2024 Honda Passport vs 2024 MINI Countryman

The 2024 MINI Countryman embodied a playful and distinctive character typical of the MINI brand. It flaunted classic MINI styling cues including an upright wraparound windshield design, a floating roof reminiscent of a bimini top, and Union Jack tail lights boldly celebrating its British heritage. Prospective buyers could choose from a variety of paint, roof, and mirror cap treatments, as well as multiple wheel designs. However, the rear privacy glass, a common standard feature in many cars, was surprisingly an option.

The 2024 Countryman lineup was diverse, consisting of Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper SE, and John Cooper Works models, each defined by its drivetrain. The base Cooper was powered by an underwhelming turbocharged three-cylinder engine. In contrast, the Cooper S and John Cooper Works used a turbocharged four-cylinder engine tuned differently. The Cooper SE was a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle offering 18 miles of electric-only driving before switching to a gas-electric hybrid mode with a combined fuel economy of 29 mpg.

Upon selecting a model, buyers had to choose from Classic, Signature, and Iconic trim packages, with availability depending on the chosen model. MINI often introduced special editions with unique paint, wheel, interior, and equipment combinations.

The test car was a Cooper S with the Iconic trim package, featuring dark-tinted privacy glass, an adaptive damping suspension, and 19-inch summer performance tires. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for this setup was $41,945, including the $995 destination charge.

Iconic trim brought premium leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, a head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, a semi-autonomous parking system, and a power tailgate, alongside various ways to customize the SUV’s aesthetic. Like other Countryman models, it had digital instrumentation, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a classic MINI design ethos in its layout and switchgear. The test car also featured a dual-panel moonroof, allowing plenty of natural light to flood the cabin.

The 2024 MINI Countryman stood out with its unique, unmistakable styling and retro interior design, offering a refreshing break from the bland designs typical of many small SUVs.

The 2024 Honda Passport continued to feature a design rooted in Honda’s previous generation aesthetics. Though it underwent some tweaking in 2022, including a more upright grille and squared-off corners, it retained significant similarities with older designs, even while Honda rolled out updated designs across other vehicles in its lineup, such as the Civic, Accord, CR-V, and Pilot.

Honda kept things straightforward with the Passport’s trim levels: EX-L, TrailSport, and Black Edition. Unlike some competitors offering a base model with simplified features, the Passport incorporated leather seats, a power moonroof, identical touchscreens, and all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard across all trims. The test model for this comparison was the midlevel TrailSport trim.

The TrailSport aimed to be the rugged choice, equipped with all-terrain tires—General Grabber A/T sport tires rated for snow performance. The TrailSport, along with the Black Edition, came standard with roof rails and LED fog lights, which were absent in the base EX-L model.

Despite its rugged appearance, the Passport TrailSport appeared more show than go. The skid plates were faux, made of plastic instead of metal, lacked recovery points in the bumpers, and did not feature a lift kit. Nevertheless, the Passport had respectable approach and departure angles, making it competitive with other vehicles like the Subaru Outback Wilderness.

Inside, the Passport retained a blend of old-school physical controls accompanied by an 8-inch touchscreen. Absent were modern touches like honeycomb-style vents seen in newer Honda models. The TrailSport trim featured black leather upholstery with orange contrast stitching and TrailSport emblems stitched into the front headrests. The rest of the interior remained simple and unassuming, with resilient yet inexpensive plastic materials well-integrated with more premium elements. Large air vents, straightforward controls, and ample storage space underscored the Passport’s utilitarian approach.

The MINI Countryman offered different levels of performance across its variants. The base Cooper, with its weak turbocharged three-cylinder engine, and the Cooper SE, with its unremarkable electric range, were less impressive. Therefore, the Cooper S and John Cooper Works versions were the models to consider for stronger performance.

The John Cooper Works model showcased a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing an impressive 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. With an eight-speed sport automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, this model could accelerate to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds, making it the go-to option for those seeking speed.

For most drivers, the Mini Cooper S Countryman sufficed with its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 189 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. The front-wheel-drive Cooper S had a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, while the all-wheel-drive ALL4 variant used the same eight-speed sport automatic as the JCW. The Cooper S could reach 60 mph in 7.2 seconds (7.1 seconds with AWD).

During everyday driving, the Cooper S delivered a zippy and athletic experience, with peak torque arriving at just 1,350 rpm. Although our test vehicle had summer performance tires and an adaptive damping suspension, it wasn’t a true canyon carver but still managed swift maneuvers on twisty roads, distinguishing itself from most small SUVs.

Fuel economy stood at 28 mpg in combined driving, according to the EPA, though our test vehicle averaged 25.4 mpg on a mountainous Southern California route. A Green mode could potentially improve these results.

The 2024 Honda Passport, on the other hand, maintained a steadfast commitment to its naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine, eschewing the industry trend of turbocharged powertrains or hybrid setups. The V6 delivered 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, managed by a nine-speed automatic transmission that shifted seamlessly and unobtrusively. Peak torque arrived at 4,700 RPM, requiring higher revs compared to turbocharged competitors. The EPA rated the Passport at 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined.

The TrailSport trim distinguished itself with mechanical modifications for off-roading. It had a slightly wider track at both ends, 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, and a suspension tuned for off-road articulation. All Passports came with Honda’s torque-vectoring iVTM4 AWD system and a traction-management system featuring normal, snow, sand, and mud settings.

Despite its rugged setup, elevated road and wind noise were noticeable at highway speeds due to the all-terrain tires. However, the noise diminished significantly around town. The steering was well-balanced and accurate with minimal play, contrary to the vague steering found in many large vehicles.

The Passport’s towing capacity was robust at 5,000 pounds, surpassing the Subaru Outback Wilderness and Hyundai Santa Fe but falling short of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. For heavier towing needs, buyers would have to opt for body-on-frame SUVs like the Nissan Armada.

The interior of the 2024 MINI Countryman was tailored to accommodate four adults and their luggage for a week-long trip, though it technically seated five. The Iconic trim in the test vehicle featured dual-zone automatic climate control, premium leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a thick-rimmed heated steering wheel. Front seats were small but comfortable and supportive, while the rear offered commendable legroom and foot space, albeit better suited for two adults rather than three.

Visibility was excellent, and the Countryman’s compact dimensions made parking straightforward. However, a surround-view camera and rear cross-traffic alert were absent, available instead were rear parking sensors and an automated parking assistance system of questionable utility.

Interior storage was adequate, though the smartphone charging pad under the center armrest obstructed access to the tray beneath. Cargo space was limited by class standards. The Countryman offered 17.6 cubic feet of space behind the back seat, expanding to 47.6 cubic feet with the 40/20/40-split rear seats folded down. The Cooper SE plug-in hybrid had slightly less cargo capacity.

The 2024 Honda Passport excelled in cargo capacity, a key strength in the midsize crossover segment. It provided a generous 41.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, plus additional underfloor storage, outshining competitors like the Subaru Outback, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Ford Edge. With the 60/40-split rear seats folded, cargo space expanded to 77.7 cubic feet, aided by rear seats that folded flush with the trunk floor for easy loading of long items.

The Passport comfortably seated five adults. Rear legroom was slightly tighter than the Hyundai Santa Fe but competitive within the segment, offering better space than the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The vehicle boasted numerous cupholders, including six in the back seat alone.

For 2024, Honda revised the center console bin, transitioning from a low, retractable storage unit to a taller, deeper bin with an integrated armrest. This adjustment increased front-seat storage but made the front environment feel less airy. Cupholder placement was also slightly altered to accommodate a larger cubby beneath the dashboard.

The 2024 MINI Countryman wasn’t a tech marvel, but it offered practical features. The test vehicle included a small digital display on the steering column and a head-up display projecting information on a small screen slightly above the digital dash. This setup proved useful despite its close proximity.

The main infotainment system, housed in a circular frame reminiscent of the brand’s classic center-mounted speedometers, featured an 8.8-inch touchscreen with BMW’s iDrive technology. Users had five ways to interact with the system: touchscreen, physical volume and tuning controls, steering wheel buttons, a central console control knob, and voice commands. This multi-faceted approach, though potentially confusing, facilitated adaptable interaction once users acclimated to the system. The voice-recognition function accurately responded to test commands. However, it only supported Apple CarPlay, leaving Android Auto absent.

The Iconic trim test unit came with a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, delivering high-quality audio likely superior to the standard six-speaker setup.

The 2024 Honda Passport fell short with its 8-inch touchscreen, which seemed undersized for its spacious cabin, especially given that many competitors offered larger displays. Standard technological features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a wireless charging pad. While the screen offered sharp graphics and responsiveness, its size and some operational quirks detracted from the experience.

For instance, when navigation instructions were active, either via native software or Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, turn-by-turn directions dominated the driver’s information display within the gauge cluster, limiting access to other screen functions. This was notably frustrating during city driving but could potentially be rectified with software updates.

The TrailSport trim’s seven-speaker audio system proved unsatisfactory for audiophiles, falling short of premium sound systems available in vehicles like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Subaru Outback, or Honda Pilot with their respective advanced audio options.

The 2024 MINI Countryman’s safety features pointed to its aging design. Standard equipment included Active Driving Assistant comprising forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional rear parking sensors and an emergency SOS call button provided extra security. Adaptive cruise control was an optional feature on higher trims, but advanced systems like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and a surround-view camera were unavailable.

The lane-departure warning system in our test vehicle delivered subtle steering wheel vibrations, which was convenient. The Countryman received "Good" ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for crashworthiness, though it was missing evaluations for newer testing procedures.

Honda equipped every 2024 Passport with a comprehensive suite of safety features under the "Honda Sensing" banner. Standard inclusions were forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. These features significantly enhanced driver confidence, especially when transporting precious passengers.

However, the Passport’s crash test results were mixed. The IIHS rated it "Acceptable" in the passenger-side small overlap crash test and "Marginal" in updated side-impact tests, leaving it off the Top Safety Pick list. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Passport a five-star overall rating, though it received four stars in both frontal and rollover crash tests.