2023 Toyota RAV4 vs 2024 MINI Countryman

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 was available in six trim levels, ranging from the budget-friendly RAV4 LE to the more luxurious RAV4 Limited, with off-road-oriented trims like the Adventure and TRD Off-Road in between. The design remained consistent with the 2019 model, especially in the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims, which featured a distinctive two-part face. The Adventure trim, which we tested, had a more aggressive grille, blacked-out wheels, and additional black cladding around the wheel arches, giving it a rugged appearance. However, it was more about looks than actual off-road capability. Inside, the Adventure trim added orange accents, including a stripe on the seats and contrast stitching, along with a frameless rearview mirror that added a touch of premium feel to the otherwise basic interior.

In contrast, the 2024 MINI Countryman embraced its playful and classic Mini styling, featuring a wraparound windshield, floating roof, and Union Jack tail lights. The Countryman offered various 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 different powertrains. Our test car, a Cooper S with the Iconic trim package, came with dark-tinted privacy glass, an adaptive damping suspension, and 19-inch wheels. The Iconic trim added premium leather, power-adjustable front seats, a head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, and a semi-autonomous parking system. The interior design was unmistakably Mini, with a retro feel and plenty of character.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came standard with front-wheel drive (FWD), except for the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims, which had all-wheel drive (AWD) by default. The sole engine option for the gas-powered RAV4 was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the transmission was preferable to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), it didn't excel in acceleration. The RAV4 Adventure trim featured 19-inch wheels with all-season tires and the same suspension setup as other RAV4s, while the TRD Off-Road trim had 18-inch wheels with Falken All-Terrain tires and a TRD-tuned suspension.

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 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed sport automatic transmission and AWD. Mini claimed the JCW could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The Cooper S model, which we tested, had a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 189 horsepower and 206 lb-ft of torque. It came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (DCT) for FWD models and an eight-speed sport automatic for AWD models. The Cooper S was quick, with a 0 to 60 mph time of 7.2 seconds (7.1 seconds with AWD). The Countryman excelled in daily driving but wasn't as engaging for spirited driving as the JCW.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 was designed to seat five passengers. With the moonroof, it offered 37.7 inches of headroom in the front and 39.5 inches in the rear, providing more headroom for rear passengers than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. Legroom measured 41 inches in the front and 37.8 inches in the rear, comparable to the CR-V but less than both the CR-V and Forester in the back. The RAV4 provided ample storage options, including a shelf running the length of the glove compartment and generous door pockets. Cargo space was 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 69.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, placing it in the middle of the pack.

The 2024 MINI Countryman accommodated four adults comfortably, with enough luggage space for a week-long road trip. Our test vehicle, equipped with the Iconic trim package, featured dual-zone automatic climate control, premium leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat offered sufficient legroom and foot room, but fitting a fifth passenger was challenging. Visibility was excellent, and the Mini's compact dimensions made parking easy. Interior storage was reasonable, though the smartphone charging pad under the center armrest 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.

For 2023, the Toyota RAV4 received a new infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen as standard and a 10.5-inch touchscreen for Limited and TRD Off-Road trims. The system supported over-the-air (OTA) updates, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity, along with voice command. Our RAV4 Adventure tester had the upgraded multimedia system with a 10.5-inch screen and an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system. A 7-inch driver-information display was standard, with a 12.3-inch version available on the Limited trim and as an option for TRD Off-Road.

The 2024 MINI Countryman featured an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system housed in a round housing reminiscent of classic Mini models. The system used BMW's iDrive technology and offered five ways to interact: touchscreen, volume and tuning controls, steering wheel controls, a control knob on the center console, and voice recognition. The system lacked Android Auto but included Apple CarPlay. Our test vehicle, with Iconic trim, had a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, which provided excellent audio quality.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam LED headlights, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. Higher-end driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control were also standard. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was available on the base LE model and standard on higher trims. The RAV4 earned a 2023 Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2024 MINI Countryman had fewer advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) compared to the RAV4. Standard features included 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 also 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 IIHS rated the Countryman highly in crashworthiness evaluations, earning the highest rating of Good.