2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2024 MINI Countryman

The 2024 MINI Countryman exuded a playful charm, staying true to its British roots with classic styling cues like the Union Jack tail lights. Its design featured a wraparound windshield and a floating roof, reminiscent of a bimini top. Buyers had the option to customize their Countryman with various paint treatments and wheel designs, although dark tinted rear privacy glass was an optional feature. The lineup included several models, each with distinct drivetrains, from the underpowered Cooper to the plug-in hybrid Cooper SE, and the more robust Cooper S and John Cooper Works. Our test vehicle, a Cooper S with the Iconic trim, boasted premium leather, power-adjustable front seats, and a head-up display, among other features. Despite its digital instrumentation and 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, the Countryman retained its classic Mini character, offering a unique experience in a segment often filled with bland designs.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its distinctive styling, making it easily recognizable among family-friendly SUVs. Available in multiple trims, including the new Calligraphy Night Edition, the Palisade offered a range of features and prices. Our test vehicle, the Calligraphy Night Edition, came with a blacked-out appearance and a luxurious interior featuring leather with artificial suede inserts. The Palisade's interior was sophisticated, with an artificial suede headliner and quality upholstery, giving it a luxury feel. The SUV's design and features, such as the acoustic window glass and a firm yet comfortable suspension, contributed to a quiet and refined driving experience. The Palisade's attention to detail and comfort made it a compelling choice for those seeking a premium feel in a midsize SUV.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered a range of performance options, with the John Cooper Works model leading the pack. It featured 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. This setup allowed the JCW to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds. The Cooper S, with its 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque, provided a more balanced performance, achieving 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds with front-wheel drive and 7.1 seconds with all-wheel drive. Despite its sporty nature, the Countryman was best suited for daily commuting and errand-running, offering an EPA fuel economy rating of 28 mpg in combined driving. However, during testing, it averaged 25.4 mpg.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine generating 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Palisade offered several driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, and had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The AWD system provided excellent traction on dirt and gravel roads, while the suspension offered a firm yet comfortable ride. The Palisade's EPA fuel economy rating was 21 mpg in combined driving, but during testing, it averaged 18.8 mpg. The SUV displayed unexpected athleticism on mountain roads, with predictable handling and reliable brakes, making it a pleasure to drive.

Inside the 2024 MINI Countryman, there was room for four adults and their luggage, making it suitable for a week-long road trip. The Iconic trim added dual-zone automatic climate control, premium leather upholstery, and power-adjustable heated front seats. The Countryman's compact dimensions and excellent outward visibility made it easy to park, although it lacked some advanced parking technologies. Cargo space was limited, with 17.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The Cooper SE PHEV model offered slightly less cargo space.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a range of seating options, from cloth seats in the base SE trim to premium Nappa leather with microfiber inserts in the Calligraphy Night Edition. The test vehicle featured heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and an Ergo Motion massage function for the driver. The Palisade's interior was spacious, with configurable storage options and a hands-free power tailgate. It provided 18 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. The Palisade's interior comfort and versatility made it an excellent choice for families.

The 2024 MINI Countryman was not a technology powerhouse but offered useful features. It had a small digital instrumentation display and a head-up display projecting information on a small screen. The 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed in a round casing, used BMW's iDrive technology and offered multiple ways to interact with it. However, it lacked Android Auto connectivity, providing only Apple CarPlay. The Iconic trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, delivering excellent audio quality.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. It supported Bluetooth connectivity for two devices, Bluelink+ connected services, Wi-Fi access, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a rear-seat Quiet Mode. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard but required a cable. The Palisade's voice recognition system worked well, and the Harman Kardon premium sound system provided excellent audio quality. Additional technologies included a digital key function, a digital rearview mirror, and a semi-autonomous remote parking system.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered limited advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). It included Active Driving Assistant, which provided 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. Adaptive cruise control was available with higher trims. The Countryman earned a Good rating in crashworthiness evaluations from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade came with Hyundai's SmartSense collection of driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and more. Highway Driving Assist (HDA) paired adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist for highway travel. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and received high marks in side-impact and rollover resistance tests from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).