2024 MINI Countryman vs 2024 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2024 MINI Countryman was a vehicle that embraced its playful and distinctive design, staying true to its British roots with Union Jack tail lights and a floating roof reminiscent of a bimini top. It offered a variety of customization options, including different paint treatments and wheel designs, allowing owners to personalize their ride. Despite its compact size, the Countryman provided a unique driving experience with its classic Mini styling cues and retro interior design, making it stand out in a sea of small SUVs. The test model, a Cooper S with Iconic trim, featured premium leather, power-adjustable front seats, and a dual-panel moonroof, enhancing the overall driving experience.

In contrast, the 2024 Chevrolet Suburban was a behemoth on the road, with a long-standing reputation as an automotive institution. Its massive dimensions, stretching nearly 19 feet in length, made it a common sight on highways, blending in despite its size. The Suburban was available in six trims, each offering a range of features from basic niceties to luxurious upgrades. The High Country trim, which was tested, came with leather interiors and a host of comfort features, though some options like power running-board steps and a panoramic moonroof required additional costs. Despite its size, the Suburban's interior felt somewhat pedestrian, but it offered ample space for passengers and cargo, making it ideal for families and long road trips.

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, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds. The Cooper S model, which was tested, also used a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, delivering 189 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. It provided a zippy and athletic driving experience, with a 0 to 60 mph time of 7.2 seconds. The Countryman excelled in daily driving scenarios, though it wasn't designed for off-road adventures. Fuel economy was decent, with an EPA rating of 28 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing yielded slightly lower results.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban offered three engine options, including two V8s and a straight-six diesel. The standard 5.3-liter V8 engine delivered 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, providing ample power for towing up to 8,300 pounds with the Max Trailering Package. The 6.2-liter V8, available on higher trims, offered 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, delivering smoother acceleration. The Duramax 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine, with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, provided excellent fuel economy and towing capabilities. The Suburban's 10-speed automatic transmission was well-tuned, and the vehicle's size was manageable thanks to its responsive steering and brakes. The test model's air suspension handled rough roads with ease, though drivers needed to be mindful of its size and weight.

Inside the 2024 MINI Countryman, there was room for four adults and their luggage, making it suitable for road trips. The Iconic trim added dual-zone automatic climate control, premium leather upholstery, and heated front seats. The seats were small but supportive, and the steering wheel was comfortable to grip. While the Countryman had seatbelts for five, it was best suited for four passengers. Visibility was excellent, and the compact dimensions made parking easy. However, cargo space was limited, with 17.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in cargo space, offering 41.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 93.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 144.7 cubic feet with all seats down. This made it ideal for families needing ample storage for road trips. The Suburban's interior was spacious, with comfortable seating for up to seven passengers. The large fuel tank allowed for long-distance travel without frequent refueling, especially with the diesel engine's fuel efficiency.

The 2024 MINI Countryman featured a digital instrumentation display and a head-up display, providing essential information to the driver. The 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed in a round casing, used BMW's iDrive technology, offering multiple ways to interact with it, including touchscreen, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. While the system was user-friendly, 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 2024 Chevrolet Suburban came with a 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard on all but the base trim. The system featured Google Built-in, allowing access to Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play Store without phone pairing. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were included, and a rear-seat entertainment system was available as an option. The 10-speaker Bose audio system provided good sound quality, though it lacked the richness of higher-end systems.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered basic safety features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Adaptive cruise control was available on higher trims, but the Countryman lacked advanced features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Countryman as Good in crashworthiness evaluations.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban received a four-star overall crash safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It came with a range of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and Chevy's Teen Driver feature. Higher trims offered additional features like rear cross-traffic alert and Super Cruise, a semi-autonomous driving system available as an option.