 2024 MINI Countryman accommodated four adults comfortably, with enough luggage space for a week-long road trip. The Iconic trim added dual-zone climate control, premium leather, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Countryman offered good legroom and foot room, though it was best suited for four passengers. Visibility was excellent, and the Mini's compact size made parking easy. Interior storage was reasonable, but the smartphone charging pad blocked access to the tray beneath it. The cargo area held 17.6 cubic feet of luggage, expandable to 47.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Cooper SE PHEV model had slightly smaller cargo measurements.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and connected services. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment system was often confusing and frustrating to use. The SUV's native digital assistant struggled with basic commands, and the system's functionality was inconsistent. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems and Active Noise Cancellation. A wireless smartphone charging pad was located under the infotainment screen.

The 2024 MINI Countryman 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 housing, used a version of BMW's iDrive technology. It offered five ways to interact, including touchscreen, physical controls, steering wheel controls, a control knob, and voice recognition. The system was easy to navigate and use, though it lacked Android Auto connectivity. The Iconic trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came equipped with advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. Remote Park Assist was available, allowing the SUV to park itself using a smartphone app. The adaptive cruise control and steering assist were not as smooth or reliable as expected, especially on freeway curves.

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, lane-keeping assist, and a surround-view camera system. The lane-departure warning system provided a subtle vibration through the steering wheel. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Countryman as Good in crashworthiness evaluations.