2024 Genesis GV70 vs 2024 MINI Countryman

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered a distinct, playful aesthetic that was unmistakable among small SUVs. Embracing its British heritage, the Countryman boasted classic Mini styling cues such as an erect wraparound windshield, a floating roof that resembled a bimini top, and Union Jack tail lights declaring its origins loud and proud. The exterior could be customized with various paint options, roof, and mirror cap treatments, and a selection of wheel designs. However, the option for dark-tinted rear privacy glass instead of it being a standard feature stood out as an oddity.

The Countryman lineup included several trims: Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper SE, and John Cooper Works, each linked to different powertrains. The test vehicle was a Cooper S in the Iconic trim package, featuring amenities such as premium leather, power-adjustable front seats, a head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, semi-autonomous parking, and a power tailgate, all contributing to a $41,945 MSRP including destination charges. The interior combined digital instrumentation with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, exuding classic Mini charm with its retro design and switchgear. A dual-panel moonroof added an airiness to the cabin, making it a distinctive visual and tactile experience.

In contrast, the 2024 Genesis GV70 stood apart in both the brand's lineup and among competitors such as the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. Bearing signature Genesis elements like split headlights and a sizable shield-like grille, the GV70 achieved a sleek, elegant look without quirkiness. Notable features included a nearly hatchback-like rear window profile, large round exhaust outlets on the Sport Prestige trim, and distinctive 21-inch wheels.

The GV70 adeptly balanced SUV presence with luxury-car style, unlike its rivals which sometimes appeared puffed up or forced in design. The Electrified GV70 retained the same aesthetic as its gasoline counterpart, with its grille doubling as a charge port for practical ease at charging stations. The interior design was particularly memorable, featuring available quilted Nappa leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, elliptical climate controls, a console-based rotary infotainment controller, and a uniquely curved dashboard that lent an airplane wing vibe. This thoughtful approach made the GV70's look and feel stand out while maintaining usability.

The 2024 MINI Countryman had a spectrum of performance options, though some engines fell short. The John Cooper Works model was the performance star, featuring 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 for all-wheel drive. Acceleration was noteworthy, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds according to Mini.

The Cooper S model still delivered a spirited drive with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 189 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. It achieved a 0-60 mph time of 7.2 seconds with front-wheel drive and 7.1 seconds with the optional ALL4 AWD system. Though fuel-efficient at 28 mpg combined, real-world driving on test loops in various modes averaged 25.4 mpg.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 maintained its powertrain options, starting with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. An available 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 delivered 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive.

The Electrified GV70 surprised with its dual electric motors producing a combined 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, with a Boost Mode temporarily increasing output to 483 horsepower. Despite robust specs, the GV70’s handling in corners lacked the agility of sportier rivals like the BMW X3 or Porsche Macan. Ride comfort was competent but far from exceptional, particularly with a tendency for the suspension to crash over bumps. The Electrified model delivered a balanced feel despite an added 441 pounds, and offered flexible regenerative braking settings, including one-pedal driving.

Stepping inside the 2024 MINI Countryman revealed an interior optimized for comfort and practicality, accommodating four adults comfortably for long trips. The dual-zone climate control, premium leather, heated front seats, and a cozy heated steering wheel from the Iconic trim added luxury to the mix. However, its compact dimensions meant the rear seat was best for two passengers, as adding a third adult was impractical.

The Countryman’s visibility was excellent, aided by its compact size for easy parking, though it missed out on features like a surround-view camera or rear cross-traffic alert. Interior storage was reasonable, though the smartphone charging pad under the center armrest impeded access to other trays. Cargo space was limited to 17.6 cubic feet with the rear seats up and up to 47.6 cubic feet with the seats folded, less so for the plug-in hybrid variant.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 matched its European rivals in interior space, slightly lacking in headroom compared to the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, but more than adequate for most needs. Front legroom was comparable, with a bit more space than the BMW and Mercedes and slightly less than the Audi. Rear legroom was similarly competitive, offering a bit more space than the X3 and slightly less than the Q5 and GLC.

Cargo capacity was 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats up, better than the Mercedes' 21.9 but trailing the Audi's 29.5. With seats down, it expanded to 56.9 cubic feet, still trailing all German counterparts. The Electrified model saw minor compromises in space due to battery placement but remained practical.

Interior storage was somewhat compromised by the stylish but space-consuming design elements like the infotainment rotary controller and curved dashboard. However, Genesis included useful features like a dedicated phone storage nook and rear-seat climate controls. The Electrified variant even offered adaptive bolsters that automatically adjusted to secure occupants during spirited driving.

The 2024 MINI Countryman wasn’t a tech powerhouse but offered essential technology elements. A head-up display projecting on a small screen offered practical driving information. The 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed within a retro-styled round frame, utilized BMW’s iDrive system. This allowed interactions through a touchscreen, steering wheel, control knob, buttons, and a voice-recognition system, though it lacked Android Auto connectivity.

The Iconic trim added a 12-speaker Harman Kardon system that significantly improved sound quality compared to the standard six-speaker setup. Despite its minimalist tech offering, the system was user-friendly once acclimated and accurate in voice recognition.

Conversely, the 2024 Genesis GV70 borrowed its infotainment tech from Hyundai, with a user-friendly 14.5-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It featured an 8-inch digital instrument cluster in lower trims, while higher trims received a 12.3-inch unit with an engaging 3D effect, and an optional 12-inch head-up display. A 16-speaker Lexicon audio system was also available, enhancing the auditory experience.

The touchscreen’s intuitive layout, combined with a high-quality feel rotary controller, made the system easy to use. Genesis incorporated additional tech features like a fingerprint scanner for driver profiles and a digital key system, which allowed smartphones to function as keys.

The 2024 MINI Countryman showed its age in terms of safety features. Standard Active Driving Assistant included essentials like forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Rear parking sensors and an emergency SOS button were also standard, but many modern systems like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assist were missing. Adaptive cruise control was optional only on higher trims. The IIHS rated the Countryman well in crashworthiness with a highest rating of Good, though newer testing procedures hadn't been fully applied.

The 2024 Genesis GV70, however, received the IIHS’s highest Top Safety Pick+ award for gasoline and electric variants, indicating strong crash safety performance. NHTSA ratings were pending, but the 2023 model had fared well with a five-star overall safety rating.

Standard safety features for the GV70 included lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, driver-attention monitor, and parking sensors. The Highway Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane centering. Higher trims offered Highway Driving Assist 2 with automated lane-change and blind-spot monitoring. Unique features also included a safe exit assist and a high-sensitivity radar-based rear occupant alert system.