2024 Hyundai Kona vs 2024 MINI Countryman

The 2024 MINI Countryman didn’t hide its cheeky character. It proudly showcased classic Mini styling cues, such as a distinctive wraparound windshield and a floating roof reminiscent of a bimini top. Union Jack tail lights added a touch of British heritage. Buyers could personalize their Countryman with various paint options, roof, and mirror cap treatments, as well as multiple wheel designs. Interestingly, dark-tinted rear privacy glass was optional rather than standard.

The Countryman lineup comprised Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper SE, and John Cooper Works models, each differentiated by their drivetrain. The base Cooper was equipped with a turbocharged three-cylinder engine, while the Cooper S and John Cooper Works versions featured turbocharged four-cylinder engines in varying power levels. The Cooper SE PHEV offered 18 miles of electric-only range before switching to hybrid mode, yielding 29 mpg combined.

Customers also had to choose from Classic, Signature, and Iconic trim packages, each adding unique features and design elements. Throughout the model year, Mini frequently introduced special editions with exclusive paint, wheels, and equipment combinations.

Our test vehicle was a Cooper S Countryman with the Iconic trim, dark-tinted privacy glass, adaptive damping suspension, and 19-inch summer performance tires. The MSRP for our model was $41,945, including a $995 destination charge. Iconic trim added premium leather, power-adjustable front seats, a head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, a semi-autonomous parking system, a power tailgate, and numerous customization options. The Countryman included standard digital instrumentation, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and classic Mini design elements. A dual-panel moonroof allowed natural light to fill the cabin.

The 2024 Mini Countryman’s eye-catching styling and distinct retro interior set it apart from most bland small SUVs, providing a unique and unmistakable experience.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Kona featured a design heavily influenced by its EV origins. The front grille resembled that of the Ioniq 5, with a single-piece appearance and the “seamless horizon” styling seen on the new Sonata, featuring a dominant skinny LED headlight. Despite its increased length of nearly 6 inches over the previous model, the new Kona maintained a recognizable silhouette.

Visually, the new Kona introduced the creased “parametric surface” on the doors, and the SE, SEL, and Limited trims included substantial and angular black body cladding. The sport N-Line trim, second from the top, featured body-colored wheel arches.

Standard LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights adorned the entire Kona lineup. The seamless horizon design reappeared at the rear with a single taillight stretching across the back, wrapping slightly around the sides. The Kona featured 17-inch wheels as standard, with 18-inch wheels on the SEL trim and 19-inch wheels on the N-Line and Limited trims.

Inside, the Kona’s cabin underwent significant updates. The center stack was reoriented towards the driver, with the gear shift moving to a stalk on the steering column, freeing up space between the driver and passenger. A notable change was the curved display housing both the driver-information and infotainment screens, while the vents, climate controls, and dash were all refreshed and refined.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered four primary models, but the Cooper S and John Cooper Works (JCW) versions were the standouts in terms of performance. The JCW boasted 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 driving all four wheels. Mini claimed the JCW could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds.

For those who desired a blend of speed and practicality, the Cooper S Countryman was an excellent choice. This model also used a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine but tuned to deliver 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque. The front-wheel-drive (FWD) version came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) featuring the typical halting behavior of DCTs. The optional ALL4 all-wheel-drive (AWD) model utilized the same eight-speed sport automatic as the JCW. The Cooper S could reach 60 mph in 7.2 seconds for the FWD version (7.1 seconds with AWD).

The Countryman excelled in daily driving tasks such as commuting, errands, and school shuttling. Although our Cooper S test vehicle included summer performance tires and an adaptive damping suspension, it wasn’t the best for canyon carving. It could handle twisty roads better than most small SUVs but lacked the dynamic prowess of the JCW or Mini Clubman Cooper S and JCW models.

Fuel efficiency was a concern for some buyers, and our test vehicle had an EPA rating of 28 mpg combined. However, we averaged 25.4 mpg on a mountainous driving loop in Southern California, even when driving in Mid and Sport modes.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona retained the engine lineup from its predecessor. SE and SEL trims featured a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The N-Line and Limited trims had a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, now coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Paddle shifters came with the N-Line and Limited trims, and the SEL Convenience Package added them to the CVT.

During our test drive along the Maryland countryside, we drove the Kona Limited and N-Line trims. The turbocharged engine felt slightly slow on pickup, but we appreciated the intuitive steering and nimble handling on narrow city streets.

The Kona lineup offered front-wheel drive (FWD) as standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available on any trim for an additional $1,500. Opting for AWD reduced the EPA fuel economy estimates from 26 city, 32 highway, and 28 mpg combined to 24 city, 29 highway, and 26 mpg combined.

The 2024 MINI Countryman could accommodate four adults and enough luggage for a week-long road trip. Our test vehicle with the Iconic trim featured dual-zone automatic climate control, premium leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a thick-rimmed heated steering wheel.

Seating inside the Countryman was upright but comfortable, with supportive seats and ample foot and legroom for four adults. Squeezing in a fifth passenger was nearly impossible unless the rear occupants were children. Outward visibility was excellent, and the compact SUV’s dimensions made parking easy. However, a surround-view camera and rear cross-traffic alert system were not available; instead, Mini offered parking sensors, a reversing camera, and an optional automated parking assistance system.

Interior storage was reasonable given the Countryman’s size, 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, enough for two full-size suitcases. The 40/20/40-split folding back seat allowed for carrying longer items, expanding the cargo space to 47.6 cubic feet when folded down. The Cooper SE PHEV model’s cargo capacity was slightly smaller.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona’s increased length significantly improved rear-seat and cargo space. Rear-seat legroom grew to 38.2 inches, making it more comfortable for passengers. Headroom increased to 38.3 inches front and rear with the sunroof. Cargo capacity expanded to 25.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 63.7 cubic feet with them folded down, providing nearly 20 cubic feet more space than the previous model. A power hands-free liftgate was standard on the Kona Limited trim.

Interior storage was enhanced with a passenger-side dash shelf, ideal for placing a phone or sunglasses. Hyundai added a guardrail to keep phones secure on the wireless charging pad (standard for N-Line and Limited trims). However, the center console had a small, shallow tray only suitable for small items.

For 2024, the Kona lineup included cloth seats on SE and SEL trims, a leather/suede combination for the N-Line, and H-Tex leatherette for the Limited trim. The Limited trim now featured ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard, while heated front seats were standard from the N-Line trim up or available as an option on the SEL.

The 2024 MINI Countryman was not a technology powerhouse but provided useful tech. It featured a small digital instrumentation display on the steering column and a head-up display (HUD) projecting information on a small screen higher than the digital instrumentation. The HUD was found to be quite useful.

In the center of the dashboard, the Countryman had an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system housed in a round enclosure, reminiscent of the large, center-mounted speedometers of older Mini models. This system used BMW’s iDrive technology and offered five ways to interact: touchscreen, volume and tuning controls, steering wheel controls, a control knob and buttons on the center console, and a voice recognition system. Despite the multiple interaction methods, the system was easy to use and navigate. However, the infotainment system only supported Apple CarPlay and lacked Android Auto.

With the Iconic trim, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system was standard, delivering excellent audio quality and a significant upgrade from the standard six-speaker system.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona received several technological upgrades. A standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen display replaced the previous 8-inch and 10.25-inch screens. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were initially available only on lower trims, but Hyundai promised an over-the-air (OTA) update to add wireless connectivity to higher trims soon. The higher trims also featured wireless device charging and a new Wi-Fi hotspot. Six speakers were standard, with a Bose sound system replacing the previous Harman Kardon setup on higher trims.

Dual 12.3-inch screens created a panoramic view for driver-information and infotainment, available with the Convenience Package and standard on the N-Line and Limited trims. OTA update capability was standard across the lineup. Additionally, Hyundai’s Bluelink connected services were now included for the life of the vehicle.

The 2024 MINI Countryman lagged behind in advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). It included an 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 also standard, while adaptive cruise control was available on Signature and Iconic trims. However, the Countryman lacked blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and a surround-view camera system.

In terms of crash-test ratings, the Countryman earned the highest rating of Good in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crashworthiness evaluations.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona excelled in safety features, with many advanced driver-assistance systems standard across the lineup. Standard features included Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, and high-beam assist. Adaptive cruise control was standard on the N-Line and Limited trims. The Limited trim also included Surround View Monitor and a blind-spot view monitor.

Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist suite of Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features performed admirably, providing smooth lane-keep assist even on curves. The system demonstrated clear and user-friendly controls, making it a valuable asset for drivers.